Beer Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon February 16, 2015 (updated Sep 14, 2021) 45 comments »

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This Beer Cheese Soup is a bowl full of flavor and the perfect comfort food. You’ll find thisversion lightened up a bit too!

It’s chilly. No, not chilly. Down right freezing. It’s times like these that call for a warm bowl of deliciousness. ThisBeer Cheese Soupwill do just fine!

During my junior year in college I remember a roommate making Beer Cheese Soup one evening for a special beau. I caught glimpses of her prepping (and stressing) for the meal in between running to from classes. From what I observed it seemed like a big deal just for soup. Ever since, I’ve had it in my mind that Beer Cheese Soup was a challenge, so I never bothered with it. That was, until last week when I was craving comfort food, and ran across a recipe for a lightened up version of Beer Cheese Soup in The New Way to Cook Light from Cooking Light, one of my newest favorite cookbooks.

Seriously? I’d avoided making Beer Cheese Soup all these years? What a fuss over nothing. It really is simple. And it really is scrumptious. Simple and scrumptious, y’all. What better combo is there?

The soup came together in no time and disappeared just as fast. Although this lighter version uses a reduced-fat milk instead of heavy cream, it was still mighty rich and creamy. Serve alongside a salad, and/or a baked potato for the perfect lunch, or low-key weeknight meal. I can’t see how you’d be disappointed with this one. It’s one totally satisfying soup.

A few more soup recipes that will warm you up:

  • Minestrone Soup Recipe
  • White Bean and Roasted Mushroom Soup
  • Verde Chicken Soup Recipe
  • Perfect Potato Soup Recipe

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe (3)

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

A lighter version, but still a mighty rich and creamy. Serve alongside a salad, and/or a baked potato for the perfect lunch, or low-key weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or enough to coat bottom of pan)
  • 2 cups chopped onion (about 2 medium)
  • 2-3 pinches salt and pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer (I'd recommend a light beer or pilsner to avoid bitterness.)
  • 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
  • 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

optional garnishes:

  • fried bacon, crumbled
  • finely chopped fresh chives
  • sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes and toasted in oven

Instructions

  1. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy stock pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, along with a few pinches of salt and pepper, and sauté for about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
  2. Stir in beer and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until onion is tender.
  3. Carefully pour beer mixture and half of chicken broth (1 1/2 cups) into a blender. To avoid a mess, allow steam to escape by removing center piece of blender lid. Make sure blender lid is secure and place a clean towel over opening in blender lid. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
  4. Whisk together flour and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Add to stock pot and heat to bubbling over medium-high stirring continually for about 1-2 minutes.
  5. Return blended beer mixture to pan. Whisk to combine with flour/broth mixture. Stir in remaining 1 cup of broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
  6. Whisk in milk, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
  7. Remove pan from heat. Gradually stir in cheese until smooth.
  8. Optional: serve with bacon crumbles, chives, and/or bread cubes.

Notes

Lightly adapted from The New Way to Cook Light.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Updated 2/16/15. Originally published 12/18/12.

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Quick and Easy Tomato Soup Recipe

Appetizers Main Dishes

originally published on February 16, 2015 (last updated Sep 14, 2021)

45 commentsLeave a comment »

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Beer Cheese Soup Recipe (7)

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45 comments on “Beer Cheese Soup Recipe”

  1. Ashley - baker by natureReply

    Wow wow wow – I’ve spent my entire lunch break drooling over your site! I’m so happy to be your newest fan 😉 and this soup will definitely be happening soon.

  2. kathyReply

    My flour is clumping up in the soup

    • Amy

      Hey Kathy,

      Did you whisk together the flour and milk before adding it to the soup? Other than that, I’m not sure what to tell you as it shouldn’t be clumping if you stir the flour/milk mixture in together. Hmmmm …

    • CJ

      How many does this recipe serve?

  3. Cláudia VasconcelosReply

    Hello Amy
    I am from Portugal, very far away ;.)
    I made your beer cheese soup and it was a success!

    Thank you and I’ ll be around 😉
    Kiss
    Cláudia

  4. BonnieReply

    Yum!!!
    Tried the first recipe and it was delicious; can’t wait to try the later, lighter version.
    Awesome

    • Amy Johnson

      This is the same one you tried. I just updated and reposted it today. 😉

  5. Amy Basso@ Amysapron.netReply

    The ultimate comfort food. Thanks for sharing!

  6. alice from San FranciscoReply

    I boil diced potatoes in my version and puree them as a thickener. Eliminates the need for flour for those with gluten issues.

    • Amy Johnson

      That’s a perfect idea, Alice! Thank you for sharing.

  7. CandiReply

    GIRL! I was just teleported back to college! Anyone else? Yum.

  8. JenniferReply

    This is my FAVORITE beer cheese soup recipe! I’m trying to figure out if I can crockpot it somehow since I won’t be home until later tonight. Any suggestions? I looked at other crockpot recipes but I LOVE this one and don’t want to ruin my taste for this soup 😉

    • Amy Johnson

      My only suggestion would be to get it going stove top then transfer to a crockpot on low? But I have not tested it that way to know for sure, and that kind of defeats the beauty of a crockpot having to start it stovetop then transfer it over.

  9. RubyReply

    I was looking for a comforting soup during a blizzard today and this was perfect! It was awesome! So much easier than other recipes I’ve tried and so delicious! I didn’t change a thing. Thanks for this great recipe.

    • Amy Johnson

      It is so yummy during cold weather. Glad to hear that you found it easy to make, Ruby!

  10. KatieReply

    I had the same issue with flour clumping. I had to dump it and start over. Second time around, I added the chicken broth to the pan and then slowly whisked in the flour. I only used about the 1/2 the amount of flour the recipe called for, as it seemed to be plenty.

  11. ANorthReply

    I’m so sorry, I really wanted to like this recipe but it was too floury and super bland. Once you add the milk it doesn’t thicken up again. It 100% needs extra cheese and seasoning. I usually love beer cheese soup but this is not a recipe that I would recommend.

  12. CGReply

    Can someone please explain how 11/4 cups is 5 ounces (in the ingredients section for the cheese). Or how half the chicken broth is 11/2 cups (= 5.5) but it says we only need 3 cups in the ingredients section. Am I missing something here?

Leave a comment »

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you take the bitterness out of beer cheese soup? ›

How do you take the bitterness out of Beer Cheese Soup? To mitigate the bitterness in beer cheese soup, use a low hops beer like a light ale or lager. A hoppy beer (like an IPA) can make the soup taste bitter.

What is the best cheese to melt in soup? ›

Mild cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Swiss and queso blanco can all work well. “The best cheeses to melt into soups are cheeses that are higher in moisture and have a lower melting point,” says Bauer. In addition to cheddar and Monterey jack, he recommends Fontina and Gruyère.

What is Wisconsin cheese soup made of? ›

Place 1 cup chicken broth, carrot, onion and celery in 4-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until onion is softened. Add 2 cups chicken broth, milk, cheese, and hot pepper sauce. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Why did my beer cheese soup curdle? ›

Why did my beer cheese soup curdle? This happens when the proteins separate and bind together. Your soup is no longer smooth and creamy; it's grainy and unpleasant. If your soup has reached this state, take your soup off the heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded Velveeta cheese.

Does alcohol burn off in beer cheese soup? ›

Roughly speaking: Beer cheese sauce, bourbon caramel and other sauces brought to a boil and then removed from the heat typically retain about 85 percent of the alcohol. Diane, cherries jubilee and other recipes that flame the alcohol may still have 75 percent of the alcohol.

What is the best way to counteract bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How do you melt cheese in soup without curdling it? ›

MDP: The key is to add cheese at the very end, with just residual heat -- either after turning off the heat or at the very end. It's a similar technique as with pasta, how you have the burner very low or turned off. If heated too high, you risk clumping and if too low, not melting properly.

Why won't my cheese melt into my soup? ›

Grate or shred the cheese: The key to getting cheese to melt evenly in soup is to grate or shred it. Smaller pieces of cheese have more surface area, allowing them to melt quicker and more uniformly. Avoid using pre-packaged shredded cheese as it often contains additives that can prevent proper melting.

What is Moron soup? ›

Sopa de Moron. A classic Peruvian chicken and barley. soup with fragrant cumin.

What is German blood soup? ›

Schwarzsauer (German: [ˈʃvaʁt͡sˌzaʊ̯ɐ]) is a North German blood soup with various spices cooked in vinegar-water and a sort of black pudding made with vinegar. It is a traditional dish in parts of northern Germany and formerly also in East Prussia. It is similar to the Spartan black soup.

Why does Wisconsin cheese taste different? ›

The flavor of any given cheddar depends on how long it's aged for. The older it is, the stronger the flavor profile. Wisconsin is one of the only places on the planet that has cheesemakers aging some of their cheddars for up to 20 years.

How do you make beer soup less bitter? ›

When cooked down too much, it can render your dish unpalatably bitter. There are two solutions: Choose a more mild-flavored beer with less hops, or reduce the beer separately and add it to a simmering soup, stew, or chili towards the end of cooking.

What if beer cheese is too thick? ›

Make-Ahead Instructions: Beer cheese dip can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and reheated over medium-low heat on the stovetop, whisking frequently, until warmed through. If it's too thick, add a bit of half & half to thin it out.

How to thicken beer cheese? ›

While the beer heating up, combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl. Add the cornstarch slurry to the boiling beer, whisking constantly to fully incorporate it. Bring the beer back up to a boil, at which point the cornstarch slurry will slightly thicken the beer.

What can I add to reduce bitterness in soup? ›

Sweetness can help balance bitterness, so consider adding ingredients like carrots, onions, or a small amount of sugar or honey. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes or a splash of vinegar can also help balance flavors.

How do you offset bitterness in beer? ›

You can do one of two things to fix this problem: Don't use as many hops in the boil. If the recipe calls for 1 ounce of bittering hops, cut it down to &frac; ounce. The fewer hops that are used, the less bitterness you will get in your beer.

Does the bitterness of beer cook out? ›

As beer cooks and reduces, its flavor concentrates, becoming stronger and more intense over time. This is especially true of more bitter, hoppy beers, like IPA. When cooked down too much, it can render your dish unpalatably bitter.

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