How to make the best Taste of Home cheeseburger soup recipe (2024)

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Cheeseburger Soup, originally from Taste of Home, is a rich and creamy, cheesy soup with a Velveeta base and a mildly spicy kick. This soup is a huge hit and makes enough for a crowd.

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Once a month, we get together with our good friends and eat spend the day enjoying each others' company. It's always a long, laughter-filled day of eating.

This month, my friend Linda (who, as you may have noticed, gives me most of my best recipes), made Cheeseburger Soup.

In my brain, cheeseburger soup was full of ketchup and mustard and laden with pickles. It was a broth-based soup, and it was not at all pleasing in my brain.

Where did all that nonsense come from? It makes no sense, because who would want to eat a brothy soup with ketchup and mustard in it?

Nonetheless, I was hungry, and I asked if I could try some of the cheeseburger soup.

I was wowed with the very first bite. The smell was even amazing. That first bite was cheesy and creamy and spicy and out of this world good.

The soup turned out more like a spicy potato soup than what I would consider a cheeseburger soup. It's so very good.

Even Grace liked it. She ate my entire first bowl, allowing me only two little bites.

The soup is filling, though, and that one bowl was enough for her. I was able to enjoy my second bowl in relative peace.

I can also report that this soup reheats nicely as I ate the leftovers on Monday night.

Note (2017) - We have made this soup at least monthly since the time I posted the recipe in 2009. It's one of our most favorites. Joe takes it to every soup and recipe contest, and he almost always wins becauseeveryone loves this creamy soup.

Linda served her soup with fresh bread. The bread was splendid dipped into the soup. When we make it at home, we skip the bread and serve it with carrot sticks or a small salad to increase the healthy factor (marginally, but every little bit counts, right?).

What you'll need to make Taste of Home Cheeseburger Soup

Equipment

No special equipment is needed for this recipe beyond standard kitchen tools. You'll use a vegetable peeler, sharp knife, 3-quart saucepan, and a small skillet.

Ingredients

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See printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for all measurements.

  • Ground beef - The original Taste of Home recipe calls for a half pound of ground beef, but when I make this recipe, I double it and use one pound of 93% lean ground beef. It makes the soup heartier and healthier.
  • Chopped onion - I think the onion lends a wonderful sweetness to the soup.
  • Shredded carrots- I don't know what carrots have to do with cheeseburgers, but I love them in this soup. They get soft, but they keep their shape and bite.
  • Diced celery- I personally hate celery and cut it so small that it disappears into the soup, but it adds to the flavor, so I don't leave it out.
  • Dried basil
  • Dried parsley flakes
  • Garlic - This is not in the original Taste of Home recipe, but it adds a spicy note to the soup which is magnificent.
  • Butter- You can use salted or unsalted. It won't matter.
  • Low sodium chicken broth - This is what makes the liquid in your soup. I suppose you could try low sodium beef broth; I never have, but it would probably taste good.
  • Dicedpeeled potatoes- This is about 1-¾ pounds. The potatoes bulk up the soup and give it a nice bite beyond just the ground beef.
  • All-purpose flour- This helps to thicken the broth. You can use gluten-free flour or wheat flour.
  • Pepper jack Velveeta, cut into cubes - This may be labeled as Mexican Velveeta Cheese. I have only ever used this exact cheese in my cheeseburger soup, but there are literally hundreds of comments on Pinterest where home cooks have used shredded cheddar, shredded pepper jack, shredded Monterey jack, and regular Velveeta, and every single person has said their soup came out awesome. So I don't think the exact type of cheese is all that important. What is important is the amount of cheese. Remember that the 12 ounces is a weight, and is not the same as a cup and half of shredded cheese.
  • Milk - This adds to the broth to make the liquid in the soup. You can use dairy or non-dairy milk, but make sure not to use a flavored milk like vanilla. Use the plain unflavored milk.
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt - This works with the cheese to make the soup rich and creamy.

How to make this cheeseburger soup recipe

Instructions

  1. In a 6-quart saucepan or large dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat; remove cooked beef from pan, drain, and set aside.
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  2. In the same saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion, carrots, celery, basil, and parsley flakes in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
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  3. Press garlic into pot, and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minute.
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  4. Add broth, potatoes, and beef to the vegetables in the pot; bring to a boil.
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  5. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
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  6. Meanwhile, make a roux in a small skillet by melting remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly.
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  7. Add roux to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
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  8. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese, milk, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts.
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  9. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream.
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  10. Serve immediately.

Can you make cheeseburger soup in a Crockpot or slow cooker?

You sure can! Head over here for Crockpot cheeseburger soup instructions.

Can you make cheeseburger soup in an Instant Pot or electronic pressure cooker?

You sure can! Head over here for Instant Pot cheeseburger soup instructions.

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Tips for the best cheeseburger soup

Get the leanest ground beef you can. I buy 90% or 93% lean, depending on the store I'm shopping at (they don't all carry 93%). Make sure you drain the grease off after you brown it.

My favorite potatoes are Yukon golds, and they hold up pretty well in the soup. If you're worried about them getting mushy, you could use Russets instead, as those are a bit more firm. I would not recommend red potatoes in this recipe.

Velveeta makes all the difference. Velveeta makes this soup thick and creamy. As I have said above, it is possible to use shredded cheese, and the soup will still taste great, but it will have a thinner, runnier consistency.

Sour cream makes the soup creamy and rich. If you don't have any, Greek yogurt will work in a pinch. Or, try a few tablespoons of cream cheese which will also thicken and add cream to the soup.

Make sure you remove the soup from the heat before adding the sour cream. If you don't, the sour cream may curdle. You wouldn't have this problem with cream cheese.

Cheeseburger soup variations

It's hard for me to imagine this soup being any better than it is - it is already superlative!!! - but there are some adjustments that people have tried and discussed on Pinterest.

  • Vegetarian cheeseburger soup - Believe it or not, it's easy to make vegetarian cheeseburger soup! All you have to do is use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth and TVP or veggie crumbles in place of the beef. Easy!
  • Keto cheeseburger soup - This soup is easy to make low carb! Simply replace the potatoes with an equal amount of chopped cauliflower. It will still be delicious!
  • Add crumbled bacon when you add the cooked ground beef into the soup.
  • Change the meat. You could substitute a different meat for the ground beef. Try ground turkey, Italian sausage, ground pork, or even ground chicken.
  • Change the cheese. As I mentioned above in the ingredients section, I have only ever used pepper jack or Mexican Velveeta in my cheeseburger soup, but you could try shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, shredded Monterey jack cheese, some combination of the three, or regular Velveeta. As long as you use the right amount (12 ounces by weight), I think the soup will be great.
  • Add vegetables. Some Pinterest commenters have added mushrooms, bell peppers, or canned tomatoes.
  • Use beef broth. The original Taste of Home recipe called for chicken broth, and I'm not really sure why because beef broth would probably taste better. I'm going to try beef myself the next time I make it.
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Garnish your cheeseburger soup!

Add toppings to your soup just before serving. There are some suggestions below, and it would be awesome to try one or a combination.

  • Crumbled bacon
  • Sour cream
  • Shredded pepper jack
  • Sliced green onions
  • Diced red onion
  • Chives
  • Dill pickles or dill pickle relish
  • Croutons - try bun croutons by dicing a hamburger roll, spritzing it with some butter-flavored cooking spray, and toasting the cubes in the oven at 375ºF for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, turning once or twice during cooking.
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Storing cheeseburger soup

Cheeseburger soup reheats beautifully. Once it's totally cool, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. When you want to eat it, you may need to thin it with a tiny bit of broth.

To freeze, let the soup cool to room temperature and then spoon it into zippered freezer bags. It will keep up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator prior to heating in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Potato-based soups get a little weird after freezing and then thawing, so be aware of that. I do freeze it though if I've made too much. I deal with mushy potatoes than rather than throwing out spoiled soup.

More easy soup recipes

Check out these other delicious soups, stews, and chowders while you're here:

  • Cheesy Vegetable Soup
  • Slow Cooker Potato Chowder
  • Crockpot Corn Chowder
  • How to Make Hot and Sour Soup
  • Crockpot Beef Stew
  • Black Bean and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

This cheeseburger soup is the best soup you will ever eat, bar none. It is cheesy and hearty and thick and rich. Your whole family will love it!

Recipe

Cheeseburger Soup from Taste of Home

Cheeseburger Soup, originally from Taste of Home, is a rich and creamy, cheesy soup with a Velveeta base and a mildly spicy kick. This soup is a huge hit and makes enough for a crowd.

4.70 from 747 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Main Dish, Soup

Servings 8 servings

Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a 3-qt. saucepan, brown beef over medium-high heat; drain and set aside.

  • In the same saucepan over medium heat, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Press garlic into pot, and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minute.

  • Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

  • Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.

  • Reduce heat to low. Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1319mg | Potassium: 861mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2715IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 309mg | Iron: 2mg

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How to make the best Taste of Home cheeseburger soup recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cheeseburger soup made of? ›

This soup has beef and cheese in it along with onions, celery, and potatoes. It can be on the dinner table in about 45 minutes—very doable on a weeknight.

How do I make my soup taste more beef? ›

You can use beef bouillon cubes to enhance flavor as well! I like to braise bones with tomato paste until well done and golden brown and then use those to make a beef broth with carrots, celery, garlic and a combination of thyme, and rosemary and bay leaf. Boil it all together for 3–4 hours at a low simmer!

Do you drain hamburger meat for soup? ›

Most beef stew recipes call for cutting the beef into cubes and browning to build up flavor . This is called the Maillard reaction , spreading flavor in the pot as vegetables slowly braise in the liquid. So Unless you are cooking ground meat with a lot of fat there is no need to drain the pot after browning.

How do you thicken homemade soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

Use fresh, good quality ingredients like vegetables and herbs. Add a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to your soup to make it taste better. Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

What makes homemade soup taste good? ›

To make a good soup, you have to build flavours as you go. Vegetables like onion, garlic, celery and carrots — referred to as "aromatics" — are part of most soup recipes for this very reason, sautéed in oil or butter as a first step of flavour-making.

Why is my soup so tasteless? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Start with the basics. Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper.

What spices make soup taste good? ›

To season it, we recommend starting with our Vegetable Soup Mix. It contains celery salt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, summer savory, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, turmeric and sage, which are all excellent with root vegetables, so you can incorporate things like carrots or potatoes into the soup.

How do I fix bland tasting soup? ›

Add a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to your soup to make it taste better. Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness.

Can I use cream cheese to thicken soup? ›

It might be tempting to add sour cream or softened cream cheese to help thicken the soup, but these dairy products only work in certain circumstances. You must blend cream cheese or sour cream, either with an immersion blender or a full-size blender, for it to thicken a soup.

Is homemade soup high in calories? ›

Vegetable soup calories depend on the ingredients, but homemade veggie soup can have as few as 60 calories per cup. Homemade veggie soup tends to have fewer calories and less sodium than store-bought or restaurant vegetable soup.

How many calories are in a cup of homemade hamburger soup? ›

There are 165 calories in 1 cup of Hamburger Soup. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

What is Mexican soup made of? ›

Tortilla soup is a Mexican dish that typically includes chicken broth, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a variety of spices such as chili powder, cumin, and oregano. The soup is usually served with thin, crispy tortilla strips, which are added as a garnish before serving.

What is Knorr soup made of? ›

Maize Starch, Sugar, #Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot flakes (4.6%), Cabbage Flakes (2.3%), Onion Bits (2.3%), Garlic Bits (1.1%), Leeks (1%)), Iodised salt, Noodles (9.3%) (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Palm Oil/ Palmolein, Iodised salt, Wheat Gluten, Acidity Regulator - 500(ii), Texturizer - 451(i), Thickener - 415, ...

What type of soup is turtle soup? ›

turtle soup, a stewlike soup made with turtle meat, common in Asia and in Creole cuisine in the United States. The soup gets its consistency from a roux, a thickening agent made by cooking flour and fat together. Turtle soup also typically contains turtle stock, hard-boiled eggs, and various spices and vegetables.

What does House special soup have in it? ›

It's typically a soup that is unique to the restaurant and is often a blend of ingredients that the chef believes sets their establishment apart. Some common ingredients that you might find in a house special soup include chicken, shrimp, pork, tofu, various vegetables, and sometimes even seafood like scallops or crab.

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