Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Recipe

This bacon cheeseburger soup recipe is perfect to warm up with during the colder months while still enjoying favorite summer flavors.

One of my favorite things to eat during the summer is a big juicy grilled cheeseburger topped with a couple slices of perfectly crisp bacon.

As the weather gets cooler, I still love my burgers, but I often find myself wanting something a bit more comforting, hearty and hot.

Like many, one of my favorite cold-weather comfort food meals is making a big pot of soup. So, I couldn't resist combining two of my favorites into this delicious bacon cheeseburger soup recipe.

To me, this creamy soup is the perfect combination of ingredients. It's full of flavor and hearty with all the meat, creamy from the touch of dairy, and everything is made better with bacon and cheese, right?

The leftovers also reheat very well, and you can even add some pasta to change up the leftovers to create a mock cheeseburger Hamburger Helper.

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Ingredients

• 1 pound thick cut bacon - I used Wright Brand Applewood Smoked Bacon
• 1 pound ground beef - I used 80/20 ground beef but leaner is fine as you'll have plenty of bacon grease to sauté the veggies in. You could use ground turkey or another meat as well.
• 1 large onion, chopped - Use whatever diced onions you like most - I used a yellow onion.
• 2 medium carrots, shredded - Not something you usually find on a burger but it definitely adds flavor, color, and nutrition.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced - Can also use granulated garlic or garlic powder.
• ¼ cup all purpose flour - this is used to help thicken the soup.
• 4 cups potatoes, diced and optionally peeled - I never say no to fries with my burger so I had to add potatoes to this easy cheeseburger soup.
• 4 cups beef broth - I prefer the flavor of this hearty soup with beef broth, but if you want a lighter soup, you can use chicken or even vegetable broth.
• 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce - This adds a nice flavor to the already delicious soup and is often used to season burgers.
• 2 cups milk, half &half or heavy cream (depending on the richness you want) - If you want a thinner soup, use milk. If you'd like an almost chowder consistency, use cream. I love this decadent soup to be thick with an extra creamy texture so I made it with cream.
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese - I like the flavor that cheddar adds to this comforting soup, but you could also use American cheese, Velveeta cheese, or your favorite easy melting cheese.
• ½ teaspoon cayenne powder or to taste (optional) - Cayenne adds just a bit of extra flavor and spice. You could also use red pepper flakes instead or just leave it out if you don't like any spice.
• Salt and pepper - To taste. Keep in mind that the bacon, broth, and cheese can all add saltiness.
• Optional garnishes - More shredded cheese, chopped crispy bacon, sliced green onion, sour cream, fresh parsley, chopped pickles or tomato - whatever you like on your burger!

Recommended Equipment

Here are my favorite recommended kitchen tools for making this soup recipe.

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Dutch oven or soup pot
• Cooking spatula
• Grater or food processor with grating disc
• Dry measuring cups
• Liquid measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• My favorite soup bowls

How To Make Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

1. Chop bacon into bite-sized pieces. Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Cook the chopped bacon until it's slightly crisp. Once the bacon is slightly crisp, add the ground beef breaking it up as it cooks with a spatula.
2. Once the ground beef is cooked through, drain the excess grease, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pot to cook the veggies and add flavor.
3. Add the onion to the pot and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the carrot and cook for 2 more minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for one more minute. Stir in the flour and cook for at least a minute.
4. Add in potatoes, broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in cream (or milk or half and half). Stir in cheese until melted and and season to taste with cayenne, salt, and pepper.
6. Cook until slightly thickened. Serve immediately, topping with garnishes as desired.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers over low heat to medium heat on the stove or in the microwave stirring frequently.

What To Serve with Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

This particular soup makes a great all in one meal, but if you'd like to make it extra special here are some ideas.

Beverage: Apple Cider Tea

Bread: Serve in a bread bowl (one pictured is from Panera), top the soup with hamburger bun croutons, or serve with Yeast Rolls Recipe

Side Dish: Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Dessert: German Plum Cake