Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup

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This Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup is super cozy, packed with favorite cheeseburger flavors and takes 30 minutes to make. Perfect for cold nights, busy weeknights, and the whole family will love it (even picky eaters)!

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If you love cheeseburgers, be sure to try my Cheeseburger Sliders.

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one pot macaroni cheeseburger soup

Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup is packed with all the same flavors of a classic cheeseburger and made with wholesome ingredients you can feel good about. You only need about 30 minutes to make this delicious soup from start to finish and it’s made in one pot (yay for minimal cleanup)!

Carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and lean ground beef are simmered and cooked in a flavorful broth and the macaroni pasta adds another layer of comfort. We add extra shredded cheese and a splash of milk to add a creamy texture.

Serve this soup with crispy french fries, tater tots, potato chips, crusty bread, garlic bread, or sweet potato fries to make this meal complete. It will satisfy all your burger cravings and you can feel good about it since it’s on the healthier side.

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key ingredients

• Ground beef: The star ingredient! I love using the 90/10 ground beef meat so it doesn’t get dry, but you can also use extra lean ground beef meat if you prefer. Other meat options are ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a plant-based meat.
• Seasonings: Oregano, Italian seasoning, thyme, salt and black pepper.
• Onion: You’ll need one medium yellow or white onion.
• Vegetables: Carrots and celery.
• Garlic: Fresh chopped garlic is best as opposed to using the jarred garlic.
• Milk: Makes the soup creamy, whole milk is preferred.
• Elbow Macaroni pasta: You can use any type of small pasta such as acini de pepe, orzo, ditalini, and small shells.
• Cheese: Extra sharp cheddar cheese works best and always be sure to shred your own cheese if you can.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is used to thicken the soup.
• Broth: Low-sodium beef broth is always recommended so you can control the salt. You can also use vegetable broth, bone broth, or chicken broth but I find the beef broth adds the most flavor for this soup..
• Secret ingredient: White vinegar or pickle juice! This adds the “cheeseburger” flavor. A little goes a long ways!

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how to make cheeseburger macaroni soup

Brown beef: Heat a large pot to medium heat, add ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and onto a dish lined with a paper towel. Do not remove grease.

Sauté vegetables: In the same pot add butter (or olive oil), carrots, celery, onion, and seasonings. Stir and sauté for a few minutes until fragrant, then add garlic and sauté for another few minutes.

Add flour: Add flour to coat all the vegetables and cook 1 more minute.

Add liquids: Add broth and deglaze the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to get all the pieces that are stuck (these have tons of flavor!). Let simmer for 15 minutes.

Cook pasta: Add pasta and milk and cook for 7-8 minutes or until al dente.

Add remaining ingredients, stir, and enjoy! Stir in cheese, vinegar and browned meat and mix until cheese is melted. Serve and top with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

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pro tips

• Add spice: Add a couple splashes of your favorite hot sauce or add a teaspoon or two of chili powder or cayenne pepper.
• Extra creamy: Add a splash of heavy cream.
• Thicker soup: If you want your soup on the thicker side, whisk in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and add it to the broth.
• Cutting the veggies: Make sure all the vegetables are cut the same size. I like to dice them all to get small-sized pieces in each bite. 
• Shred your own cheese= an extra cheesy soup: This will enhance the creaminess. Pre-shredded cheese is covered with an anti-caking agent so the cheese won’t melt as well.

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recipe variations

• Beef alternative: Ground turkey, ground chicken, or a plant-based meat works perfectly in this soup.
• Bacon Cheeseburger Soup: Add cooked and chopped bacon pieces to the soup to add a smokey flavor.
• Toppings: Top the soup with your favorite cheeseburger fixings such as shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, diced tomatoes, and diced onion.
• Nontraditional cheeseburger toppings: Other toppings to add are crispy bacon pieces, croutons, a dollop of sour cream, fresh parsley, green onions, and chives.
• Extra cheeseburger flavor: Swap the sharp cheddar cheese for Velveeta cheese or American cheese to give the soup an extra cheeseburger flavor.
• Pasta alternative: If you didn’t want to use pasta, you could swap it for diced potatoes.

slow cooker Cheeseburger macaroni soup

If you want to cook your soup in the slow cooker all you have to do is follow steps 1-4, and cooke meat in a large skillet or frying pan. Once browned, transfer beef to a slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients except for the macaroni. Cook on high for 1-2 hour or low for 3-4 hours. Add macaroni 10-15 minutes before serving.

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leftovers & storage

To-store: Store any leftover Cheeseburger Soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 3-4 days. When ready to reheat, place in the microwave to warm.

To-freeze: Place cooled soup in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours or place in the refrigerator overnight.

To-reheat: Reheat leftovers in the microwave or a small saucepan. You may have to add a splash of broth to add more liquid since the pasta can absorb the broth.

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