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Kid-Approved Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup: Easy Weeknight Dinner

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This thick, cheesy, and budget-friendly soup tastes exactly like the inside of a good burger, minus the bun. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it crockpot meal that kids and adults alike will request again and again.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • Optional toppings: crumbled cooked bacon, sliced green onions, pickled jalapeños, extra shredded cheese

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart, until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet.
  2. In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion over medium heat for about 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits.
  3. Layer the diced potatoes, carrots, and celery in the bottom of a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add the browned ground beef, then the sautéed onions and garlic.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. About 30 minutes before serving, turn the slow cooker to WARM or LOW. Stir in the cream cheese cubes until mostly melted. Gradually add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until each addition is melted and smooth.
  6. Pour in the whole milk and stir until creamy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. If the soup is too thin, mash some potatoes against the side of the slow cooker to thicken, or stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) and cook for 10 more minutes.
  8. Serve immediately with desired toppings.

Notes

For best results, shred your own cheddar cheese from a block to avoid graininess. Add dairy only at the end to prevent curdling. The soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of milk or broth when reheating. For a dairy-free version, use plant-based cheddar and cream cheese plus unsweetened oat milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheeseburger soup, crockpot soup, slow cooker soup, kid-friendly, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef soup, cheesy soup

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/kid-approved-crockpot-cheeseburger-soup-easy-weeknight-dinner/