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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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's the best beer 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 brands of cheese do you recommend? For the Cheddar, you can use a good supermarket brand, like Cabot or Tillamook.

How do you fix broken beer cheese soup? ›

Here's how to fix grainy cheese sauce: Reduce Heat: If the cheese sauce is currently on the stove, remove it from heat immediately. 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).

How do you fix bitter beer cheese soup? ›

How do you fix BITTER beer cheese soup? Two things may be at play here. 1) You tasted the soup shortly after adding the beer before the bitterness of the alcohol had a chance to cook off. If this is the case, let the soup cook for 5 more minutes then taste again.

Why didn't my cheese melt in soup? ›

If heated too high, you risk clumping and if too low, not melting properly. With soup, you might be able to fix it with an immersion blender, or you might not. At a temperature of 150 or so, the protein bonds in the cheese break down and as a result, too much fo the moisture escapes too quickly.

Does the beer in beer cheese cook out? ›

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.

What state is known for beer cheese? ›

Beer cheese is a cheese spread most commonly found in Kentucky. Similarly named cheese products can be found in other regions of the United States, but beer cheese spread itself is not widely distributed. Despite this fact, the product is nearly ubiquitous in Kentucky.

What makes beer cheese grainy? ›

Some cheeses are improperly aged and in addition, contain emulsifiers or coagulants that break down when heated causing a gritty texture.

Why does cheese get gummy in soup? ›

This is a combination of the type of cheese and too much heat. Some cheeses melt more readily (mozzarella for example), but all of them will seize up if they are heated too much too fast - the proteins 'curl up' and separate from the fat and water in the cheese.

What happens when you add sour cream to soup? ›

Adding a dollop of Daisy to your cream-of-whatever soup or beef stroganoff sauce is an easy way to give it a luscious body and creamy texture, but adding fridge-cold sour cream to a big, bubbling pot of hot soup or pan of sauce can cause the proteins to coagulate, curdling the cream and giving your dish an unappealing ...

What reduces bitterness in soup? ›

Add sweet vegetables like carrots and beets. They will sweeten the broth and deepen its color. You might also add a bit of miso (or salt) and/or a squeeze of lemon juice. Sweet, salt and acid balance bitter flavors.

What if beer cheese is too thick? ›

If your beer cheese is too thick, swirl in a bit of water, stock or milk to thin it out. Keep on stirring until you achieve the consistency you love!

Why is my homemade cheese bitter? ›

Bitter cheese is normally caused by two things;

Add a little extra salt, mix up, and try to get some more whey out. If you happen to have a cheese press, use it at this time. Wrap your cheese (even if it's soft) in a cheesecloth and press at 5 = 5 kg (11 lb) of pressure for 15 minutes.

What is the best cheese to put 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.

How do you fix cheese clumping in soup? ›

Pre-grated cheese is coated in anti-caking agents which means it won't melt as smoothly. When it's time to add the cheese into the soup, sprinkle it in in batches, stirring until each batch is melted before adding the next batch vs dumping it all in at once. This will ensure there are no clumps in the final soup.

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

To prevent cheese from curdling, it's important to add it to the soup slowly and at a lower temperature. Gradually incorporate small amounts of cheese into the hot soup while stirring continuously. Also, avoid boiling the soup after adding the cheese.

What kind of beer is best for beer bread? ›

Lighter beers, such as lagers, ales and pilsners, will give your bread a lighter color, and mild taste that just about everyone loves. Darker beers like stouts and porters make a darker-colored loaf and have a stronger beer flavor. Hoppy beers like IPAs will give your bread a more bitter taste.

Is Stella Artois good for beer cheese? ›

Stella Artois' crisp carbonation and fermentation-led style help lighten the acidity and cut through fat in foods such as cheese.

What beer goes best with Philly cheesesteak? ›

Pale Ale and Philly Cheesesteak

Although flavorful, a cheesesteak has a mild taste that pairs perfectly with a pale ale. The slight hoppiness stands up to the onions and hearty meat, and the cleaner finish is refreshing after the salty beef and cheese.

What is the best beer to cook with? ›

Wheat beers are great for chicken and seafood. If you're cooking pork, beef, and lamb, you will need ales, porters, and stouts. Hearty meat goes well with belgian ales. Stews pair well with ale.

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