Recipe: Cheeseburger Soup

I found this super yummy recipe while looking around at stuff on Pinterest (love that site!). I made a few modifications to the recipe since the one complaint that most people had about this recipe was the lack of flavor. You can view the original recipe here on Taste of Home. Now my version, let's be honest here... WAS AMAZING! It definitely wasn't lacking flavor! So here is my version of the recipe!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. ground sirloin (you can use ground beef too, but the better the meat, the better the flavor)

1 small or medium chopped white onion 

3/4 cup shredded carrots

3 stalks celery chopped

1 1/2 tsp dried basil

1 1/2 tsp dried parsley

1 large clove of garlic diced

4 tbls butter (divided)

4 cups chicken broth or stock

1 3/4 lbs diced or sliced baby red potatoes (you can peel them if you like, but I left the skins on)

1/4 cup flour or arrowroot powder or cornstarch (this is the thickening agent so use whatever you or have on hand, I used arrowroot powder)

3 cups shredded cheese (you can again use whatever you want. I went with a sharp cheddar, but really any type of strong flavored melty cheese would be good in this)

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup sour cream

Salt & Pepper (however much you want)

1.) In a big soup pan (about 3 to 4 quarts), brown your beef. Once it's browned, remove the beef and set it aside.

2.) In the same pan add the onion, carrots, celery, basil, parsley, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the butter & saute until the vegetables are tender. (about 10 minutes)

3.) Now add in the beef, potatoes, and the broth. Bring this to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

4.) Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in the microwave and then add the thickener and stir until you have a nice paste. Add this to the soup and stir it for 2 minutes. Keep stirring!!!!

5.) You can reduce the heat to low now. Stir in the cheese & milk and add salt and pepper to your taste. Stir until the cheese melts. Then remove from the heat & stir in the sour cream.

Now serve!!!!!