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}

Up close shot of Skinny Cheeseburger Soup in a bowl topped with pickles.

“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.

All the ingredients in a black soup pot to make a healthy recipe.

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 πŸ˜‰

Ladle full of ground venison in a cheesy broth with tons of veggies.

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.

Pretty photo of a large white soup pot full of Skinny Cheeseburger Soup surrounded by croutons and parsley.

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

Lightened up creamy soup recipe topped with shredded cheese, dill pickles and red onion.

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.

Full bowl of gluten free cheeseburger soup with lots of vegetables.

Now without further adieu here is the ahhhmazing clean eating recipe!

Skinny Cheeseburger Soup

This healthy soup has all the flavors of a cheeseburger, yet packed with tons of vegetables and a lean protein. This quick and easy stovetop soup is healthy and gluten free! Try using lean ground venison or ground turkey like we did. You can also make this low carb by omitting the potatoes, there are 4 other veggies, you won't even notice. This skinny recipe is the best we have tasted especially garnished with pickles!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Dish, Soup/Stew
Cuisine: All American
Keyword: cheeseburger, clean eating, gluten free, healthy, soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 425kcal
Cost: $10

Equipment

  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 knife
  • 1 soup pot
  • 1 wooden spoon

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

Instructions

  • Brown venison in 2 Tbsp butter in large soup pot. If using ground beef, you can omit the butter. I use the butter with ground turkey as well as it helps add flavor to the meat.
  • Add in all chopped veggies, chicken stock, garlic powder, and dried mustard powder. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until veggies are tender. Turn heat to low.
  • Whisk together cold water and cornstarch in small bowl. Slowly pour mixture into pot of soup continue to stir. You will feel the soup start to thicken. At this point turn off burner.
  • Next add in shredded cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper. Once cheese is completely melted and incorporated, stir in half & half. Add in more seasonings as needed, especially salt.
  • Viola, you are done! Top with dill pickles, additional shredded cheese, croutons and/or crackers!

Notes

I’m sure dairy free shredded cheese and half and half can be used, I just haven’t tried it yet!
This quick and easy stovetop Whole Foods Makeover Cheeseburger Soup has all the flavors of a cheeseburger while still being healthy and gluten free! Try using lean ground venison or ground turkey like we did. You can also make this low carb by omitting the potatoes, there are 4 other veggies, you won't even notice. This skinny recipe is the best we have tasted especially garnished with pickles!
This quick and easy stovetop Whole Foods Makeover Cheeseburger Soup has all the flavors of a cheeseburger while still being healthy and gluten free! Try using lean ground venison or ground turkey like we did. You can also make this low carb by omitting the potatoes, there are 4 other veggies, you won't even notice. This skinny recipe is the best we have tasted especially garnished with pickles!

This quick and easy stovetop Whole Foods Makeover Cheeseburger Soup has all the flavors of a cheeseburger while still being healthy and gluten free! Try using lean ground venison or ground turkey like we did. You can also make this low carb by omitting the potatoes, there are 4 other veggies, you won't even notice. This skinny recipe is the best we have tasted especially garnished with pickles!

19 Comments

  1. Is the serving size 1 cup?

  2. These pictures make me hungry!

  3. What a great comforting soup for the colder season! Thanks for sharing it with us at Sunday Fitness and Food Link-Up. :):)

  4. 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 πŸ™‚

  5. Sounds soooo delicious. πŸ˜‰ Thanks for sharing it with us at Savoring Saturdays!

  6. 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

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

  9. Oh this sounds fabulous!

  10. Looks like a great recipe for a cold day. Visiting from #womenwithintention.

  11. Looks delicious! I love “healthifying” recipes!

  12. This soup sounds great and I like the fact that you healthafied it !!!!! Thanks for sharing.

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