Dare I say this easy cheeseburger soup recipe might taste just as good as the real thing? I’ll admit, it is tough to compare much to a juicy delicious cheeseburger but this soup is a close contender for that satisfying, fill-you-up taste! Plus, with the added nutrition of extra veggies and no processed cheeses, this will be a family favorite you can serve guilt-free!

Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup in a metal bowl topped with croutons

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Ingredients Needed

A clean ingredient list is all you need – no fast food fillers, processed cheese, or extra grease!

Ground beef – It is important to use lean ground beef in this recipe to reduce as much excess grease as possible. Any lean ground meat could be a great swap (ground turkey, ground bison, ground pork, etc.).
Flour – A little all-purpose flour will thicken the creamy soup base. And, good news! Gluten-free all-purpose flour works as an easy swap for regular flour.
Chicken broth – Chicken broth will work best to add a savory flavor to the soup base without it tasting too “meaty” or too salty.
Carrots – Chop into small bite-sized pieces. It’s up to you if you prefer to peel the carrots or not as it won’t make much difference in overall taste and texture.
Celery – Dice the celery into similar sizes as the carrots. Even though celery is not your typical burger topping, it adds a nice texture to the soup and some added nutrition!
Burger seasoning – Have you ever tried a premixed burger seasoning? So good! This blend gets that perfect burger flavor every time!
Colby jack cheese – Colby jack is the best for the cheeseburger taste and easily melts into the soup base. You can swap out lots of different cheeses based on your preferences. For best results and if time allows, shred it yourself from the block!
Cream cheese – Adds even more creaminess into the soup base.
Half and half – Regular half and half is preferred, but you can also use fat-free.
Frozen tater tots – Choose any frozen packaged bag at the store – crispy crowns, extra toasty, seasoned, or regular!

How To Make Cheeseburger Soup In The Slow Cooker

To begin, cook the ground beef in a skillet (or a multicooker) until it is no longer pink.
Drain excess grease as needed and add the meat to the slow cooker.
Mix the flour with 1/4 cup of the chicken broth until it is smooth and add the mixture to the slow cooker.
Next, add the remaining broth to the slow cooker along with diced carrots and celery, burger seasoning, shredded cheese, cream cheese, and half and half.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Stir to combine the ingredients well until the cheeses are smooth.
Cook tater tots in the oven or an air fryer according to the package directions.
Top individual servings of the soup with additional cheese and tater tots as you wish!

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

This cheeseburger soup recipe is not low-calorie, but totally worth it for the delicious and satisfying taste! It’s one of those foods that just hits the spot. If you are on a keto or low-carb diet, this could be a great meal option depending on the toppings and extra additions that are used.

Here are a couple of options for any variations from the original recipe:

Choose any lean ground meat for a simple swap for ground beef such as ground turkey, ground bison, or ground pork.
Add in any additional veggies that do not have a high water content and could be finely chopped like cauliflower, corn, or green beans.
For a more varied flavor, you could use a more tangy cheese like cheddar or sharp cheddar, or a smoky cheese like gouda. Add a little parmesan or a mix of cheeses for a complex flavor!
Use gluten-free all-purpose flour if needed. Check tater tot packages for gluten-free ingredients as well (usually pre-seasoned packages contain gluten).
Adjust seasoning to your liking by adding more salt and pepper, garlic salt, or just a dash of cayenne pepper for a little spice.

Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup is a simple and tasty comfort food that is topped with crispy tater tot crowns for a winning meal!

Pro Tips

This cheeseburger soup recipe is pretty simple once you brown the ground beef and chop the veggies. After combining everything, you can practically set it and forget it until it’s time to stir at the end! Here are a few tips to make your prep even easier:

Chicken broth or chicken stock is best for this recipe.
This may be the most valuable tip: shred your own cheese for the best results! Pre-shredded cheeses usually have additives that can hinder the smooth melting and blending with the other ingredients. Pre-shredded cheese will certainly still work in a time crunch (I still use them often!), but if you really want a rich, decadent soup, try shredding from the block.
To thicken the soup, reduce the broth at the beginning or remove a little liquid from the soup and whisk with additional flour. Return that mixture back to the slow cooker and stir the soup until smoothly combined.
Burger seasoning makes all the difference! Use the blend that you love to use with traditional burgers on the grill.
A multicooker will make recipes like this even easier. Brown the meat and cook the ingredients all in one pot to save time and extra clean-up.
You may want to double this recipe! The first time we ate this for dinner, we loved it so much that there were no leftovers!

What To Serve With Cheeseburger Soup

You can’t have a cheeseburger without some form of crispy potatoes, right? To make your life easier for busy nights, choose frozen tater tots to top off the soup or a package of frozen french fries or sweet potato fries to warm up in the oven or air fryer.

You could also roast some extra veggies to serve on the side or go pub-style with some more fried veggies like onion rings or okra. Add some sliced scallions, chopped parsley, or extra shredded cheese for the topping. Crunchy french-fried onions or toasted croutons would also add some nice texture when sprinkled over each serving!

And, to add some fresh ingredients to the meal, serve a Caesar or garden salad or a fancier option like Roasted Corn Chopped Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette.

Storing and Reheating

Refrigerate cheeseburger soup leftovers for up to 3 days and reheat over the stove or in the microwave. I don’t recommend freezing this soup after cooking due to the dairy content that won’t defrost and reheat well. However, you CAN prep this recipe ahead for a freezer meal to throw in the slow cooker later!

To prep for the freezer, brown and completely cool the ground beef. Add all the ingredients to a freezer bag (or separate into smaller bags if you like) or freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and follow the original cooking steps.