One-Pot Macaroni Cheeseburger Soup – NO VELVEETA!
This cheeseburger soup recipe takes just 30 minutes to throw together and everything cooks in one pot! It’s an easy, cheesy comfort food that your whole family will love – and it’s made without VELVEETA! Just real, whole ingredients that you can feel good about feeding your family!
The Best One-Pot Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
- This macaroni soup recipe combines all of the flavors you love of cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese. It’s got all the same ingredients as your favorite burger, minus the ketchup and mustard, and add perfectly al dente macaroni noodles that boil right along with the other ingredients! It might sound like an odd combination, but I promise you the creamy, cheesy base combined with al dente elbow noodles, and seasoned ground beef is a *chef’s kiss* bowl of delicious!
- One of the best parts about this soup is that it’s made with all real ingredients! No processed Velveeta cheese here! The creaminess comes from a simple roux made by coating the veggies in flour, and then adding broth, heavy cream, and sharp cheddar.
Ingredients for Cheeseburger Soup
Ground Beef
I like to use 80/20 organic grass-fed ground beef for this recipe. Feel free to use plant-based meat or black beans in place of the beef if you want to keep it vegetarian. Or use ground turkey for a bit of extra protein. Feel free to add some crispy crumbled bacon and transform this into a bacon cheeseburger soup recipe as well!
Onion, Carrot, Celery
This combination is also referred to as mirepoix. These aromatic vegetables form the base for many soups and stews. Check your grocery store for a pre-chopped mirepoix mix to save prep time!
Garlic
Freshly minced garlic is going to add a delicious depth of flavor to this soup. Feel free to sub with half a teaspoon or so of garlic powder in place of the fresh garlic.
Dried Herbs
Dried oregano and dried thyme are my herbs of choice. You could also use Italian seasoning as a substitute.
Flour
All-purpose flour works best in this recipe. It’s going to give your soup the perfect creamy texture without having to add a cornstarch slurry.
Chicken Broth
Feel free to use veggie broth or beef broth in place of the chicken broth if you’d like.
Elbow Macaroni
You can use your favorite short cut of pasta for this soup. I love the classic shape of elbow macaroni noodles but feel free to use whatever your family likes! If you’re looking to use different carbohydrates in place of the pasta, try diced Russet or Yukon gold potatoes (simmer just until fork tender). You could even try cauliflower for a low-carb option if you’d like!
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is what gives this soup its rich, silky texture and hearty flavor. You could sub half and half in its place but the consistency of the soup will be a bit thinner.
Sharp Cheddar
This gives the soup a delicious cheesy flavor and creamy texture. Sharp cheddar on its own has quite a strong flavor, but when it is combined with all the ingredients in this soup it mellows and tastes delicious! Feel free to sub with mild cheddar if you prefer.
How to Make Cheeseburger Soup in One Pot
Hamburger Bun Croutons
- A fun way to complete the cheeseburger theme in this soup is to make crispy, crunchy croutons out of sesame-seed hamburger buns. You can use my super simple homemade crouton recipe as a guide.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place sesame seed bun cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and whatever seasonings you’d like – I love dried oregano and garlic powder – and toss to coat evenly. Bake for 10 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
Cheeseburger Soup
While the sesame bun croutons are baking, heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Brown the beef, crumbling with a spatula until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
Heat butter in the same large pot over medium heat (no need to wipe out or drain the grease). Saute onion, carrots, and celery, along with a large pinch of salt and pepper in the same pot over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Reduce heat, add garlic, oregano, and thyme, and cook for another minute.
Then add flour and stir to coat veggies. Cook for one more minute, stirring frequently.
Add a splash of chicken broth to deglaze the pot, scraping all the yummy bits off the bottom.
Stir in the remaining chicken broth and macaroni noodles along with another pinch of salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
Simmer for 5-7 minutes or pasta is al dente. Stir in heavy cream and shredded cheese.
Then add the white balsamic vinegar and cooked ground beef back into the pot.
Heat the soup over medium heat for a couple of minutes, until the beef is heated through. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve soup with sesame seed bun croutons and garnish with green onions and shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best Cheeseburger Soup
- Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts better and will give you a smoother texture. It’s worth the extra few minutes of prep! Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in cellulose which helps prevent them from clumping but also means they won’t melt as well.
- This cheeseburger chowder will thicken as it cools. Feel free to add an extra splash or two of broth of cream to loosen it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheese soup made of?
This cheesy soup is made with a variety of veggies, macaroni noodles, and ground beef along with sharp cheddar, heavy cream, and chicken broth. It’s an easy, cheesy soup that your whole family will love!
How do you add cheddar to soup?
The best way to add shredded cheddar to soup is towards the end of the cooking time and along with heavy cream. You’ll want to make sure that the soup isn’t too hot when you add the cheese or it will turn grainy in texture instead of melting into the soup. The heavy cream helps to bring the temp of the soup down a bit and allow the cheese to melt nicely into the broth.
What is cheeseburger soup made of?
It is made with ground beef, mirepoix, dried herbs, flour, broth, elbow macaroni, heavy cream, and sharp cheddar cheese. You won’t see any Velveeta on this ingredient list! And the best part is that it all cooks together in one pot!
Make Cheeseburger Soup Ahead of Time
Because the noodles are cooked right in the pot, this soup is going to thicken considerably when made ahead of time and the noodles will continue to soak up moisture as it sits. If you want to make this soup ahead, I recommend cooking the noodles separately and then combining the soup with the noodles just before serving so that the consistency stays smooth and creamy and the noodles aren’t mushy. If you’ll be enjoying this soup right away, however, this won’t be a problem!
Storing Leftover Cheeseburger Soup
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As mentioned above, the noodles will continue to soak up moisture as they sit, however, the soup will still be delicious after a day or two in the fridge!
Reheating Cheeseburger Soup
Reheat soup in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until warmed through. You will likely need to add a splash of broth or cream to loosen the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving!
Things You Can Add to Cheeseburger Soup
Feel free to add more of your favorite flavors to this cheeseburger chowder! Some of our suggestions include:
- shredded pepper jack cheese
- crispy bacon
- fresh chopped parsley
- sour cream
- dill pickles
- diced tomatoes
More Easy Soup Recipes
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One Pot Macaroni Cheeseburger Soup
This cheeseburger soup recipe takes just 30 minutes to throw together and everything cooks in one pot! It’s an easy, cheesy comfort food that your whole family will love – and it’s made without VELVEETA!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme, divided
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz. uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
For the Croutons:
- 4 sesame seed buns, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Garnish:
- sliced green onion, for garnish
- shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place sesame seed bun cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat evenly. Bake for 10 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Brown ground beef, crumbling with a spatula until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Heat 6 tablespoons of butter in the same large pot over medium heat (no need to wipe it out or drain the grease).
- Add 1 cup diced onion, 1 cup sliced carrots, 1 cup sliced celery, and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Turn heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium and add 5 cloves minced garlic, the remaining 1 teaspoon oregano, and the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme, and cook for another minute.
- Then add 4 tablespoons flour and stir to coat veggies. Cook for one more minute, stirring frequently.
- Add a splash of chicken broth to deglaze the pot, scraping all the yummy bits off the bottom.
- Stir in the rest of the 8 cups of chicken broth and 8 oz. of uncooked macaroni noodles along with another pinch of salt and pepper. Turn heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer.
- Once it begins to simmer, turn the heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes or pasta is al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Remove soup from heat. Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and 8 oz. of shredded cheese.
- Then add 1 teaspoon of white balsamic vinegar. Add cooked ground beef back into the pot. Heat the soup over medium heat for a couple minutes, until the beef is heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve soup with sesame seed bun croutons and garnish with green onions and shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!
Notes
- Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts better and will give you a smoother texture. It’s worth the extra few minutes of prep! Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in cellulose which helps prevent them from clumping but also means they won’t melt as well.
- This cheeseburger chowder will thicken as it cools. Feel free to add an extra splash or two of broth of cream to loosen it up.
Another question instead of pasta can you add potatoes? I’ve made the cheeseburger soup with Velveeta before and that has potatoes in it. I just tend to like this one more
Sure! Pasta would be delicious in place of the potatoes!
I was about to try this for the first time and I have everything but I don’t have heavy cream. I only have half-and-half will that work do you think?
I think half and half will work in a pinch! Myabe just start with a little less so that it doesn’t get too thin!
Can you use sausage instead of ground beef?
Sausage would work well in place of the beef. Great question, Suzie!
I look forward to trying this recipe. However, is it 8 servings or 10. The recipe card says 10 servings. The nutrition info says 1/8 of recipe.
Can’t wait to hear what you think, Rose! I just updated the recipe card to reflect 8 servings but honestly the serving size is totally subjective. I hestitate to even include it as everyone’s dietary needs are different so their serving size will vary.
I cut the recipe in half as there are only 2 of us and also cut the amount of macaroni in half. It reheated well and we both loved it.
Kylie, I made the soup today and it turned out beautifully! I added a splash of pickle juice and Worcestershire sauce to the recipe. Thanks so much for the recipe! My family loves it!
Great idea adding the pickle juice and Worcestershire, Joanne! I bet those flavors worked so well! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review – I really appreciate it 🙂
Do you think almond flour would work in place of flour to make it gluten free? I love soups and can’t wait to try this.
Unfortunately, I have no experience with almond flour so I can’t say for sure if it will work or not. Do you often replace all-purpose flour with almond flour and have good results? If so, then I would imagine that it would work but I just can’t say for sure.
To thicken soup I use corn starch to make it gluten free.
Great idea, Kelly!
We made the soup and it was really good, the family loved it. However, I’m curious why you call it cheeseburger macaroni soup? My kids laughed and said it tasted nothing like cheeseburgers, that their cheeseburgers don’t have carrots on them, and I should add pickles! What was the inspiration for the soup?
It has a lot of the same ingredients as cheeseburgers – mainly the meat and cheese. And also if you make the hamburger bun croutons with it you’ve got everything you’d use in a cheeseburger! The carrots add flavor. I’m so glad that you enjoyed the cheeseburger soup!
This soup was amazing! Tried it for the first time tonight and the whole family enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing!
This was delicious. And the buns turned into croutons are tasty.
Love this, and my husband did also!!! Is there a good way to make it/ prep it and crock pot it for an event?
I haven’t tried it in a crock pot but I imagine if you make it on the stovetop and then transfer it to a slow cooker it would work and stay warm to serve to guests! I just wouldn’t let it sit too long as the noodles will continue to cook and soak up the liquid.
This was amazing! Made it with gluten-free elbows, following the same cooked time, and the noodles didn’t get mushy. Will definitely be adding this into my rotation.
Can you use beef broth?
Of course! Beef broth would work just fine. It will change the flavor slightly but will still be delicious!
Made this today! Quadrupled the recipe and delivered quart containers to our parents and several other family friends. It’s delicious!
Wow! You’ve got some lucky parents and friends!! That was so kind of you, Meredith. Glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks for leaving a review!
What does the white balsamic vinegar do? That’s the only part that doesn’t sound yummy. Can I substitute regular balsamic if I dont want to buy the white for one Tblsp?
Honestly the vinegar in this soup is absolute MAGIC! Adding vinegar to any creamy soup brightens all the other flavors. I encourage you to try the soup before adding the vinegar and then again after and see if you can spot the different. Adding acid to a creamy soup just makes all the flavors sing. Here is an article that explains it a bit more if you are curious for more information: https://www.thekitchn.com/dull-soup-fix-i-159052 Yes! Regular balsamic or even white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar will all work. Hope that helps, Marcie!
Amazing soup! So great, thank you so much for the recipe!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this cheeseburger soup, Sunshine! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
This soup recipe is delicious. It is nice that the soup may be made in one pot.
Question: can you freeze this soup?
I don’t love to freeze this soup unfortunately! The pasta likely won’t freeze, thaw, and reheat well.
Way too much oregano but other than that, delish!
You’re welcome to adjust the dried herbs to suit your family’s taste. Glad you enjoyed it otherwise, Aimee! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂