Cheeseburger Soup – Easy Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Soup with Potatoes

This Cheeseburger Soup is rich, creamy, cheesy, and loaded with all the delicious flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger! Made with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, crispy bacon, onions, garlic, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese, this easy stovetop soup is the ultimate comfort food.

If you love a juicy bacon cheeseburger with melted cheese and all the fixings, you’re going to love this hearty homemade soup!

Everything comes together in one large pot on the stovetop, where the ground beef, potatoes, onions, garlic, and seasonings simmer in a flavorful broth until the potatoes are perfectly tender. Then, we add a rich, creamy cheese sauce and crispy bacon to make this soup extra delicious.

It’s thick, hearty, and full of flavor, making it perfect for busy weeknights, chilly fall evenings, cozy winter dinners, and family gatherings.

And the best part? You can have this homemade Cheeseburger Soup ready in about 45 minutes!

Serve it with warm dinner rolls, crusty bread, or toasted hamburger buns for a delicious dinner the whole family will love.

Why You’ll Love This Cheeseburger Soup

Easy stovetop recipe: Everything comes together in one large pot with a small saucepan for the creamy cheese base.
Ready in about 45 minutes: Perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Loaded with cheeseburger flavor: Seasoned ground beef, bacon, onions, garlic, and cheddar cheese create an irresistible combination.
Rich and creamy: Tender potatoes and a velvety cheese sauce make this soup extra comforting.
Family-friendly: A hearty, satisfying dinner everyone will love.
Perfect for cold weather: A wonderful soup for fall and winter.
Delicious leftovers: This soup reheats beautifully for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients for Cheeseburger Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6–8

For the Soup

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cups russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups low-sodium beef broth
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

For the Creamy Cheese Sauce

3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Optional Toppings

Additional shredded cheddar cheese
Crispy crumbled bacon
Chopped green onions
Diced dill pickles
Fresh parsley
Toasted hamburger bun croutons
Crushed buttery crackers

How to Make Cheeseburger Soup on the Stovetop

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

Place a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat.

Add the bacon and cook until crispy, approximately 6–8 minutes.

Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.

Once cooled, crumble the bacon into small pieces.

Reserve about 1 Tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pot for extra flavor, and carefully discard the rest.

Set the bacon aside until later.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

Add the ground beef to the pot with the reserved bacon drippings.

Cook over medium heat for approximately 7–10 minutes, breaking the beef into small crumbles with a wooden spoon.

Continue cooking until the beef is completely browned and no pink remains.

Drain away any excess grease if needed.

Browning the beef gives the soup a delicious savory flavor.

Step 3: Add the Onion and Garlic

Add the diced onion to the browned ground beef.

Cook for approximately 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant.

The onions and garlic give this soup a wonderful homemade flavor.

Step 4: Add the Potatoes and Broth

Add the diced potatoes to the pot.

Pour in the beef broth.

Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, black pepper, and salt.

Mix everything together until well combined.

Step 5: Simmer Until the Potatoes Are Tender

Bring the soup to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for approximately 12–15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

The potatoes will absorb the delicious flavors of the seasoned beef broth as they cook.

Step 6: Make the Creamy Cheese Sauce

While the potatoes are simmering, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.

Whisk in the flour and cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously until smooth.

Add the heavy whipping cream and continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken, approximately 3–5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low.

Gradually add the freshly shredded cheddar cheese, one handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth.

Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the cheese, because high heat can cause the cheese to become grainy.

Step 7: Add the Cheese Sauce to the Soup

Once the potatoes are tender, reduce the heat under the soup pot to low.

Slowly pour the creamy cheddar cheese sauce into the soup.

Stir gently until everything is completely combined.

The soup will become rich, creamy, and wonderfully cheesy.

Step 8: Add the Bacon

Stir approximately half of the crumbled bacon into the soup.

Reserve the remaining bacon for topping each bowl.

Let the soup warm gently for another 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or seasonings as needed.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle the hot Cheeseburger Soup into bowls.

Top with additional shredded cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, chopped green onions, or diced dill pickles.

Serve warm with crusty bread, dinner rolls, or toasted hamburger buns.

Enjoy!

Jennie’s Thoughts

I absolutely love making homemade soup, especially when it’s something rich, creamy, and comforting!

And this Cheeseburger Soup is one of those recipes that has everything you could want in a delicious family dinner.

It’s loaded with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, crispy bacon, onions, garlic, and plenty of cheddar cheese.

I wanted this soup to have all the wonderful flavors of a bacon cheeseburger, but with the creamy, comforting texture of homemade potato soup.

And the combination is just delicious!

One of my favorite things about making this soup on the stovetop is how quickly everything comes together.

I like starting with the bacon, because you can use a little of the bacon drippings to brown the ground beef. It adds such a wonderful smoky flavor.

Then I add the onions and garlic, followed by the potatoes, beef broth, and seasonings.

While the potatoes are simmering, I make a creamy cheddar cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, and freshly shredded sharp cheddar.

And this is what makes the soup so good!

When you stir that warm, cheesy sauce into the pot with the tender potatoes and seasoned ground beef, everything becomes rich, creamy, and absolutely irresistible.

I also love saving some of the crispy bacon for topping each bowl.

And if you want to make it taste even more like a cheeseburger, try adding a few diced dill pickles or toasted hamburger bun croutons!

It’s such a fun way to enjoy a classic cheeseburger in a cozy bowl of homemade soup.

This is definitely one of those easy dinner recipes you’ll want to make all fall and winter!

Tips for the Best Homemade Cheeseburger Soup

Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese and gives the soup a wonderful creamy texture.

Brown the ground beef well. This creates a deeper, more savory flavor.

Use a little bacon grease. Cooking the ground beef in a small amount of bacon drippings adds delicious smoky flavor.

Cut the potatoes evenly. Small, evenly sized potato cubes cook faster and help the soup come together in about 45 minutes.

Keep the heat low after adding cheese. Boiling the soup can cause the cheese sauce to become grainy.

Use sharp cheddar cheese. It has a bold, delicious flavor that complements the beef and bacon.

Save bacon for topping. Crispy bacon adds wonderful texture to each bowl.

Adjust the thickness. Add a splash of broth if the soup becomes too thick, or mash a few cooked potatoes into the soup for a thicker consistency.

Delicious Cheeseburger Soup Variations

Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Add extra crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, diced dill pickles, and chopped green onions to each bowl for a fully loaded cheeseburger-inspired soup.

Cheeseburger Soup with Velveeta

Replace 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese with approximately 8 ounces of cubed Velveeta for an extra-smooth, creamy cheese sauce.

Spicy Cheeseburger Soup

Add diced jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, or a little hot sauce for extra heat.

Cheeseburger Soup with Carrots and Celery

Add 1 cup of diced carrots and 1/2 cup of chopped celery with the onions for extra vegetables and flavor.

Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup

Stir in 1–2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni just before serving for a delicious cheeseburger macaroni variation.

Cheeseburger Soup with Ground Turkey

Substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a lighter version of this creamy soup.

What to Serve with Cheeseburger Soup

This hearty soup is delicious served with:

Homemade garlic bread
Soft dinner rolls
Toasted hamburger buns
Buttery biscuits
Homemade cornbread
Garden salad
Roasted broccoli
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Crispy oven-baked potatoes

For a fun cheeseburger-inspired meal, toast a few hamburger buns, cut them into small cubes, and sprinkle them over the soup like croutons!

How to Store Leftover Cheeseburger Soup

Allow the soup to cool slightly, then transfer it to airtight containers.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

To reheat, place the soup in a saucepan over low heat and stir frequently until heated through.

You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each interval.

The soup may thicken as it sits, so add a splash of milk or broth if needed.

Avoid boiling the soup while reheating, because the cheese sauce may separate.

Can You Freeze Cheeseburger Soup?

Because this soup contains potatoes, milk, cream, and cheddar cheese, freezing isn’t ideal.

The potatoes can become grainy, and the creamy cheese sauce may separate after thawing.

For the best texture, I recommend enjoying this soup fresh or storing leftovers in the refrigerator.

If you want to prepare it ahead for freezing, you can freeze the cooked ground beef, broth, vegetables, and seasonings before adding the dairy and cheese.

Then thaw, heat thoroughly, and finish with the creamy cheese sauce when you’re ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Cheeseburger Soup Made Of?

Cheeseburger Soup is made with seasoned ground beef, potatoes, onions, garlic, beef broth, cheddar cheese, milk, cream, and often crispy bacon.

How Do You Make Cheeseburger Soup Creamy?

A homemade cheese sauce made with butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese gives the soup a rich, smooth, creamy texture.

What Kind of Potatoes Are Best?

Russet potatoes are wonderful because they become tender and help thicken the soup. Yukon Gold potatoes also work well and hold their shape a little better.

What Cheese Is Best for Cheeseburger Soup?

Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite because it has a rich flavor and melts beautifully into the creamy sauce.

Can I Use Velveeta Instead of Cheddar?

Yes! Velveeta creates a very smooth cheese sauce. You can replace some or all of the cheddar with Velveeta if you prefer.

How Do I Thicken Cheeseburger Soup?

The butter and flour mixture thickens the soup naturally. You can also mash a few of the cooked potatoes directly into the broth.

Can I Make Cheeseburger Soup Without Heavy Cream?

Yes. You can substitute half-and-half or additional whole milk, although the finished soup won’t be quite as rich.

Can I Add Pickles?

Absolutely! Diced dill pickles are a delicious topping that gives the soup that classic cheeseburger flavor. I recommend adding them to individual bowls rather than cooking them in the soup.

More Easy Soup Recipes You’ll Love

If you love this Cheeseburger Soup, be sure to try more delicious homemade soup recipes like:

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
Crockpot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Marry Me Chicken Soup
Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
French Onion Chicken Soup
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Final Thoughts

This Cheeseburger Soup is the perfect combination of a classic bacon cheeseburger and a rich, creamy homemade potato soup!

With seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, crispy bacon, onions, garlic, melted cheddar cheese, and a delicious creamy broth, every spoonful is packed with comforting flavor.

It’s easy to make on the stovetop, ready in about 45 minutes, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy fall and winter dinners.

Top each bowl with extra cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and your favorite cheeseburger toppings for a hearty, satisfying meal the whole family will love!

Save this delicious homemade Cheeseburger Soup recipe for later!