When I’m on the hunt for a comforting recipe that the entire family will love, I’ll pull out this reliable cheeseburger chowder.
Not only does it promise to warm you up when the cool weather starts to bite, but it’s loaded with protein and spices for a seriously tasty dinner. Plus, it’s a fun alternative to traditional pasta dishes, soups, or burgers that you might whip up instead!
When I first made this cheeseburger chowder, I couldn’t get over how simple it was to make. Everything’s made in a single pot, clean-up is minimal, and you won’t need to babysit your pot to avoid sticking!
And don’t even get me started on the delightful cheesiness and creaminess that you get from the Velveeta cheese!
I’ve always felt that one serving of this hearty dish was more than enough as there’s just so much going on. But if you have a larger appetite, you can easily load your bowl up with seconds to combat that unpleasant winter chill.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a simple and reliable evening meal or have some crusty rolls you can’t wait to use – this chowder has got you covered.
Why You’ll Love This Cheeseburger Chowder
- It’s the perfect comfort food for those cooler evenings.
- It requires virtually no prep work and clean-up is a breeze!
- You can easily make it ahead if you’re short on time.
- It reheats perfectly which makes it a fabulous choice for Meal Prep Mondays.
- It’s ready in just 45 minutes for those busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Water
- Potatoes
- Chicken noodle soup
- Garlic powder
- Chicken bouillon
- Ground beef
- Milk
- Velveeta cheese
- Sour cream
- Pepper
- Parsley (optional)
How to Make Cheeseburger Chowder
- Step One: Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Step Two: Add onions, carrots, and celery, and then saute the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes until everything has softened.
- Step Three: Add water, potatoes, chicken noodle soup mix, garlic powder, chicken bouillon, ground beef, and pepper.
- Step Four: Stir everything together until combined and then bring the mixture to a boil.
- Step Five: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Step Six: Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in Velveeta cheese, milk, and sour cream.
- Step Seven: Garnish with parsley, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment Needed
You barely need anything to make this cheeseburger chowder come to life. But I recommend using a few key ingredients for the best results possible.
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What to Serve with Cheeseburger Chowder
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skimp on the butter. Although you might want to cut the calories in this dish, the butter is crucial if you want to achieve a creamy base for the sauteed veggies.
- You can use full-fat meat, but lean meat actually works better for this particular recipe. I’ll rarely suggest using lean meat, but I find that using leaner ground beef makes the soup less greasy and gives it a pleasant savory bite.
- Use russet potatoes or another starchy variety if you can find them. These types of potatoes are ideal as they don’t break apart or go mushy in soups! If you don’t have them to hand, just make sure you don’t overcook your potatoes.
- Don’t forget to take the soup off the heat before adding the cream cheese. This should keep the disk perfectly creamy without causing any weird curdling or separation issues that might ruin your soup.
- If the chowder is too thick, you can stir in a bit of water, extra broth, or milk in small increments. After a while, you should reach your desired consistency.
Variations and Substitutions
- If you don’t like ground beef, feel free to switch it out for any protein that you like! I find that ground turkey is a good substitute, but Italian sausage works just as well if you want to spice things up slightly.
- Don’t skimp on the seasoning. The garlic powder and bouillon are crucial to getting the perfect savory flavor in this soup. If you want to dial up the heat, add a few red pepper flakes to the mix!
- I recommend using Velveeta as it’s super creamy, but cheddar cheese can be substituted in a pinch.
- Feel free to top your soup with anything you like! Although you can eat this soup as-is, I like throwing in a few croutons or crackers for a hint of crunch.
Storage Instructions
Not only is this cheeseburger chowder completely delicious, but it stores like a dream!
Yup – it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a dish that is super easy to reheat and meal prep.
If you need to store your soup, let it cool to room temperature before putting it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay tasty for up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to reheat this cheeseburger chowder, I recommend adding just a tiny splash of water to loosen the mix.
Can I Freeze?
Yes and no.
Although you can freeze this cheeseburger soup, I recommend picking out the potatoes and freezing the rest of the mixture.
It’s not totally necessary, but potatoes often go slightly mushy when they’re frozen and defrosted – so, just be warned!
You can either use Ziploc bags or airtight and freezer-safe containers to keep your soup safe for around 3-6 months.
For more yummy soups, check out my soup recipe box. I have lots of selection to keep you going over the winter.
You might also like this Salmon Chowder, Cheeseburger Pizza, Cheesy Chicken Chowder or Corn Chowder. Check out these Cheeseburger Egg Rolls and Impossible Cheeseburger Pie.
Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.
If you make the recipe, rate it on the recipe card below and tag me on Instagram and use #simplystacie. I like sharing the photos on my Instagram stories!
Cheeseburger Chowder
The best comfort food to warm your bones! This creamy, cheesy soup is filled with ground beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and Velveeta cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped into rounds
- 1 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 5 cups water
- 3 cups potatoes, diced
- 1 envelope chicken noodle soup
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon
- 1 lb ground beef, cooked
- 2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup Velveeta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Dash of pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots and celery, Saute for 8 to 10 minutes, until softened.
- Add water, potatoes, chicken noodle soup mix, garlic powder, chicken bouillon, ground beef and pepper. Stir together. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in Velveeta cheese, milk and sour cream. Garnish with parsley.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 bowlAmount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 13.3gSaturated Fat: 8.9gTrans Fat: 0.1gUnsaturated Fat: 3.1gCholesterol: 61.8mgSodium: 479.2mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2.8gSugar: 7.8gProtein: 22g
Ron says
It’s been very cold here on the Prairies too. This soup would be perfect to try.
John Smith says
What a great chowder! It looks wonderful!
Julie Waldron says
This sounds really good, it would be great for a cold winter night. I’m saving this one, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Lisa Joy Starr says
This looks great but I’m allergic to dairy, so can’t have Velveeta. Do you think I can substitute butternut sqush, like others have done in other recipes calling for cheese? I’ve made an awesome mac’n’cheese with butternut squash and you wouldn’t know it wasn’t cheese. Would I need to add some other seasonings to make up for the swap because of the taste differences? You may not know the answer but I wanted to ask anyway.
Lisa Joy Starr
Stacie says
You could try that. It sounds like it would be delicious.
Debbie WhiteBeattie says
This chowder looks delicious from your picture but it’s the ingredients that really makes it sound delicious to. I’ll definitely be making this chowder this winter.
Jess says
Pinned! These sound amazing!! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Krista M says
Coming home after being out on a cold day needs a warm, comforting meal like this! And with “cheeseburger” in the name, my kids couldn’t refuse!
patti @ pandora's box says
This looks so delish!
The Freshman Cook says
Stacie, I have to say I have been in some cold weather in my life, but never that cold!! Brrrrrrr! I love this recipe and it seems like the perfect soup to sip while dreaming of sunny beaches! Thanks so much for sharing at Celebrate It!
Mother of 3 says
Wow; those are some cold temps! This chowder looks amazing and just perfect for a cold winter’s day. Pinned #homemattersparty