Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup

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Ultimate Slow-Cooker Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup

Since you’ve been loving easy and comforting slow-cooker meals lately, here is a special Slow-Cooker Version of Cheeseburger Macaroni Soup! It gives you all the rich, cheesy, burger-inspired goodness with almost zero effort—the crockpot does all the heavy lifting.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth

  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni pasta (add in the last 20 minutes)

  • 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk

  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded

  • Optional toppings: Diced dill pickles, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions

Instructions

  1. Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the meat is fully browned. Drain off the excess grease and stir in the minced garlic for the final 1 minute.

  2. Transfer to Slow Cooker: Transfer the cooked beef and onions into your slow cooker.

  3. Add Soup Base: Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.

  4. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours (or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours) to let all the flavors meld together.

  5. Cook the Pasta: About 20 to 30 minutes before you are ready to serve, stir the uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH until the pasta is tender.

  6. Make it Creamy and Cheesy: Turn off the slow cooker (or switch to warm). Stir in the heavy cream and gradually add the freshly shredded cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the soup is smooth and velvety.

  7. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite burger garnishes like crisp bacon, pickles, or green onions!

Pro Tip: Never add the dry pasta at the very beginning of a long slow-cooker cycle, or it will completely turn to mush! Adding it for the last 20-30 minutes ensures it cooks perfectly in the rich broth.

Would you like a recommendation for a quick homemade garlic bread recipe to pair with this slow-cooker soup?

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