Description
Mac and cheese cheeseburger soup delivers classic comfort in a single pot. Ground beef, pasta, and creamy cheese blend seamlessly for a hearty meal everyone will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
- 1 cup thinly sliced celery
- 6 tbsps unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 4 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 4 sesame seed buns (diced into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- 2 tsps dried thyme
- 1 tsp white balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Freshly cracked pepper (to taste)
- Finely sliced green onion
- Additional shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare crispy sesame seed bun croutons by spreading diced buns on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toast at 400°F for 10 minutes until golden and crunchy.
- Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, incorporating dried oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Crumble meat thoroughly during cooking, then transfer to a separate dish.
- Melt butter in the same pot and introduce diced onions, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté on medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Reduce heat and add minced garlic with remaining herbs. Cook for an additional minute to release aromatic flavors.
- Dust vegetables with flour, stirring constantly to create a roux-like coating. Continue cooking for one minute.
- Deglaze the pot by pouring chicken broth, scraping accumulated browned bits from the bottom.
- Add remaining broth and uncooked elbow macaroni. Season with salt and pepper, then bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer 5-7 minutes until pasta reaches al dente, stirring intermittently to prevent sticking.
- Remove from heat and incorporate heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until smooth and fully integrated.
- Stir in white balsamic vinegar and return cooked ground beef to the pot. Warm thoroughly and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Ladle soup into serving bowls, topping with prepared sesame seed croutons, chopped green onions, and extra cheese.
Notes
- Toast sesame seed buns at a high temperature to achieve maximum crispiness, ensuring they provide a delightful textural contrast to the creamy soup.
- Brown ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat to prevent a greasy soup and enhance the rich, meaty flavor profile.
- Remove the pot from direct heat before adding cheese to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Swap ground beef with plant-based alternatives, use gluten-free flour and pasta, and opt for dairy-free cheese to create vegetarian and gluten-free versions of this comforting dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 532 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg