Yes! You heard that right- bacon cheeseburger SOUP! It’s a quirky little number made with classic burger components: juicy ground beef, melted cheese, crispy onions, salty bacon bits, and pickles if you want them! All that’s missing is the sesame seed bun. This quick, low-prep, hands-off recipe will have everyone at the table quicker than you can say “golden arches”.
More from the “Is it soup?” theme is this sumptuous lasagna soup, which is about 75% less labour intensive than run-of-the-mill lasagna, and chicken tortilla soup; think ‘taco’ but make it soup.
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I know what you’re thinking – this winter has been a long one and she’s finally lost her mind to cosy, comforting, soup and stew recipe creation. Not so, my friends. I offer you this chunky, cheesy beef and potato soup in full control of my faculties.
Let me summarise why I’m 100% invested:
- It’s budget friendly- ground beef is an inexpensive alternative to steak used in soup.
- It’s convenient- you most likely have all the ingredients in your fridge/ pantry already.
- It’s easy to put together- just 10 minutes to prep and then a 35-minute cook on the stove top.
- A hearty soup is satisfying and warming on a cold wet day (of which there have been many lately!).
- Bacon cheeseburger soup? It’s kind of weird and a break from the norm, and BONUS: kids will almost certainly try it!
Not sounding so crazy now, right?
Cheesy hamburger potato soup
Let’s suppose you’ve tried hamburger soup – the one with the ground beef and all the aging vegetables in the fridge that needed cooking? While it is a frugal use of food that might otherwise go to waste, let’s be honest, it’s just a bit ‘meh’. Right?
Well, bacon cheeseburger soup is the turbo-charged (just as economic), outrageously tasty cousin. You’ll love it.
I’ll credit the half cup of tangy grated cheddar cheese and the luxurious addition of cream to its standout status. And the crispy bacon bits on top.
And if you live life on the edge and want to take it beyond turbo level, dice some dill pickles to top each bowl before serving.
With no bun, unless you serve one on the side, cheeseburger soup is like the burger-in-a-bowl concept. It’s a deconstructed dish that parks the carbs. I can’t say it’s low-cal, but I can say it is worth it!
Recipe tips and notes
- Follow the recipe closely and you will see that this soup really does taste like a bacon cheeseburger. It is sorcery.
- Like any good burger, you can customise. Skip the bacon. Pass on the pickles. Extra cheese.
- When making the roux, keep the heat low and go slow. Patience at this step will ensure a smooth creamy and cheesy soup.
- Lastly, I used plant-based cream (oat). With lactose-sensitive family members, I was mindful of the dairy content. Honestly, the final soup was just as indulgent and delicious as if I had used dairy cream.
Serving suggestions
Obviously, a homemade burger bun! These ones are a fluffy brioche topped with sesame seeds and done in a rapid 2 hours. OK, I might, but purely for the burger theme! In reality, a delicate dough like brioche is not going to survive a dip in this soup. I’d recommend a sturdy sourdough instead.
And a side of fries, of course! Parmesan truffle fries or herby Greek feta fries are both super snappy This is an affiliate link.air fryer recipes. Just leave out the seasonings for a classic fry.
Finish the burger-and-fries experience with a Dairy Queen-inspired, cool and crunchy ice-cream sandwich. This recipe has decadent Daim bar studs and an espresso kick to it.
Storage and leftovers
Chunky cheeseburger soup leftovers will keep in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the hob, adding a splash of water or stock to loosen if it’s looking a little thick.
Although I love a spare soup in the freezer, this creamy beef and potato soup is not the one. Even if you’ve used a non-dairy cream. Sorry!
More soup recipes to try
- Lentil and Bacon Soup
- Beef Barley Soup Recipe
- Chorizo Bean and Vegetable Soup
- Creamy Chicken Bacon Gnocchi Soup
Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon chopped (streaky bacon in UK)
- 450g / 1 lbs ground beef lean
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp plain / all purpose flour
- 1.25 litres / 5 cups This is an affiliate link.chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 2 This is an affiliate link.bay leaves
- 1 large potato peeled and cut into chunks
- 250ml / 1 cup single / light cream or half and half or oat cream for plant based
- 50g / ½ cup grated cheddar cheese (Leicester in UK)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pan or a soup pot fry the bacon until starting to get crispy, then remove to a separate plate and set aside till needed.
- To the same pan add the olive oil and ground beef with a pinch of salt and black pepper and brown till no longer pink inside. Then move the beef to one side of the pan to free up space and add the chopped onion and celery with thyme, sauté over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Stir the beef once in a while to avoid burning. Then add the minced garlic and cook for a few seconds longer.
- Now add the butter to the pan and let it melt, then sprinkle flour all over the beef and vegetables and stir to coat until the flour is no longer visible. (You can skip butter if your bacon and beef are fatty and there is enough fat in the pan to make the roux.)
- Slowly add 2 cups(500ml) of chicken stock to the pan while stirring the entire time until you have a thick gravy like sauce. Now stir in the grated cheddar and allow it to melt into the sauce. Keep the heat low.
- Transfer the mixture into a soup pot if you were using a pan previously. Now top it with the cubed potatoes, half of the bacon, bay leaves and the remainder of the chicken stock, bring to a simmer over medium heat and simmer it covered over low heat for 15 minutes. Finally add the half and half or single cream and warm through for 1-2 minutes. Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Take of the heat and serve topped with the remaining bacon bits, grated cheddar and diced pickles if desired.
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