This Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup is a family favorite cheesy soup filled with cooked ground beef, potatoes, shredded Velveeta cheese, chicken broth, veggies, and seasonings. All the flavors marinade together for a cheeseburger soup recipe that’s sure to be a huge hit.
If you’re looking for a less cheesy option, try my Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup.
Why this recipe works
Not only is this crockpot cheeseburger soup a delicious one-pot meal, but it’s also perfect to have any time of the year. You’ll notice that the soup is fairly thick, but I don’t add flour. Instead, I use a combination of chicken broth with Velveeta cheese and cream cheese added toward the end of cooking time.
The cheeseburger soup ingredients are kitchen staples and easy to find at your local grocery store. This is a great soup recipe when you’re looking for a delicious meal that can feed a large family and/or crowd.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef: If you want less grease when browning the beef, go for lean ground beef.
- Chicken Broth: Using a broth will help create a soupy texture and also gives the cheese a substance to help with melting.
- Ground Beef: If you want less grease when browning the beef, go for a lean ground beef.
- Vegetables: Russet potatoes, a carrot, a celery rib, and an onion are chopped/diced to add additional flavor and heartiness to the cheeseburger soup.
- Cheese: I don’t recommend processed cheese that has been sliced and bagged as it doesn’t melt as great as the Velveeta cheese block. Cream cheese is also used as a thickening agent.
- Seasonings: Oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper are classic soup seasonings that add the perfect flavor.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Brown the ground beef over medium high heat until cooked and crumbled.
Step Two – Add the cooked beef, potatoes, carrots, diced celery, onion, salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder into the slow cooker pot.
Step Three – Pour in the chicken broth.
Step Four – Stir the ingredients together. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours. (Do not open the lid during cooking time.)
Step Five – Cut the two kinds of cheese into cubes and add them to the soup mixture.
Step Six – Stir everything together.
Step Seven – Cover and cook for ONE more hour on LOW. Give the soup another good stir to blend the cheese. Serve and enjoy!
How to serve
- Since this is a “cheeseburger” soup, you can add burger-like toppings such as sliced dill pickle, crumbled bacon, coarsely chopped lettuce, and extra shredded cheddar cheese.
- Keep it in classic soup form by adding optional toppings like chopped green onions, bacon bits, and sour cream, and serving it with a side of garlic bread.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. They are another type of potato that’s good for slow cooking.
You can use chicken stock, beef broth, veggie broth, or homemade broth (or stock).
Add any remaining soup to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop until warmed throughout.
I don’t recommend cooking it on high. The slow cooking time will give all of the ingredients to soften and the flavors to marry together.
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Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef browned and drained
- 2 russet potatoes diced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 3 celery ribs peeled and diced
- 1 white onion diced
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb. Velveeta cheese (add towards the end of the cooking time)
- 8 oz. cream cheese (add towards the end of the cooking time)
Instructions:
- (note before starting this recipe, the total slow cooking time is 8 hours, the Velveeta cheese and cream cheese are added at the 7th hour and cooked for 1 more hour)
- Add the cooked beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt, pepper, basil, garlic powder and chicken broth. DO NOT add Velveeta cheese and cream cheese yet.
- Cover and cook and LOW for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. (Can cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until the potatoes are tender).
- Cut the velveeta cheese and cream cheese into cubes, add to the soup in the slow cooker. Stir to get the cubes into the soup (they won’t melt straight away).
- Cover and cook for one more hour on low.
- Stir until the cheeses are blended into the soup. Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- Add any remaining soup to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop until warmed throughout.
- You can use chicken stock, beef broth, veggie broth, or homemade broth (or stock).
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Brittany says
How much cheese should you use if using shredded?
Sarah Olson says
I would start with 2 cups or 8 oz.
Suntara says
Could this be made into a “quick” dish? Using high instead of low?
If so, what do you suggest for the cooking time with high?
Thanks!
Sarah Olson says
I would do 4 hours on high, it takes a while for the potatoes to tenderize. I don’t think the cheese will take long to melt after that if you cook on high, probably only 30 mins.
Crystal says
Can this be converted to a pressure cooker recipe? It sounds amazing.
Nancy Preheim says
Yes. I just made it in an Instapot because I was short on time. I browned the hamburger on saute and then cooked the soup for 8 mins on “Soup/Broth”, added the cheeses and closed the lid back up until melted.
Randy says
Sarah, I love your recipes as I am seasonal slow cooker user. Each Winter I bring out my slow cooker and make meals suited for Winter weather. Each week I try a different recipe and with the abundance of your recipes I never run out of slow cooker ideas for my Winter meals. I am a true fan of your slow cooker recipes and I appreciate you sharing them.
Randy Morton
Sarah Olson says
Thank you so much Randy! It’s nice to know when people are enjoying the recipes.
Randy says
I added a 1/2 of steak cut bacon for an added twist for those who like bacon.
Sarah Olson says
great idea!
Anonymous says
If I’m using sour cream instead of cream cheese how much should I add? Thank you!!
Sarah Olson says
I would do a cup.
Liz says
Add a pinch or two of dried dill, and some Dijon mustard to make it really cheeseburgery.
Sarah Olson says
I love those ideas!
Brenda says
I would also like to substitute real cheese for Velvetta, but also wonder about the cream cheese; do you think sour cream could be used?
Sarah Olson says
I think both changes would work, but a different flavor for sure! Let me know how it turns out.
Anonymous says
Could I make this on the stove
Sarah Olson says
Yes! I think that it would work fine. You may need a little more chicken broth though.
Anonymous says
THAnk you
Mike W says
Why are so many people complaining?! This is Sarah’s recipe. This is how she makes it. No one is putting a gun to your heads and forcing you to make it. It was nice of her to share it with us. If you don’t want to use Velveeta add something different to suit your tastes. I think it sounds good. I’m thinking of preparing this for a couple of friends when they drive up to see me some time in October
Anonymous says
yes mike I cannot wait for next holiday to make I appreciate her I will however make a batch with sharp cheddar cheese
Anonymous says
Exactly
laura meadows says
Im going to give this a try this weekend. Can any leftovers be frozen?
Sarah Olson says
I don’t freeze much with potatoes in it, they seem to get chalky after thawing.
Darla says
Must not be using the same velveeta I use because it makes most things taste better I do love real cheese but sometimes there is no substitute to make it taste the same try it before you complain it is delicious