Indulge in Keto Cheeseburger Soup: The Ultimate Low-Carb Comfort Food You Can't Miss!

For those following a keto or low-carb diet, finding satisfying and flavorful meals can sometimes be a challenge. However, this Easy Keto Cheeseburger Soup offers a delicious and comforting solution. Packed with the flavors of a classic cheeseburger but without the bun, potatoes, or excessive carbs, this soup is a hearty and family-friendly dish perfect for a chilly evening.

Why You'll Love This Keto Cheeseburger Soup

This soup is more than just a low-carb delight; it's a versatile and convenient meal option. Here's why it's a winner:

Keto-Friendly and Gluten-Free: This recipe replaces traditional high-carb ingredients like potatoes and flour with keto-friendly alternatives like riced cauliflower and xanthan gum.
Hearty and Comforting: With ground beef, a cheesy broth, and savory seasonings, this soup provides a satisfying and warming meal experience.
Quick and Easy to Make: Ready in about 30 minutes, this one-pot dish is perfect for busy weeknights.
Versatile: Customize the soup with your favorite cheeseburger toppings and variations.
Great for Meal Prep: This soup is ideal for batch cooking and meal prepping, as the flavors meld together even more beautifully overnight.

Key Ingredients for Keto Cheeseburger Soup

The success of this soup lies in the quality and combination of its ingredients. Here's a breakdown of the essential components:

Ground Beef: Opt for ground beef with moderate fat content, such as 80/20, for optimal flavor. It is best chunky and not fully crumbled. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for a lower-fat option, or ground buffalo, ostrich, or venison for a more exotic flavor.
Riced Cauliflower: This low-carb alternative to potatoes adds bulk and body to the soup. Riced cauliflower cuts down on the “strong cauliflower” flavor. You can cook riced cauliflower in the microwave according to package directions.
Cheese: A combination of cheeses creates the creamy and cheesy base of the soup. Cream cheese adds a velvety texture, while sharp cheddar cheese provides a classic cheeseburger flavor. Monterey Jack, Gouda, or pepper jack can be used for variations. Shred the cheese yourself to avoid fillers that can make it clump instead of melting smoothly.
Broth: Chicken broth is often preferred for its lighter color and less dominant flavor compared to beef broth, but a high-quality, low-sodium beef broth can also be used.
Aromatics: Onion and garlic form the aromatic base of the soup. Saute onion and minced garlic in butter until translucent.
Spices and Seasonings: Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce enhance the overall flavor profile.
Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the soup.
Optional Additions: Bacon, pickles, chopped tomatoes, celery, and carrots can be added for extra flavor and texture.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Keto Cheeseburger Soup

Follow these simple steps to create your own delicious Keto Cheeseburger Soup:

Cook the Bacon (Optional): If using bacon, cook diced bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy. Remove from the pot and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Remove the remaining bacon grease from the pot, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pot and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the ground beef is cooked through and crumbled, and the onions are soft, about 8 minutes. Drain off any remaining grease in the pot, if necessary.
Sauté Aromatics and Cauliflower: In a large saucepan, sauté onion and minced garlic in one tablespoon of butter until translucent. Add the other 2 tablespoons of butter and the riced cauliflower to the onion/garlic mixture and saute for 5 minutes, stirring so that it doesn't stick.
Combine Ingredients: Add ground beef, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and spices. Stir in the tomato paste.
Simmer: Bring the soup mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add Cheese: Add cheddar cheese a cup at a time, stirring with a whisk so that it melts evenly. Once the cheese is melted, add the softened cream cheese, so the soup thickens.
Thicken (Optional): For a thicker consistency, remove about a cup of the soup from the pot and use an immersion blender. Alternatively, sprinkle 1/2 tsp xanthan gum on top of the soup, then let it sit for approximately 10 minutes to thicken.
Simmer and Serve: Simmer for 5 minutes to allow the soup to thicken further. Serve hot, topped with crispy bacon, shredded cheese, chopped pickles, a pinch of creole seasoning, or thinly sliced green onions.

Tips and Variations

Make it Your Own: Customize the soup with your favorite cheeseburger toppings, such as diced tomatoes, pickles, or a dollop of sour cream.
Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Add Vegetables: Incorporate other low-carb vegetables like chopped celery, carrots, or broccoli florets.
Use Different Cheeses: Experiment with different cheese combinations, such as Monterey Jack, Gouda, or pepper jack.
Slow Cooker Option: Brown the meat with onions (season with salt and pepper to taste) and add them to the slow cooker. Now add in your broth, cream cheese, and tomato paste. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

Serving: Serve the soup hot, garnished with your favorite toppings. Keto croutons or sugar-free gherkins can also be added.
Storage: Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. You may need to add extra broth to the soup as it tends to thicken in the fridge.
Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. For the ultimate in convenience, you can freeze your soup in individual portion sizes. To defrost: Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. For this low-carb cheeseburger soup, make sure to slightly undercook the vegetables if you know you will be freezing it. This is key if you want to avoid them becoming soggy when the soup is reheated.

Nutritional Information

One serving of this Keto Cheeseburger Soup contains approximately 3.3g net carbs. Remember that nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and is an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs.

Read also: Versatile Keto Cheeseburger Cups

tags: #cheeseburger #keto #soup