HOW TO MAKE BACON CHEESEBURGER SOUP

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup. It’s got everything a Bacon Cheeseburger has except the lettuce, and, I have seen recipes where they put lettuce in it! Arrrgh! Can you say, “Ewww…soggy lettuce?” Onward.

Two of the methods in mine that are different from most recipes are : #1 – I cook the ground beef like a smashburger to get that green brown crust on the beef, and #2: I “minced” the vegetables and the bacon in a food processor before sautéing. My cheese of choice are Velvetta and cheddar, however here is where you can experiment with your own favorite cheeses…I’m trying smoked Gouda and Gruyere next time!

Have fun with this recipe. It’s a little cut down in size…add more ground beef and potatoes if you want. And, it is definitely a full meal soup…maybe a salad on the side and a slice of garlic bread.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces ground beef

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1/2 cup chopped carrots

• 1/2 cup chopped celery

• 2 thick slices bacon, chopped

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1 1/2 cups peeled, cubed, and cooked potatoes

• 1 cup chicken stock

• 1 cup beef stock

• 2 tbsp flour

• 1 cup Velvetta, cubed

• 1 cup shredded cheddar

• 1/2 cup cream

• Kosher salt

• Black pepper

• 2 tbsp sour cream

• Garnish: shredded cheddar, chopped tomatoes, diced green onions

Directions:

• Place the onions, carrots, celery, and bacon in a food processor and pulse a few times until it is minced.

• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add1 tbsp butter then the vegetable and bacon mix. Sautee until the vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper and add the garlic powder. Add 1 more tbsp of butter then sprinkle in 2 tbsp of flour. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add the stocks and bring to a simmer, cover, lower heat and cook for 20 minutes.

• Mold the 12 ounces of ground beef into two balls. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef balls and smash like a smashburger. Cook until crusty then flip and repeat. Remove to a plate a chop.

• To the saucepan, add the cheeses, the cream, and the sour cream and bring to a simmer. Cook until all the cheese is melted and all the ingredients are combined and smooth. Add the cooked potatoes and the cooked ground beef and heat through. Taste and reseason if necessary.

• To serve, ladle into bowls an garnish with shredded cheddar, chopped tomatoes, and diced green onions.