The Ultimate Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup: A Slow Cooker Delight for Every Season
If you share my deep affection for a classic, juicy cheeseburger, then prepare to be utterly captivated by the experience this Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup brings to your dining table. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a warm, hearty embrace, a true comfort food masterpiece that perfectly marries the beloved flavors of a bacon cheeseburger with the convenience and soul-soothing warmth of a homemade soup. Often, I find myself reminiscing about this dish, a testament to how truly good food can leave a lasting impression. This recipe isn’t just easy; it’s a culinary revelation that’s destined to become a staple in your household, enjoyed enthusiastically all year long.
Why This Slow Cooker Soup Will Become Your New Family Favorite
Imagine the rich, savory taste of perfectly seasoned ground beef, crisp, smoky bacon, and generous amounts of melty cheddar cheese, all infused into a creamy, flavorful broth. That’s precisely what awaits you with this incredible soup. It’s designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. The beauty of a slow cooker recipe is its ability to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary with time. Once you take a few initial steps, your trusty slow cooker handles the rest, allowing the flavors to deepen and intertwine, creating a harmony that’s both familiar and exhilarating. This soup isn’t just delicious; it’s a smart choice for busy individuals and families looking for a satisfying meal without spending hours chained to the stove.
The Unbeatable Taste of Tuttorosso Tomatoes
For this recipe, and indeed for countless others in my kitchen, I rely on my all-time favorite brand of diced tomatoes: Tuttorosso. Even weeks after preparing this soup, the memory of its delightful taste, heavily influenced by these exceptional tomatoes, lingers fondly in my mind. Quality ingredients truly make a difference, and when it comes to canned tomatoes, Tuttorosso consistently delivers superior flavor and texture. As someone whose life and work revolve around food, I can confidently say that choosing the right ingredients is paramount. That’s why Tuttorosso is a constant presence in my pantry, appearing in everything from my vibrant Greek Chicken Soft Tacos to my famously rich Sunday sauce, which I made just yesterday using their exquisite sauce and tomato puree.
My dedication to Tuttorosso stems from extensive experience. I’ve sampled virtually every brand available at my local grocery store, and I always return to Tuttorosso. They are a product of Red Gold Tomatoes, a proud company based in Indiana, known for its commitment to quality. While this particular recipe calls for only half of a large can of their diced tomatoes, I find it incredibly easy to repurpose the remainder. There’s no need for anything to go to waste! The unused portion can be brilliantly integrated into other recipes, such as a refreshing BLT chopped salad with avocado or even another batch of those irresistible Greek Chicken Soft Tacos. Their versatility makes them a kitchen essential.
Embrace Your Slow Cooker All Year Round
It’s common to hear people relegate their crock pots to the colder months, reserving them solely for hearty stews and chilis. However, I’ve recently come to realize just how much more practical and beneficial it is to utilize the slow cooker even when the weather warms up. In fact, it makes perfect sense! One of the greatest advantages is its ability to keep your kitchen — and by extension, your entire house — from overheating. There’s nothing worse than running a hot oven for hours on a scorching summer day. The slow cooker provides a fantastic alternative, allowing you to prepare delicious, home-cooked meals without adding unnecessary heat to your living space.
So, don’t feel compelled to stash your slow cooker away with the autumn leaves and winter coats. Embrace its versatility throughout the spring and summer too! Slow cooking is an unparalleled method for ensuring wholesome, flavorful meals are ready and waiting, even when you’ve been out of the house all day, whether at work, running errands, or enjoying a day of shopping. It offers unparalleled convenience, allowing you to prep in the morning and return to a house filled with inviting aromas and a meal that’s ready to serve. This bacon cheeseburger soup, with its satisfying richness, is a perfect example of a dish that transcends seasonal boundaries, offering comfort and ease no matter the temperature outside.
Indulgence Meets Comfort: A Soup That Pleases Everyone
Let’s be upfront: this Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup isn’t designed to be the centerpiece of a health-food regimen. It’s a dish crafted for pure enjoyment and unapologetic indulgence. If you’re seeking a meal so brimming with flavor that you simply won’t be able to resist a second helping, then this is unequivocally the soup for you. It hits all the right notes: savory, cheesy, hearty, and utterly delicious. Furthermore, I can almost guarantee that even the most discerning and picky eaters in your family will offer no complaints. Its familiar, comforting flavors, reminiscent of a beloved classic, make it an instant hit across all age groups. So go ahead, treat yourself and your loved ones to this delightful, satisfying soup. Enjoy every single spoonful!
Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
A comforting, easy-to-make soup that brings the delicious flavors of a bacon cheeseburger right to your slow cooker. Perfect for any day of the year!
Recipe Type: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: Ashley
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 5 hours
Total time: 5 hours 20 mins
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
- 10 oz bacon, cooked until crispy and then crumbled
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, freshly minced
- 3/4 cup white onion, finely diced
- 1/8 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 of a (28 oz) can Tuttorosso diced tomatoes (undrained, ensuring to get some of the flavorful juices)
- 4 cups chicken stock (low sodium preferred)
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (adds a wonderful depth of flavor)
- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 lb medium shells pasta or other similar small pasta (e.g., elbow macaroni, ditalini)
- Optional garnishes: Additional shredded cheddar cheese, extra crispy bacon crumbles, a dollop of sour cream, or even chopped fresh dill pickles for a tangy counterpoint.
Instructions
- In a large, sturdy skillet, brown the ground beef along with the diced white onion over medium heat. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon as it cooks, ensuring it’s no longer pink. During the final minute or two of cooking, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Season the mixture generously with salt and pepper.
- Once the beef is fully browned, carefully drain any excess grease from the pan. This step is important for preventing a greasy soup and ensuring a cleaner flavor profile.
- Transfer the seasoned, browned beef and onion mixture directly into your 6-quart (or similarly sized) crock pot or slow cooker.
- Add half of the 28 oz can of Tuttorosso diced tomatoes (undrained), the water, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken stock to the slow cooker. Stir all these liquids and seasonings together until well combined.
- Stir in the cooked and crumbled bacon. Give it another gentle stir to ensure even distribution of the smoky flavor throughout the soup base.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for a duration of 5 hours. This long, slow simmer is key to developing the rich, deep flavors of the soup.
- Approximately 30 minutes before you plan to serve the soup, prepare your thickening agent. In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and flour until the mixture is completely smooth with no visible lumps.
- Pour this cream and flour slurry into the slow cooker and whisk it thoroughly into the soup. This will gradually thicken the broth to a desirable creamy consistency.
- Add the four cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the soup. Stir continuously until the cheese is completely melted and beautifully incorporated, making the soup wonderfully rich and creamy. Continue cooking on LOW for an additional 25-30 minutes to allow the soup to further thicken and for the cheese to fully meld.
- While the soup is completing its final cook time, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil on your stovetop. Add the medium shells pasta (or your chosen alternative) and cook according to the package instructions until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Once drained, add the cooked pasta directly into the slow cooker with the finished soup. Stir everything gently to combine, ensuring the pasta is well distributed throughout the creamy, cheesy broth.
- Ladle the hot Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup into individual serving bowls. Garnish each bowl generously with additional shredded cheese and crispy bacon crumbles. For an adventurous twist, consider adding a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of chopped dill pickles. Serve immediately and savor every delicious bite!
Note on Leftovers: Any leftover soup will naturally thicken considerably when stored in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply add a small amount of water or extra chicken stock to achieve your preferred consistency while warming.
Disclaimer: A heartfelt thank you to Tuttorosso for generously sponsoring this conversation. As always, all opinions expressed here remain 100% my own and are based on genuine experience.
Recipe source: This recipe has been thoughtfully adapted from bigbearswife.com, with personal touches and enhancements to bring you the best possible flavor.