If a bacon cheeseburger and a big bowl of cozy soup had a baby, this would be it. This Cheeseburger Soup has all the flavors you want from a loaded cheeseburger—ground beef, crispy bacon, potatoes, and plenty of fun burger toppings—but in a warm, hearty soup that’s perfect for an easy family dinner.

And while it tastes like comfort food, we packed this one with plenty of veggies too. Carrots, celery, riced cauliflower, and spinach bulk up each bowl while keeping it at just 158 calories with 13.6 grams of protein per cup.

The best part might be the toppings. Set out shredded cheese, diced onions, tomatoes, pickles, mustard, or whatever else your family likes on their burgers and let everyone build their own bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Cheeseburger Soup

• Only 158 calories per cup
• 13.6 grams of protein per serving
• Made with lean ground beef
• Packed with hidden (and not-so-hidden!) veggies
• Bacon gives it plenty of classic cheeseburger flavor
• Makes a big batch for dinner or meal prep
• Easy to customize with your favorite burger toppings
• Cozy enough for soup season but easy enough for a weeknight dinner

What’s in Cheeseburger Soup?

Lean Ground Beef

We use 90/10 ground beef to give the soup that classic cheeseburger flavor while keeping the fat and calories reasonable. Make sure to drain any excess grease after browning.

Bacon

Because if we’re making cheeseburger soup, we might as well make it bacon cheeseburger soup. A little bacon adds so much smoky flavor to the entire pot.

Potatoes

Small yellow potatoes make this soup extra hearty and give you that creamy, comforting texture without needing to make a super heavy cream-based soup.

Dice the potatoes into small, roughly ½-inch pieces so they cook evenly and you get a little potato in every bite.

Riced Cauliflower

A full bag of frozen riced cauliflower is one of my favorite ways to bulk up this soup. It practically disappears into the finished soup while adding more veggies and volume.

And there’s no need to cook it separately—just toss it right in.

Carrots, Celery & Onion

Carrots, celery, onion, and garlic create the flavorful veggie base for the soup and add even more volume and texture.

Spinach

Two cups of chopped baby spinach get stirred in at the end. It wilts quickly into the hot soup and is another really easy way to sneak more veggies into dinner.

Milk & Broth

Instead of using heavy cream, this recipe uses chicken broth, water, and 2% milk to create a lighter soup base. A couple tablespoons of flour help thicken everything up.

Don’t Skip the Cheeseburger Toppings!

This is where the recipe gets really fun.

Serve the soup as-is, or turn it into a loaded cheeseburger bowl with all your favorite toppings. Try:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Diced raw onion
• Fresh diced tomato
• Diced pickles
• Yellow mustard
• Green onions
• Extra crumbled bacon

You could even put everything out on the counter and let everyone build their own bowl. It’s an easy way to make one dinner work for the entire family.

Just remember that any additional toppings aren’t included in the macros listed for the soup.

Great for Meal Prep

Like most soups, this Cheeseburger Soup might be even better the next day after all those flavors have had time to hang out together.

One batch makes 13 one-cup servings, so it’s a great recipe when you want dinner tonight AND lunches ready to go for the next few days.

Portion the cooled soup into individual meal prep containers and store them in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, simply microwave until heated through and add your favorite toppings after reheating.

At 158 calories and 13.6 grams of protein per cup, you can also easily adjust the portion size or add toppings and sides to fit your individual macros.

What to Serve With Cheeseburger Soup

This soup has protein, potatoes, and plenty of veggies, so it can absolutely stand alone as a complete meal.

If you’re serving it for family dinner and want something alongside it, try pairing it with:

• A crusty roll or toasted bread
• A simple green salad
• Roasted vegetables
• Fresh fruit
• A grilled cheese sandwich for hungrier kids or teens

Or skip the sides altogether and go all-in on a loaded bowl with cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions, and mustard.

How to Store Cheeseburger Soup

Allow leftover soup to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can keep the entire batch together or portion it into individual containers for easy grab-and-reheat lunches.

Since the soup will thicken as it sits in the refrigerator, you may want to add a splash of broth, water, or milk when reheating.

Can You Freeze Cheeseburger Soup?

You can freeze this soup, but because it contains both potatoes and milk, the texture may change slightly after freezing and thawing. Potatoes can become softer or slightly grainy, and dairy-based soups sometimes separate.

If that doesn’t bother you, let the soup cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers, leaving a little room at the top for expansion.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop, stirring frequently. Add a splash of milk or broth as needed to bring the soup back to your desired consistency.

For the very best texture, though, I’d choose this one for refrigerator meal prep rather than freezer meal prep.

Easy Variations

• Make it cheesier: Stir shredded cheddar directly into individual bowls or sprinkle it over the top.
• Add some heat: Top with sliced jalapeños or a little hot sauce.
• Use ground turkey: Swap the ground beef for lean ground turkey if that’s what you have on hand.
• Add more veggies: Mushrooms, zucchini, or extra cauliflower would all work.
• Make it extra burger-y: Don’t underestimate a dollop of yellow mustard and plenty of chopped pickles on top. It sounds a little strange until you try it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cheeseburger Soup actually taste like a cheeseburger?

The combination of ground beef, bacon, potatoes, and classic burger toppings gives it those familiar cheeseburger flavors. Adding pickles, cheddar, onions, tomatoes, and mustard on top really drives it home.

Can I make Cheeseburger Soup ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead soup and reheats well, making it especially good for meal prep. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can I use frozen riced cauliflower?

Yes. In fact, that’s what this recipe calls for! There’s no need to thaw or cook it separately before adding it to the soup.

What toppings are best on Cheeseburger Soup?

Our favorites are shredded cheddar, diced pickles, raw onion, fresh tomatoes, mustard, and extra bacon. Think about what you’d normally put on your cheeseburger and go from there!

Nutrition & Macros

Makes: 13 servings

Serving Size: 250g (approximately 1 cup)

Calories: 158

Protein: 13.6g

Carbohydrates: 9g

Fat: 6.8g

Fiber: 2g

This Cheeseburger Soup is proof that comfort food can still fit your macros. It’s hearty, loaded with flavor, packed with veggies, and easy to customize for everyone sitting around your dinner table. Make a big pot for dinner and you’ve got tomorrow’s lunch handled too!

More SFM Soup Recipes

1. Taco Soup
2. Lasagna Soup
3. Tortilla Soup

Find more by searching the keyword “soup” in the search bar at the top of this page.