Description

A hearty, smoky campfire soup that tastes like a gourmet cheeseburger in a bowl, featuring tender russet potatoes, savory ground beef, sharp cheddar, and crispy bacon.

Ingredients

Scale

2 medium yellow onions, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
1 cup heavy cream (full-fat)
1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste
8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy
3 stalks green onions, sliced
Optional: Cornichons or pickles, chopped

Instructions

Prep ingredients: Dice onions, mince garlic, cube potatoes, grate cheese, and cook bacon until crispy. Keep potatoes in cold water until ready to cook.
Set up heat source (camp stove or fire grate) to medium heat. Soak wood chips or chunks for smoking.
Place Dutch oven on heat. Add oil or bacon grease. Sauté onions for 3-4 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add ground beef and break it up. Cook for 5 minutes until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika.
Pour in chicken broth and add diced potatoes. Add wood chips to coals if using a fire. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and warm through for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and gradually stir in grated cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
Stir in half of the crumbled bacon. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with remaining bacon, extra cheese, and green onions.

Notes

Grate your own cheese to prevent graininess. Use low-sodium broth to control saltiness as bacon and cheese are salty. Do not boil after adding cheese to prevent breaking. Soup does not freeze well due to dairy content.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 520
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 650
Fat: 30
Saturated Fat: 18
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 3
Protein: 28

Keywords: cheeseburger potato soup, campfire recipes, Dutch oven recipes, bacon soup, comfort food, outdoor cooking, smoky soup