In the winter, I’m usually craving a great, super warm, hearty comfort food, and I can’t seem to get warmed up unless I get it. For me, one of the best choices, when I’m a little chilly, is to make some soup, but I’m rarely in the mood to have to fuss with it if I don’t have to. I love this super simple (souper simple? Ha!) Crock Pot Potato Soup because it tastes amazing, but it also makes life so much easier because you just put it in the slow cooker and go!
Cold weather calls for comfort food, and this beefy macaroni soup fits the bill! For my family, cold weather is always soup weather, and I love a good soup recipe that basically contains the things I already keep in my pantry or freezer– who wants to get out if they don’t have to? Next weekend, we’re staring down a mini ice storm, and we’re prepared for soup weather. Beef, hearty macaroni noodles, and cheese make this a delightful soup the whole family will love, and it’s SO simple to make– you just need one pot!
It’s cold outside. Like, frigid. I should be used to Midwest Januaries by now. After all, every January of my life has been spent here. That doesn’t make the 5 degree temperatures any less surprising. It seems like a lot of places are even colder. I mean, Canada was colder than Mars just recently, and a major winter storm has been dumping snow everywhere.
That’s why it’s perfect to have a really hearty cold-weather recipe in your stash. This cheeseburger soup fits the bill.
You’ll want to start by browning about a pound of hamburger, then draining it and setting it aside. With soups, I’ve found that they’re great for eyeballing ingredients– if you have approximately what you’re looking for, then you’re able to produce a delicious soup without as much effort. Soups are just so forgiving. It’s also nice when you want to add or subtract ingredients, just in case you’re snowed in.
While cooking your ground beef, start dicing an onion. You’ll want it in small dices, nice and fine.
In a nice soup pot, you’ll want to melt 2 tablespoons or so of butter. Add in your diced onions and about 1 1/2 cups of shredded carrots. Cook, stirring every once in awhile, for 10 minutes, or until the carrots and onions are tender.
While you cook the carrots and onions, peel and chop up 8 cups of potatoes into bite-size pieces. That’s about 6 medium potatoes, if you’re counting.
Add a carton of chicken broth to the onion/carrot mixture, then fill the carton halfway with water, and add that, as well. Toss in your potatoes and your ground beef. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover.
Melt the rest of your stick of butter (6 tablespoons, if you’re not using a stick or using margarine instead) in your now-empty ground beef skillet, keeping the heat medium. Add in 1/2 cup flour slowly, whisking the entire time, for 3-5 minutes. Stir this into the soup, bringing it back to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to low, and add in some salt and pepper, 2 cans of evaporated milk, and 16 ounces (half of the large block) of Velveeta (dicing it first helps it melt faster!)
Stir while cooking until the Velveeta is melted, then serve. Rolls are a great addition to this, as well as toasted bread rounds, as pictured. The toasted bread rounds add a nice crunch to the soup.
This soup is a total crowd-pleaser, and it really is not hard to make. It is a perfect soup for staying in with the family before curling up cozy under blankets.
Hearty soups are some of my favorites– check out this Chicken and Gnocchi soup or Tuscan Sausage and Bean Soup for more inspiration, or enjoy this Crock Pot S’mores Lava Cake as the perfect dessert compliment for this soup!
In the mood for more soup? Follow my Soups, Salads, and Sandwiches board! Stay warm!
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