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

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

It’s chilly. No, not chilly. Down right freezing. It’s times like these that call for a warm bowl of deliciousness. This Beer Cheese Soup will 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.

Beer Cheese Soup

A few more soup recipes that will warm you up:

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe

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?

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