Shortcut Bacon Cheeseburger Soup – A No Fuss, Flavorful Soup

A warm and hearty, easy-to-make shortcut soup recipe that is filled with all of your favorite cheeseburger flavors like ground beef, crispy bacon, gooey cheese, and minced onions in a flavorful broth.

This is one of our family’s favorite soup recipes – especially my son! It combines all of the best flavors of a juicy bacon cheeseburger but in a warm, comforting soup form instead.

I don’t know about you, but soups are my comfort food. There is just something so rewarding about sitting down at the table with a bowl of warm, hearty soup and a slice of homemade bread when it’s chilly outside that makes the stress of the day melt away.

And this shortcut bacon cheeseburger soup recipe is so easy to make that you won’t feel like you are stuck babysitting a stove waiting for it to cook! That’s thanks to several different shortcuts you can take when making the recipe as well as the fact that it uses your slow cooker. The shortcuts allow you to make it as “from scratch” as possible or as quick and easy as you need for those busy weekday mornings.

Enjoy the soup as is (which is what we normally do), or amp it up by using it as a delicious starter base. Toss in a few diced carrots and celery stalks to get your vegetable fix as well as your bacon cheeseburger fix, all in one dish!

How To Make Shortcut Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

*Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe, including exact measurements and amounts. You can also print out the instructions. I go into a bit more detail about the recipe here first, just in case you need it.

You can definitely find recipes out there that have a more “from scratch” approach to making bacon cheeseburger soup. They add loads of seasonings, all types of cheeses, and even vegetables to their recipes.

However, I just wanted a simple and easy-to-make recipe that I could quickly assemble in the morning and go about my day. While some of the ingredients are considered processed (like the Velveeta), I go by the motto of everything in moderation!

Ingredients  

• Ground Beef – The percentage of beef doesn’t really matter here since you drain off the excess fat. Try to choose lean ground beef if possible, though.
• Potatoes – Here is where you can use a shortcut. You can either use a bag of cubed hash browns or, if you have the time, cut up a couple of raw potatoes. (We normally always use raw potatoes.) In the recipe, the potatoes act as the “hamburger bun”.
• Onion – Use either a white or yellow onion. You don’t want the onion flavor to overwhelm the soup.
• Chicken Broth – If you want a soup with a lot of broth, follow the recipe as written with 48 ounces. For a thicker soup that is more stew-like, drop the amount to 32 ounces.
• Cream Cheese – Grab a block of cream cheese and soften it so it mixes easily into the broth.
• Velveeta Cheese – The combination of the cream cheese with the Velveeta is what provides the bacon cheeseburger soup with its cheesy broth goodness! Any type works, but we typically grab the 2% kind.
• Bacon – This is another part of the recipe where you can make it from scratch or use a little shortcut. If you have the time, cook the bacon and crumble it into small pieces. Otherwise, toss in a few bacon bits for convenience. Either way, save a bit of the bacon behind to top the soup before serving.
• Shredded Cheese – The shredded cheese is used to top the soup before serving, so it is totally optional. (Another great garnish or topping is freshly chopped chives.)

Instructions For Shortcut Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

The instructions might vary slightly depending on which shortcuts you take in the recipe ingredients. No matter what route you go, start by browning the ground beef.

Add the beef to a large skillet. (A 12″ cast iron skillet is my go-to.) Cook over medium heat until there is no longer any pink. Drain off any excess fat and set it aside. (Product Link: Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder)

If you are using raw bacon, get that cooking now. Once the bacon is done to your desired crispiness, remove it and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. This helps to soak up any excess grease. When the bacon is cool enough to handle, cut or tear it into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Meanwhile, while the beef and bacon are cooking, get to work on the raw potatoes if using. Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch sized pieces. Dice the onion as well and set both aside.

Make The Broth

In a 6 to 7-quart slow cooker, add the softened cream cheese and chicken broth. My recipe calls for 48 ounces of chicken broth. However, if you prefer a thicker, creamier soup, reduce the amount of broth to 32 ounces. Just note, if you go that route, you will likely need to add a bit more broth when reheating any leftovers.

Cut the Velveeta into small pieces and add it to the slow cooker as well. This will help the Velveeta incorporate into the soup and melt down a bit more easily.

Using an immersion blender, blend the broth, cream cheese, and Velveeta until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can do this step in a regular blender, working in batches. Otherwise, use a potato smasher to at least break the cheeses into smaller pieces.

Set It And Forget It!

Next, add in the cooked and drained ground beef, 1/2 cup cooked bacon OR 1/4 cup bacon bits, the diced potatoes (both the raw and frozen potatoes go in now), and the minced onion. Stir well.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook the soup on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Stir well before serving.

Serve bowls of the shortcut bacon cheeseburger soup topped with shredded cheese and additional bacon. Adding chopped green onions is also a nice touch. Store any leftover soup in a covered container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Other Soup Recipes

For other delicious soup recipes, try some of my following meals:

• Pressure Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
• Dutch Oven Lasagna Soup
• Sausage And Cheese Tortellini Soup
• Dutch Oven Chicken Noodle Soup

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

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