Savory slow-cooked soup featuring beef, cheddar, potatoes, and smoky bacon for a comforting meal.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 slices bacon
02 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1-inch cubes)
→ Seasonings
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Liquids
08 - 4 cups beef broth
→ Dairy & Cheese
09 - 10.5 oz canned cheddar cheese soup
10 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream
11 - 8 oz freshly grated cheddar cheese, plus extra for serving
→ Toppings (Optional)
12 - pickle slices
13 - diced tomatoes
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon slices until crisp, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet. Once cooled, chop bacon for topping.
02 - Add ground beef to skillet with reserved bacon fat. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking apart meat, until browned, approximately 7 minutes. Stir in diced onion, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook additional 2 to 3 minutes until onions soften. Drain excess grease if necessary.
03 - Transfer beef mixture into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add beef broth, diced potatoes, and cheddar cheese soup. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
04 - Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
05 - During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in heavy cream and grated cheddar cheese. Continue cooking until cheese melts and soup reaches creamy consistency.
06 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped crispy bacon, additional cheddar cheese, pickle slices, and/or diced tomatoes as desired. Serve hot.
