Skinny Cheeseburger Soup
The terms “cheeseburger” and “healthy” can finally be used in the same sentence. …Enter this Skinny Cheeseburger Soup recipe!
{Updated from it’s original release in 2016}
“Delicious” just happens to be joining the reunion too.
I was first introduced to Cheeseburger Soup years ago by Jacque, my sister-in-law. She loved the recipe so much she had us over for dinner one night.
I, of course, loved it too and took a copy of the recipe home with me.
I made it several times throughout the next couple of years and it was always a favorite. Thick, cheesy beyond belief, and totally UNHEALTHY! Ha!
14 oz of Velveeta cheese….eeekkkk!
But then years later, the days between Christmas 2015 and New Years came…I honestly didn’t know what I was doing with my life. Such a weird time frame am I right? Your kids are out of school, you are in between holidays, friends and family are busy or bored or just not in the mood to hang out anymore and it leaves a lot of time for thinking.
So in my case I was thinking about food. Because it’s one of my favorite things 😉
I must have been craving a cheeseburger from my high blood sugar due to the sheer amount of sugar I had ingested during the month. Ha! I suddenly remembered that old unhealthy, yet delicious, Cheeseburger Soup I had loved.
Lightbulb moment.
I knew I HAD to make it over. And I did.
Skinny Cheeseburger Soup Ingredients
1 lb ground venison (or ground beef or turkey)
2 Tbsp butter omit if using ground beef
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, thinly sliced
3 celery, thinly sliced
2-3 red potatoes, diced peeling is optional
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
4 cups chicken broth (LOVE Kettle & Fire bone broth in this soup! “HappiHomemade” saves you 20%)
1 tsp dried mustard
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tsp dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup half & half
I even used ground venison. Yes, you read that right. Anybody who has cooked with venison knows it can be tricky. It can taste either amazing or awful. There is no in between.
My trick? Use butter. Butter has magical qualities that turn game meat into something delectable.
This gluten free Skinny Cheeseburger Soup will knock your socks off! It has all the flavors of a cheeseburger, yet full of healthy ingredients.
Now without further adieu here is the ahhhmazing clean eating recipe!
Skinny Cheeseburger Soup
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 soup pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat (venison, beef or turkey)
- 2 Tablespoons butter omit if using ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, thinly sliced
- 3 celery, thinly sliced
- 2-3 red potatoes, diced peeling is optional
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup half & half
Instructions
- Brown ground venison or turkey in 2 Tablespoons butter in a large soup pot. If using ground beef, omit the butter.1 lb ground meat (venison, beef or turkey), 2 Tablespoons butter
- Add in all the chopped veggies, chicken stock, garlic powder, and dried mustard powder. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until all the veggies are tender. Turn heat to low.1 onion, diced, 3 carrots, thinly sliced, 3 celery, thinly sliced, 2-3 red potatoes, diced, 1/2 red bell pepper, diced, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 teaspoon dried mustard, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- In a small bowl, whisk together cold water and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the pot of soup and continue to stir. In 1-2 minutes the soup will start to thicken at this point turn off the burner.3 Tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup cold water
- Add in the shredded cheese, parsley, salt and black pepper. Once cheese is melted and incorporated, stir in the half & half. Add in more seasonings, if necessary.2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 cup half & half
- Top soup with dill pickles, additional shredded cheese, croutons and/or crackers!
Nutrition
We love this soup! So good with pickles on top.
Is the serving size 1 cup?
Hi Kandy, I would say it would be more like 1 1/2 – 2 cups/serving. Enjoy this soup and thanks for stopping by!
These pictures make me hungry!
I couldn’t agree more! I love this soup 🙂 Perfect for any day of the week!
What a great comforting soup for the colder season! Thanks for sharing it with us at Sunday Fitness and Food Link-Up. :):)
Thank you so much for joining our link-up with this wonderful soup recipe! I have pinned it & I am really looking to trying it, I think it will be hit with the entire family!! Have a great week 🙂
I have no doubt it will become a family favorite for your family too! You will have to let us know, Angela 🙂
Sounds soooo delicious. 😉 Thanks for sharing it with us at Savoring Saturdays!
As soon as I saw the pickles on top I had to look closer. Definitely less cheese than typical cheeseburger soup. I have not cooked with venison and just not sure, but would make this for my boys with ground beef. Thanks for sharing on #LetsGetRealSocial
I am definitely trying this for dinner!! Don’t lament the loss of Velveeta…that stuff is NASTY! I will take real cheese any day! Thanks for sharing your recipe on Allergy Free Wednesday, I am featuring it this week!
Yay, Tessa! Yes, I just know you will love it 🙂 Don’t forget the pickles on top! Thanks for the feature, “see” you tomorrow 😉
I love how you have made this recipe healthier! I’m so interested to read that you used venison. I’ve tasted venison but I have never cooked with it myself. Your Cheeseburger Soup really does look delicious. Sharing. Thank you for sharing it with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop. Hope to ‘see’ you again this week – the hop is open now!
Thank you April! Yes, venison can be tricky, but you can take the “gaminess” out of it by adding butter. Butter makes everything better, right?!
Oh this sounds fabulous!
Looks like a great recipe for a cold day. Visiting from #womenwithintention.
Looks delicious! I love “healthifying” recipes!
Hey Kate! Yes, I know you do 🙂 Your recipes are fabulous as well!!
This soup sounds great and I like the fact that you healthafied it !!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rebecca! My favorite thing to do is healthifying our family recipes 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!