Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup
There’s nothing quite like a bowl of comforting soup to warm you up on a cold night, and this Cheeseburger Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Packed with all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger, this hearty soup combines savory ground beef, tender potatoes, and a rich, cheesy broth that’s perfect for any occasion. Best of all, this one-pot meal is made entirely in the Instant Pot, making it an easy and delicious option for busy weeknights.

Ingredients
For this satisfying comfort food in a soup bowl, you need the following ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium white onion, finely diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Sea salt & black pepper to taste
- 2 cups red potatoes, chopped small
- 3 cups beef broth, preferably organic, divided
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

How To Make Cheeseburger Soup in the Instant Pot
- Add olive oil to the Instant Pot® inner cooking pot and select the “Sauté’ function. Use the “Adjust” button to select the “Normal” (medium) setting.
- Once hot, add the diced onion and ground beef. Add the Italian seasoning and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to color and the beef is mostly browned, about 6-7 minutes.
Ground sirloin is an excellent choice for this recipe if you’re looking for leaner meat, but any ground beef will work just fine. As the beef browns, it’s essential to crumble it into small pieces for even cooking.

- Push the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button and add the red potatoes and beef broth. Add lid and lock into place. Switch the vent to “Sealing” and select the “Manual” setting on “High.” Adjust cook time to 3 minutes.

- When the cook time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release for any remaining steam before carefully removing the lid.
- To prevent curdling, temper the heavy cream by adding 2-3 tablespoons of the hot liquid from inside the Instant Pot® to it before adding it to the container. Stir to combine.

- Add the cheddar cheese, one cup at a time, and stir until completely melted. Serve immediately, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika, if desired. Enjoy!
Finally, ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

If cozy soups are your kind of comfort food, you’ll love trying a few more of my favorites. Warm up with a bowl of hearty Easy Seven Can Soup, flavorful Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, or cheesy Lasagna in a Soup Bowl. Each one is simple, satisfying, and perfect for busy weeknights.

Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium white onion finely diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Sea salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 pound red potatoes chopped small
- 3 cups beef broth preferably organic, divided
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 cups Cheddar cheese finely shredded
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Add olive oil to Instant Pot® inner cooking pot and select the “Sauté’ function. Use the “Adjust” button to select the “Normal” (medium) setting.
- Once hot, add the diced onion and ground beef. Add the Italian seasoning and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion develops some color and the beef is mostly browned, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Push the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button and add the red potatoes and beef broth. Add lid and lock into place. Switch the vent to “Sealing” and select the “Manual” setting on “High.” Adjust cook time to 3 minutes.
- When cook time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release for any remaining steam before carefully removing the lid.
- To prevent curdling, temper the heavy cream by adding 2-3 tablespoons of the hot liquid from inside the Instant Pot® to it before adding it to the container. Stir to combine.
- Add the cheddar cheese, one cup at a time, and stir until completely melted. Serve immediately with some freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika for garnish, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Storage
Store any leftover cheeseburger soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm the soup on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If the soup has thickened too much in the fridge, you can add a splash of beef broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
Toppings
While this soup is delicious on its own, adding your favorite burger toppings can take it to the next level. Here are some ideas:
- Extra sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, Monterey jack, or Colby jack
- Diced onions
- Sliced pickles
- Crispy bacon bits
- Chives
- Sour cream
Tips for Best Results
- Cheese Melting: To ensure the cheese melts smoothly into the soup, use freshly grated cheese rather than pre-shredded, which often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent smooth melting.
- Thickening the Soup: If you prefer a thicker soup, mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with cold water and stir it into the soup after adding the cheese. Let it cook for a few more minutes until the soup thickens.
- Bacon Crumbles: Cook bacon separately and add it as a topping just before serving to keep it crispy.
Substitutions
- Ground Beef: Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Potatoes: Use russet potatoes or sweet potatoes instead of red potatoes if preferred.
- Cheese: Velveeta adds an extra-creamy texture, or try a mix of cheddar and cream cheese for a different flavor profile. (This will result in a “saltier” soup.)
- Broth: Substitute chicken broth for beef broth if you prefer a milder flavor.
Variations
- Keto Cheeseburger Soup: For a lower-carb version, omit the potatoes and replace them with cauliflower florets. They will “melt” into the soup.
- Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup: Brown the ground beef and onions on the stove, then transfer them to a slow cooker with the potatoes and broth. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, then stir in the cream and cheese.
- Loaded Cheeseburger Soup: Add your favorite burger toppings directly into the soup, such as diced tomatoes, jalapeños, or even a swirl of ketchup and mustard for a true burger experience in soup form.
Calories in Cheeseburger Soup
A reader asked about the calorie count, questioning the amount listed in the post. I want to add that information to help any others who are also questioning it. (I truly appreciate it when readers ask questions.)
I went online and searched three sites for calorie counts: Fitbit.com, MyFitnessPal.com, and Fatsecret.com. I did get various results, as expected, since there are numerous variables.
After comparing the values at the sites, I decided to go with Fitbit’s calculations.
Using Fitbit’s calculations, we have the following calories 748 (sirloin) + 416 (heavy cream) + 1760 (shredded cheese) + 216 (red potatoes) + 240 (extra virgin olive oil) = 3380 calories. Divide that by 6 and it comes out to 563.33 per serving. That does not include the onion, seasoning, or broth (which only has 10 – 20 calories per cup). So all in all, I would say that there are fewer than 700 calories per serving.
Last Bite
Love this Cheeseburger Soup? Don’t forget to save it to Pinterest, share it with a fellow soup lover, or leave a comment below to tell me how it turned out. Whether it’s game day or just a chilly evening, this Instant Pot soup is sure to hit the spot!

Can you freeze it?
It might be possible, but I don’t recommend it because of the cream.
Is it really over 900 calories per serving?
Good news! It looks like the app that my blog uses is off on the calculations. There are NOT that many calories.
I went online and searched three sites for calories counts: Fitbit.com, MyFitnessPal.com, and Fatsecret.com. I did get various results which is to be expected since there are numerous variables.
After comparing the values at the sites, I decided to go with Fitbit’s calculations.
Using Fitbit’s calculations, we have the following calories 748 (sirloin) + 416 (heavy cream) + 1760 (shredded cheese) + 337 (red potatoes) + 240 (extra virgin olive oil) = 3501 calories. Divide that by 6 and it comes out to 583.50 per serving. That does not include the onion, seasoning, or broth (which only has 10 – 20 calories per cup). So all-in-all, I would say that there are less than 700 calories per serving.
Below are the calories I found at the different sites for the ingredients:
For the sirloin, I found the following nutrition caloric values:
• MyFitnessPal: 650
• Fitbit.com 748
• Fatsecret.com 912
½ cup heavy cream
• MyFitnessPal: 400
• Fitbit.com: 416
• Fatsecret.com: 411
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• MyFitnessPal: 1760
• Fitbit.com: 1760
• Fatsecret.com: 1940
1 Pound of Red Potatoes
• MyFitnessPal: 383
• Fitbit.com: 337
• Fatsecret.com: 327
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• MyFitnessPal: 240
• Fitbit.com: 240
• Fatsecret.com: 240
Nevermind! It was 3 minutes and tasted delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Just checking, 3 minutes is the cook time?
Yes.
Be sure that the potatoes are chopped small.
It will take a little bit of time for the Instant Pot to heat up, the 3 minutes of pressure cook time, plus the 10 minutes for the natural release. If you get through step 4 and the potatoes aren’t soft, then pressure cook it for 4-5 minutes more.
Then follow the rest of the directions.
I hope you enjoy it!