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

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

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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

What beer is best for beer cheese? ›

Fruity wheat beers pair especially well with cheese! Dark Beers: Stouts and porters also make a great beer cheese sauce, but are best paired with a sharp, funky cheese that can stand up to their strong, rich flavors. Super-hoppy IPAs: If you love this style of beer, go for it.

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.

Why do you avoid simmering your soup after adding the cheese? ›

Boiling it after you add dairy can cause grittiness or clumping. How do you prevent cheese from clumping in soups? 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.

What cheese is beer cheese made of? ›

Beer cheese dip is a cheese spread typically made with sharp cheddar, beer, garlic, and spices, served with crackers or crudités as an appetizer.

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.

Is Budweiser good for beer cheese? ›

I used Fat Tire because that what I had on hand, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy!

What is another name for beer cheese? ›

Weisslacker
Other namesBeer cheese, Beer kaese, Bierkäse, Bierkaese,
Country of originGermany
Source of milkCow
PasteurisedYes
3 more rows

Why is my beer cheese not smooth? ›

High temperatures can cause the cheese to break and become grainy. Add More Liquid: Gradually whisk in a small amount of the liquid the sauce was made with (e.g., milk, cream, or broth). Use a low heat setting and continue to whisk until the sauce starts to smooth out.

How do you make beer soup less bitter? ›

To counteract any bitterness, include an acidic ingredient, like lemon juice, vinegar, or mustard; something sweet, like honey or caramelized onions; or a fat, like oil or cheese.

How to thicken beer cheese? ›

How do you thicken beer cheese dip? The beauty of this recipe is that if you find that it's not thick enough for your liking, it's easy to fix – and the easiest thing to do is just add more cheese!

How do you fix broken beer cheese? ›

Adding Liquid: If your cheese sauce has started to curdle, the first thing to do is immediately take it off the heat. Adding a splash of the sauce's base liquid, such as cold milk for a milk-based sauce, can help minimize the damage. You can also try adding a splash of wine, beer, or cream.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What's the secret to a good soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

Is there actual alcohol in beer cheese? ›

Primarily crafted from milk, butter, and melted cheddar, plus a bit of beer, the dip might lead some to wonder if it includes enough alcohol to feel a booze-induced impact. Rest assured, while beer cheese does contain alcohol, it's typically not enough to give anyone a buzz.

Why is it called beer cheese? ›

History of Beer Cheese

The unique salty, spicy spread was created by Chef Joe Allman for his cousin Johnnie, owner of the Driftwood Inn, who served it as a complimentary snack to increase his customers' appetite for beer.

Is beer cheese made of beer? ›

Beer cheese, regardless of whether it's melted and creamy or spreadable, is always made with beer.

Why is beer cheese good? ›

Taste: The best part! Two kinds of cheeses and some staple spices balance out the beer taste perfectly. Texture: Not too liquid-y but not too thick like a chowder either. Just the perfect texture to dip a pretzel into and enjoy!

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