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Best Creamy Cheeseburger Potato Soup with Bacon

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This Creamy Cheeseburger Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon transforms everything you love about a greasy, messy cheeseburger into a cozy, velvety soup. Ready in about 45 minutes, it’s the perfect comfort food for rainy nights or any time you need a warm hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 4 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 1.5 lbs / 680 g)
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
  • 2 cups (200 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings: extra crispy bacon (crumbled), shredded cheddar cheese, fresh chives or green onions (chopped), sour cream

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon. Place the bacon slices in a cold Dutch oven. Turn the heat to medium and cook until crispy, about 6-8 minutes, flipping once. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble or chop into small pieces. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot—discard the rest or save it for another use.
  2. Brown the beef. Add the ground beef to the same pot with the bacon fat. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a bowl, leaving any rendered fat in the pot.
  3. Sauté the vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. The onions should be translucent but not browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Make the roux. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for about 1 minute. This cooks out the raw flour taste and helps thicken the soup. The mixture will look a bit pasty—that’s normal.
  5. Add the broth and potatoes. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Add the cubed potatoes, smoked paprika, mustard powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Blend a portion of the soup. Using an immersion blender, blend about half of the soup directly in the pot. This creates a creamy base while leaving some chunky potato pieces for texture. If you don’t have an immersion blender, carefully transfer about 2 cups of the soup (mostly potatoes and broth) to a regular blender, blend until smooth, and return it to the pot. Be careful—hot liquid expands in a blender! Remove the center cap of the lid and cover with a towel while blending.
  7. Add the milk and cheese. Stir in the whole milk and shredded cheddar cheese. Keep the heat on low and stir until the cheese is fully melted and the soup is smooth. Do not let it boil at this point, or the cheese can become grainy.
  8. Return the beef. Add the cooked ground beef back to the pot. Stir to combine and heat through, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remember that the bacon and cheese add salt, so go easy.
  9. Serve and garnish. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with crumbled crispy bacon, extra shredded cheddar, and a sprinkle of fresh chives or green onions. Add a dollop of sour cream if you’re feeling fancy. Serve immediately.

Notes

If the soup seems too thick after adding the cheese, stir in a splash of warm milk or broth to loosen it up. If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to reduce. The texture should be creamy but not gloopy—you want it to coat the back of a spoon. For best results, shred your own cheese and add it over low heat to prevent graininess.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheeseburger soup, potato soup, bacon, ground beef, cheddar, comfort food, creamy soup, easy dinner

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