This fast and easy bacon cheeseburger soup comes together in under an hour and is jam-packed with flavor. It’s beefy, cheesy, and topped with favorites – bacon, onion, cheese, jalapeno, tomato, and buttery, garlicky, low-carb/keto-friendly croutons. If you like this, you’ll love my Loaded Cauliflower Soup and Roasted Butternut Squash Curry Soup!
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Peace family,
It may still be 100 degrees in Texas, but it’s the beginning of September dang-it and I’m calling it fall! I’m well aware that autumn doesn’t begin until September 22 – I consider it my own personal holiday. But 2020 has been nothing short of a monster and I’m ready to incorporate more of my favorite things into my day-to-day and that includes soup. Lots of it!
Enter this bacon cheeseburger soup. It’s an absolute dream. It incorporates all of my favorite flavors, but in a low-carb and keto-friendly way, which I always appreciate. To be honest, I had kind of forgotten about this soup. I grew up eating a very close version of it, but hadn’t incorporated it much into my current menus and meal plans. It wasn’t until I recently picked up a store-bought version from a local San Antonio grocer that it made its way back onto my radar. While it tasted fine, it left a bit to be desired. It was a little salty, high in carbs, and didn’t pack as much of a punch as I would like.
I started thinking about what flavors were essential to ME in a hamburger. Obviously the first step is a delicious, great quality beef. For me, less is more when it comes to seasoning a hamburger. Salt, pepper, and garlic go a long way flavor-wise without overpowering the beef.
Other essential flavors – again, for me- are onion, tomato, bacon, and jalapeno. There’s a certain huge Texas-based burger chain (that tastes a lot better than a certain huge California-based chain) that incorporates all these flavors and do it perfectly every time. So addictive, but obviously not low-carb. That’s where this recipe comes in.
I also never, EVER, eat burgers without pickles. It’s non negotiable for me. However, I tested a version of this soup topped with pickles and it was a no-go. You may choose to add them if you wish. It’s your world, as I often say.
The base of this soup is a combination of beef broth and unsweetened, unflavored almond milk. I realize that almond milk is not completely flavorless, even when unflavored, and that some folks don’t appreciate the taste. Feel free to use traditional dairy milk or your favorite milk alternative in its’ place. Just be advised that the nutritional information will obviously change.
Keto-Friendly Croutons
Yes, you read that correctly. I’ve been making my croutons with Aldi brand zero net carb bread, and it has not disappointed! If you don’t live in an area with an Aldi (I don’t, I usually make a visit when I’m in Austin, TX) some Costo locations as well as other major supermarkets now carry their own brands of keto-friendly loaves of bread.
How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
I start by browning one pound of ground beef, seasoned with:
- kosher salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- fresh garlic
While that’s going, I also cook my bacon. In an oven preheated to 400 degrees F, I place the bacon on a wire rack in a rimmed sheet pan, and cook for 15 minutes, or until crispy. It’s my favorite, no-fuss way to cook bacon. After it’s done, I give it all a rough chop and set it aside.
I also use this time to make my keto-friendly croutons. They’re super easy. I cut the bread into fourths length-wise and width-wise so that each slice produces 16 croutons.
I then toss the croutons in
- melted butter
- fresh garlic
- a dried Italian herb seasoning blend containing oregano, sage, basil, rosemary, and thyme
I like to throw in some everything bagel seasoning as well. Finally, I placed them in the oven at 400 degrees F for 8 or 9 minutes, until nice and crusty.
Next, I chop my vegetables:
- red onion
- green onion
- jalapenos
*These will go into the soup as it cooks, but keep in mind that you will want to reserve some for topping your individual bowl.
My final piece of prep work is to grate my cheese. I use an entire 8-ounce block of smoked Gouda plus a quarter cup of cheddar; if you prefer to only use cheddar then go for it, my friend.
In a large pot, over medium heat, I combine the
- milk,
- beef broth
- canned tomatoes (liquid included)
Stir well. I then add in the cheese, stirring continuously as it melts.
After that, I add the chopped bacon, diced jalapeno, chopped green and red onion, and give it all a stir before allowing it to come to a boil. I then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and allow to continue cooking for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
This recipe makes six, one cup servings. When time to serve, I prefer to do so in a shallower bowl. I top with sliced jalapenos, diced red and green onion, additional bacon, and my zero carb croutons.
As usual, try it out and let me know what you think!
Peace,
Adri
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Bacon Cheeseburger Soup | Keto, Low-Carb
This fast and easy bacon cheeseburger soup comes together in
under an hour and is jam-packed with flavor. It’s beefy, cheesy, and topped with
favorites – bacon, onion, cheese, jalapeno, tomato, and buttery, garlicky, low-carb/keto-friendly
croutons.
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 6 slices Bacon, cooked, roughly chopped
- 8 oz Gouda, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup Sharp Cheddar, grated
- 1 Jalapeno, chopped
- 2 Stalks Green Onion, Chopped
- 1/4 Red Onion, diced.
- 14 oz Canned Rotel Tomatoes
- 3.5 cups Beef or Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Almond Milk, unflavored, unsweetened
Croutons
- 3 slices Aldi Zero Carb Multiseed Bread
- 1 tbsp Butter, melted
- 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
Soup
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef, seasoning with salt, pepper, and minced garlic.
- Place bacon on a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Allow to cool before chopping.
- Grate the Gouda and Cheddar. Set aside.
- Chop the jalapeno, green onion, and red onion. Set aside.
- In a large pot, combine the milk, broth and canned tomatoes (liquid included). Stir well.
- To the pot, add the Gouda and Cheddar; stir continuously as it melts.
- Add the chopped bacon, diced jalapeno, chopped green and red onion, and give it all
a stir before allowing it to come to a boil. - Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and allow to continue cooking for an additional 20 minutes,
stirring occasionally.
Croutons
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Cut each slice of bread into fourths length wise and width side so that each slice produces 16 croutons.
Aldi Multiseed Bread is zero net carbs. It contains 9 total grams of carbs and 9 grams of fiber.
Notes
If you do not enjoy the taste of almond milk, dairy milk, or another milk another should be used.
Reserve some of your cheese, chopped vegetables and bacon for topping, if you prefer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 863Total Fat: 58gSaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 247mgSodium: 1571mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 72g
Capri Lilly
This is soup is so perfect! I love the spicy bites of jalapeno with the gouda cheese!
Lyrical Soul
This sounds so delicious! I’m going to make this on the weekend to make life easier for our busy household. Do you use the ground meat as a topping, or is it incorporated into the pot at the end? I didn’t see it added (I have terrible vision, so I may have missed where it was added).
Patricia Hamiltin
I made this and it is full
of flavor!! Just a hint of Spicy. The croutons are wonderful and no one will even know they are keto! This can replace the chili I’ve been craving! Thank you! And Merry Christmas❣️🎄🤶🏻
Samantha
This is one of the most creative recipes that I’ve ever heard of! Wonderful!
Chenée
I couldn’t wait to make this recipe as soon as I saw those keto croutons!! And I was not disappointed. The gouda, jalapeños, and bacon just added to the levels of flavor. This will be part of my regular rotation for sure!
Tamara
Everything about this soup was amazing! I omitted the croutons, but all of the flavors were delicious. I love that it’s keto friendly!
Chef Mireille
Wow – anything with bacon is always better and this soup I will definitely be repeating throughout the fall and winter season
Marta
I’ve been trying to do more low-carb recipes, but all the recipes I was finding made me mad because I was still hungry. Then I stumbled upon this bacon cheeseburger disguised as soup and my anger subsided. Thank you for rescuing me from being hangry!
Britney
This soup is just what I needed for my keto diet! I loved the zero carb bread croutons too, so good!!