Name: Slow Cooker Cheesy Burger Flavored Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: ½ white onion, diced; 2 tsp garlic, freshly minced; 1 can diced tomatoes, do not drain; 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce; 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef; 2 tbsp pickle relish; 3 cups beef broth; 2 tsp yellow mustard; 8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled; 1 cup heavy cream; 8 ounces frozen Southern Style hash browns; 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, freshly shredded

If you are anything like me, there’s nothing you like more than a hearty soup for the ultimate comfort food! Curling up with a bowl of soup, a blanket, and my favorite book or TV show is just the perfect way to end the day. Being such a big fan of soups, I am always looking for something I can enjoy all year long no matter the season. That is why I came up with this delicious crockpot cheeseburger soup that is perfect year-round and an easy cleanup with a crockpot. Packed with protein, simple to make, and hearty and filling—it’s a dream come true!

The flavors and textures in this soup work in magic unison to create an unbelievable flavorful experience. When I have guests over and I want something quick but also impressive, this crockpot cheeseburger soup is my go-to! My friends and family also love this all year long and are always asking for me to either make it or to share the recipe—which is why I’m so excited to share it with you. You’ll enjoy the tender beef and crispy bacon, the rich and perfectly seasoned sauce, and the wonderful crunchy surprise of the hash browns. Give this unforgettable soup a try and you’ll be licking the bowl!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE CROCKPOT CHEESEBURGER SOUP

½ white onion, diced

2 tsp garlic, freshly minced

1 can diced tomatoes, do not drain

2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 ½ pounds lean ground beef

2 tbsp pickle relish

3 cups beef broth

2 tsp yellow mustard

8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup heavy cream

8 ounces frozen Southern Style hash browns

1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, freshly shredded

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT CHEESEBURGER SOUP

In a large skillet, place and crumble the ground beef. Add in the frozen Southern Style hash browns, and onion.

Drain any fat off the meat

Spoon in the garlic and saute until fragrant

Remove from the heat and spoon the meat into the slow cooker

Add the diced tomatoes with the juice, mustard, pickle relish and Worcestershire Sauce

Stir to combine

Season with salt and pepper and stir again

Add in the Beef broth and cover

Set the slow cooker on high and cook for 3 hours, if setting is low cook for 6 hours

Remove the lid and add in the shredded cheese and the heavy cream

Replace the cover and cook for an additional hour

Stir in the bacon

Do I have to use hash browns?

Nope! While I believe hash browns add a great crisp to the crockpot cheeseburger soup, you can use any sort of potato you like! French fries or roasted potato bites are also great in this recipe, though I recommend adding those in at the end or as a topping to avoid soggy potatoes. If you want a softer potato addition, you can just add in your chopped up cooked potatoes at the beginning. It is also a delicious recipe even without potatoes, so if you don’t have any or they are not your thing, then feel free to leave them out.

How should I prepare the bacon?
While there are a few ways to prepare bacon, for this recipe I prepared my bacon in the oven beforehand at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes (possibly more if using a thick cut). For easiest cleanup, line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay your bacon on it, close but not overlapping. For the 1 cup of bacon needed for this recipe, I made about 1 lb. of bacon in the oven. If you would like more bacon for topping, add in a few extra slices to the cookie sheet and set that bacon aside afterwards for later.

Can I use a different cheese?

Of course! While I think cheddar cheese is perfect for this recipe, you can change things up. A sharper cheese will make for a richer soup, so less cheese will do more. Alternatively, you can use a spicy cheese like a pepper jack for a bit of a kick. A smoked cheese will also add great flavor! The options are limitless! Velveeta also is great in this recipe and creates a thicker sauce, so you may need to add in more broth or heavy cream to keep it in a soup consistency if going with Velveeta as an option.

What kind of beef should I use?

For this recipe, I recommend using lean beef of at least 90-93 percent. The reason being that leaner beef has less fat to cook off and cooks much more quickly. You also can cook it from its raw state with other ingredients without creating excess oil that you would have to drain off. When using lean meat, however, you do run into the danger of overcooking! However, with this crockpot cheeseburger soup, you will have other ingredients (broth, heavy cream, etc.) that will aid in keeping the beef juicy and perfect.

What can I serve with crockpot cheeseburger soup?

As a hearty, filling soup with tons of protein this recipe serves great by itself as a meal. However, you can also serve in smaller portions with extra fries, or with bread as a side. I have had this soup with garlic bread too, and it was amazing! A friend of mine enjoys even scooping out this soup over some mashed potatoes. Feel free to experiment yourself. It really is such a versatile soup it can go great with anything.

Can I modify crockpot cheeseburger soup to fit my diet?

Sure thing! Crockpot cheeseburger soup is a hearty, filling soup with both beef and bacon and heavy cream. As dreamy as it is, it is understood that it may not fit into everyone’s lifestyle. For lower calories, I recommend using less beef (or using ground chicken), subbing out regular bacon for turkey bacon, and coconut milk instead of heavy cream. That is one of the beauties of this recipe: you can keep a lot of the flavors but adapt the ingredients to fit your lifestyle!

Can I store/freeze crockpot cheeseburger soup?

Yes! Crockpot cheeseburger does great in the fridge for 3-5 says. The soup also freezes for up to three months. To freeze, allow it to cool completely before storing in a freezer safe container. To thaw out, leave in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. It is also recommended that if you intend to freeze, to leave out the hash browns or any sort of potato until you reheat. The reason being that potato soups can taste a little different after freezing. Plus, you will lose the crunch factor from the hash browns becoming soggy.

Can I make crockpot cheeseburger soup on the stovetop?

Of course! However, in order to make this cheeseburger soup on the stovetop in a stock pot, there need to be a few modifications. It is recommended to precook your beef before adding to the pan. It is also a good idea to be prepared to add more liquids, as needed, as those will evaporate more on the stove. Adding the hash browns in last will also preserve their crunchiness. As far as cooking time and temperature, cook the soup on a medium to low heat for about an hour or so. Be sure to keep it stirred!

Yield: 6

Slow Cooker Cheesy Burger Flavored Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

½ white onion, diced
2 tsp garlic, freshly minced
1 can diced tomatoes, do not drain
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
2 tbsp pickle relish
3 cups beef broth
2 tsp yellow mustard
8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces frozen Southern Style hash browns
1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, freshly shredded

Instructions