Biting into a warm, freshly grilled, flavorful cheeseburger is the epitome of summer. But if you’re on the gluten (or grain) diet, cheeseburgers might no longer be on the menu. My kids and I love this Real Bacon Cheeseburger Soup. It’s a hearty soup packed with all the flavors you love about a cheeseburger.
This hearty dish has quickly become a family favorite: it’s easy to make, cheesy and delicious, and the whole family loves it (even picky eaters!). It’s a one-pot dish, so cleanup is a breeze; all the seasonings are in the soup, so you don’t have to worry about cluttering up your counter with seasoning bottles.
Cheeseburger soup
If you’ve never heard of Cheeseburger Soup, that’s right…it also has pickles! When I first heard of this combination, I wasn’t sure I would like it. But I was wrong! Ketchup and pickles go surprisingly well together, and kids love eating a “cheeseburger” in a bowl.
It’s loaded with beef and cheese (of course), but also packed with healthy veggies and hearty broth. While most recipes call for making a roux with all-purpose flour, there’s an even better way to make a creamy soup without the grain.
While most beef soup recipes use vegetable broth or beef broth, this recipe uses chicken broth, and this combination creates a unique flavor that is more like a cheeseburger than beef vegetable soup, trust me on this one!
How to Add Toppings to Soup
I like to keep this one-pot dish simple, but you can also vary the toppings to customize the flavor. You can even keep bowls of different toppings on the counter for everyone to choose from at dinner time. It’s like a taco bar, but with cheeseburger soup.
Here are some garnish ideas:
- Chopped dill pickles (homemade fermented pickles are recommended)
- Crispy fried bacon
- Finely chopped green onions
- Homemade sourdough croutons
- Sharp cheddar cheese (much tastier than American cheese or Velveeta!)
- Fried onion topping
- Cut tomatoes
- Mix in some cream cheese
Cheeseburger Soup Substitute
If you don’t have sour cream or yogurt, you can add a little heavy cream to make it creamy, but the sour cream and yogurt will give it a more tart flavor.
If you prefer, you could use ground turkey or chicken instead of the beef. It won’t taste quite like a cheeseburger, but it’s still healthy and delicious. This recipe uses regular grass-fed beef, which is full of healthy fats.
For this soup, we use classic russet potatoes, which have a high starch content and add texture, but you can also use any type of potato you like.
My Secret Soup Thickener
Well, maybe it’s not so much of a secret, but I like to thicken my soup with mashed potatoes. Instead of using all-purpose flour, I’ll mash some boiled potatoes into the soup. To get a really smooth soup, I’ll put the boiled potatoes and the soup in a blender and blend them. Then I’ll add them back into the soup.
Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
Satisfy your cravings with this hearty Cheeseburger Soup – comfort in a bowl, packed with ground beef, veggies and creamy cheddar cheese.
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In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, sprinkle the ground beef with the onion powder, garlic salt, and pepper and cook until browned. Discard excess fat. Remove the cooked ground beef from the pot and set aside.
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Add the olive oil, onion, carrot, and celery to a saucepan and sauté over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
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Add the Italian seasoning and ketchup and mix well.
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Add the chopped potatoes to the pot and pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are tender.
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Once the potatoes are tender, add the beef back to the pan and stir well to combine.
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Add the milk and sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and stir. Continue to warm the soup over low heat, but do not bring to a boil.
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Add salt and pepper to the soup to taste.
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Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Nutrition facts
Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
Amount per serving (1 serving)
calorie 983
Calories from Fat 621
% Daily Value*
fat 69 grams106%
Saturated Fat 25g156%
Trans Fatty Acids 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 31g
cholesterol 166mg55%
sodium 916mg40%
potassium 1666mg48%
carbohydrates 47 grams16%
Fiber: 6gtwenty five%
10g sugar11%
protein 46 grams92%
Vitamin A 4131IU83%
Vitamin C 40mg48%
calcium 482mg48%
iron 5 mg28%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove.
What toppings would you add to your Cheeseburger Soup? Leave a comment and let me know!
