Creamy Beer Cheese Soup

5 from 6 votes

Rich and creamy, this Beer Cheese Soup is made easily on the stovetop and is perfect alongside soft pretzels or crusty bread!

Prep Time15

Cook Time35

Total Time50

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy soup recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 429kcal

5 slices bacon diced
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion diced or chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
12 oz beer we prefer a lager
2 cups reduced sodium chicken stock or chicken broth
1 1/2 cups half and half or heavy cream
1 tsp dried mustard can be substituted with an equal amount of dijon mustard
1 - 2 tsp hot sauce
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese shredded from an 8 oz block
1/2 cup shredded Pepper jack cheese shredded from an 8 oz block, reserving the rest of the block for another time

Heat a large dutch oven or soup pot over MED LOW heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate.

Reserve a couple Tbsp of the bacon grease in the pot, then add butter.
Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-15 minutes, until golden and soft. The exact amount of time this will take will depend on your stovetop and your cooking vessel.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

Add flour and stir well to combine. Cook 1-2 minutes, so the raw flour taste will be gone.
Pour in beer, whisking as you pour, and cook, stirring often, until thickened.
Add chicken broth and half and half, stirring well to combine. Add dried mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, thyme, and pepper.
Increase heat to MED and bring soup to a vigorous simmer. Then reduce heat to simmer soup and cook, stirring often, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Remove from the heat and add cheeses, a handful at at time, stirring in between each addition. Soup should be a creamy chowder consistency.
Stir in half the cooked bacon.

Serve garnished with a sprinkle of black pepper, additional cheese, and sliced green onions.

Recipe makes approximately 6 servings, however these serving sizes aren't explicitly measured, just an estimate.
I've not tested this recipe in a slow cooker, but it can be kept warm in one after making on the stovetop.
I've not tested this recipe in an Instant Pot, but I believe it can be done with some minor changes. Omit the flour and substitute with cornstarch. Saute bacon, then remove to a paper towel lined plate. Saute onion, then add garlic. Add beer, chicken broth and seasonings, and pressure cook for 5-6 minutes. Perform a quick release and whisk the cornstarch into the half and half (or heavy cream), and add to the pot and cook on saute, stirring often, until thickened. Stir in cheeses, half the bacon, and serve recipe as directed.