Gathering the right ingredients is the first step to a truly satisfying slow cooker cheeseburger soup. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and some helpful tips:

• Ground Beef: A cornerstone of the cheeseburger flavor. You can use 80/20 for richness or a leaner cut like 90/10 for a lighter soup. Feel free to substitute with ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground venison for a different twist. Our prep tip below on bulk cooking ground beef can make this step even faster if you have pre-cooked meat in your freezer.
• Onion: Adds a foundational aromatic flavor. Any type of onion will work, but yellow or white onions are common choices for savory dishes.
• Carrots: Sweet and vibrant, carrots add both flavor and color. Save time by using pre-shredded carrots, found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
• Celery: Contributes a subtle, earthy flavor and a bit of texture, completing the classic mirepoix base alongside onions and carrots.
• Vegetable Oil: Essential for sautéing the vegetables. Butter is an excellent alternative for an even richer flavor profile.
• Chicken Broth or Stock: Forms the liquid base of the soup. Store-bought canned or boxed chicken broth works perfectly. For a deeper flavor, consider making your own stock! If you’ve recently roasted a chicken or used a rotisserie chicken, simply cover the carcass and skin with water in a slow cooker and simmer for several hours. Strain the liquid, and you’ll have a rich, homemade stock ready to use or store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Frozen Hash Brown Potatoes: This is a fantastic shortcut! Frozen diced hash browns cook down beautifully and create a creamy, potato-filled soup without the need for peeling and chopping. If you prefer, you can certainly use diced fresh potatoes; just ensure they are cut into small, uniform pieces for even cooking.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used as a thickener to give the soup its desirable body and creamy consistency.
• Velveeta Cheese: The secret to that incredibly smooth, creamy, and melty texture that mimics classic diner cheese. While you can substitute shredded cheddar cheese, Velveeta truly provides the unique, velvety base that makes this soup shine. If opting for cheddar, you might want to reduce the amount by one-third to one-half, as it doesn’t melt quite as smoothly and can make the soup thicker.
• Milk: Adds to the soup’s creamy texture and helps create a balanced base with the cheese. Whole milk or 2% milk is recommended for richness.
• Dried Basil: A classic herb that complements the savory flavors of beef and cheese, adding depth to the soup.
• Sour Cream: Stirred in at the end, sour cream adds a touch of tangy richness and extra creaminess, giving the soup a luxurious finish.
• Salt and Pepper: To season the soup to perfection. Always taste and adjust as needed.
• Garnish (Not Pictured): Fresh basil, parsley, or sliced green onions. These fresh herbs add a pop of color and a burst of fresh flavor, enhancing the “cheeseburger” experience. Shredded cheddar cheese is also a popular garnish.

For precise quantities, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.

Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Delicious Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

Preparing this Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup is straightforward and highly rewarding. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result:

1. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, brown your ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Make sure to break it up into small, even crumbles. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat thoroughly. Transfer the cooked beef to a separate bowl and set it aside. This step is crucial for developing deep, savory flavors.
2. Prepare Vegetables: While the beef is browning, finely chop the onion and dice the celery. Having your vegetables prepped will make the cooking process seamless.
3. Sauté Aromatics: Using the same skillet (no need to clean it if there’s residual flavor from the beef!), add 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (or butter). Sauté the chopped onion, shredded carrots, diced celery, and 1 teaspoon of dried basil. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and slightly softened, typically for about 5-7 minutes. This gentle sauté brings out their natural sweetness and aromatic qualities.

4. Combine in Slow Cooker: Carefully transfer the sautéed vegetables, along with any remaining oil from the skillet, into your slow cooker.
5. Add Flour: Sprinkle ¼ cup of all-purpose flour over the vegetables in the slow cooker. Mix well with a spoon or spatula until the flour is evenly distributed and coats the vegetables. This forms the roux that will thicken your soup.
6. Add Liquids and Solids: Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth. Add the frozen diced potatoes and the previously cooked ground beef. Stir everything gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are combined and the flour has dissolved into the broth.
7. Introduce Cheese and Dairy: Cube the Velveeta cheese into manageable pieces. Add the cubed Velveeta, 1½ cups of milk, and season with salt and pepper to taste into the crockpot. Stir gently once more to combine the new additions.

8. Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on low for approximately 5 hours. Make sure to stir the soup every couple of hours to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking, especially for the cheese to melt smoothly and integrate into the soup. The potatoes should be tender and the soup thickened to your liking.
9. Finish with Sour Cream: Once the cooking time is complete and the soup is ready, turn off the heat. Stir in ¼ cup of sour cream until it’s completely blended and the soup has a uniform, creamy texture. This step adds a final touch of richness and a slight tang.
10. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. For an extra special touch, garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, fresh basil strips, chopped parsley, or sliced green onions, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Delicious Variations & Topping Ideas for Your Cheeseburger Soup

One of the best things about this Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup is its versatility! Feel free to customize it with these variations and creative toppings:

• Make it Spicy: For those who love a kick, add a can of drained diced green chilis to the slow cooker along with the broth. Alternatively, garnish individual bowls with sliced fresh jalapeños, crispy fried jalapeños (my absolute favorite addition!), or use Pepper Jack cheese instead of Velveeta (or a mix of both) for an all-over warmth. A dash of hot sauce like Tabasco or Sriracha at serving also works wonders.
• Add a Dill Pickle Tang: To truly capture the authentic cheeseburger experience, top each bowl with a few thin slices of dill pickles or a spoonful of relish. The briny, tangy flavor perfectly cuts through the richness of the cheese and beef.
• Boost the Crunch: A cheeseburger often has a satisfying crunch, and your soup can too! Top each serving with crispy fried onions, crushed potato chips (plain or even BBQ flavor), toasted croutons, or even crumbled bacon bits for an irresistible textural contrast.
• Different Cheese, Different Flavor: While Velveeta is unmatched for creaminess, you can experiment with other cheeses. A sharp cheddar will give a more intense cheese flavor, while a Monterey Jack offers milder melt. A blend of cheddar and mozzarella can also be delightful. Remember that harder cheeses may not melt as smoothly as Velveeta, so grate them finely and stir well.
• Extra Veggies: Boost the nutrition and texture by stirring in a cup of frozen corn, peas, or diced bell peppers during the last hour of cooking. Sliced mushrooms can also be sautéed with the other vegetables.
• Smoky Flavor: A pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of liquid smoke can add a delicious, backyard BBQ essence to the soup.

Smart Time-Saving Hacks for Busy Weeknights

Even though slow cooker recipes are generally hands-off, a little pre-planning can make this Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup incredibly fast to assemble in the morning:

• Bulk Cook Ground Beef: This is a game-changer! When you find ground beef on sale, buy several pounds and cook it all at once. Brown the beef, drain the fat, and then portion it into freezer-safe bags, flattening them for easy storage and quick thawing. Having pre-cooked ground beef in your freezer means you can skip the browning step entirely for future recipes like this soup, casseroles, or skillet meals. Cooked beef takes up less space and buying on sale saves money – it’s a win-win for meal prep!
• Freeze Sautéed Aromatics: Raw onions and celery tend to become too watery and mushy when thawed from frozen, leading to a boiled rather than sautéed texture in your dish. The solution? Sauté them first! Cook down chopped onions and celery (and carrots too!) until tender, then let them cool before freezing them in individual portions. This preserves their flavor and texture, allowing you to add them straight to the slow cooker from the freezer, completely bypassing the skillet cooking in this recipe.
• Utilize Pre-Prepped Ingredients: Don’t hesitate to lean on convenience items like pre-shredded carrots, frozen diced hash browns, or even pre-chopped onions from the grocery store. These small shortcuts add up and can significantly reduce your active preparation time.

If you’ve got cooked ground beef and sautéed onions and celery stashed in your freezer, you can literally skip almost all the initial skillet cooking in this recipe! Just combine these pre-prepped ingredients directly in the slow cooker with the rest of the components, and you’re good to go.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions

This Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup is excellent for making ahead or enjoying as leftovers. Here’s how to best store, freeze, and reheat it:

• Refrigeration: Leftover cheeseburger soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When reheating, the soup may have thickened considerably. Add a splash of additional broth, milk, or water to reach your desired consistency, stirring well as it warms. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or larger batches gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
• Freezing Cooked Soup: While you *can* freeze the fully cooked soup, the texture of the potatoes and cheese may change slightly upon thawing, sometimes becoming a bit mealy or separating. For best results, follow our partial preparation method for freezing.
• Freezing for Optimal Results (Partial Preparation): To freeze this cheeseburger soup recipe for the best possible outcome, prepare it up to the point of (and including) adding the flour. Combine the cooked ground beef, the sautéed vegetables mixed with flour, and the frozen hash browns in a freezer-safe container or bag. Label it clearly with the date and instructions for finishing the soup. This method ensures that the dairy and potatoes maintain their best texture when cooked fresh after thawing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)