Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

5 from 2 votes

This beer cheese soup recipe is rich and creamy, flavored with crispy bacon and simple seasonings, easy to make with your favorite cheeses and beer.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon, beer, cheddar cheese, cheese

Servings:

Calories: 593kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

½ pound bacon roughly chopped
1 small onion diced
1 red bell pepper diced
1 jalapeno pepper diced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme chopped (or use 1 teaspoon fresh)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of hot sauce
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces lager-style beer I’m using Wisconsin Spotted Cow – see the Recipe Notes for options
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese plus more for garnish (I’m using a mix of cheddar and pepperjack – use your favorite melty cheeses!)
For Garnish. Fresh chopped parsley or green onion or scallions, red pepper flakes, extra shredded cheese, extra crumbled bacon

Instructions

Heat a large pot to medium heat and add the bacon. Cook 6-7 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon and set it onto paper towels to drain.
Drain off most of the bacon grease, leaving 1-2 tablespoons. Add the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Stir in the smoked paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and hot sauce. Stir in the butter until melted through.
Stir in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, constantly stirring.
Pour in the beer and stir until the mixture thickens, 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to let the flavors develop.
Stir in the shredded cheese a bit at a time, until it is completely melted through.
Stir in the cooked bacon and remove from heat. Taste and adjust for salt.
Serve into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped herbs, red pepper flakes, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese. Enjoy.

Video

Notes

This soup makes about 3 quarts (12 cups).

Beer Options. Choose a beer with flavor you enjoy. Lighter beer adds crisper, subtler flavors. Dark beer is more robust and sometimes sweet – too much may overwhelm the cheese flavor.

Cheese Options. Melty cheese is best. Cheddar cheese is very popular, though pepper jack is great, as well as colby, Monterey jack, and others. Use a combination. Also use a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that affect texture.

Nutrition