Description
A hearty, slow-cooked soup that tastes like a deconstructed cheeseburger. This comfort food dish features tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon, all simmered to perfection in a crockpot.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
- 3 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 6–8 strips thick-cut bacon
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Peel and dice potatoes, dice onions and carrots, mince garlic, and grate cheddar cheese.
- Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease if necessary, but leave some for flavor. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Combine in crockpot: Transfer browned beef to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add diced potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. Pour in beef broth and sprinkle in dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir gently.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Add cream and cheese: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until melted and creamy. Adjust consistency with extra broth if too thick or cook uncovered to reduce if too thin.
- Finish: Remove crockpot from heat. Stir in sour cream. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with crispy crumbled bacon and optional toppings like pickles or green onions.
Notes
Brown the beef first for deeper flavor. Shred your own cheese for better melting. Add sour cream off-heat to prevent curdling. For a thicker soup, mash some potatoes against the side of the pot. This soup freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: crockpot soup, cheeseburger soup, potato soup, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, bacon soup, winter meals, meal prep