Description
A thick, creamy, and tangy beer cheese soup made with simple pantry staples like cheddar, lager, and smoked sausage. This budget-friendly meal is ready in 30 minutes and serves as a hearty comfort food for families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz lager or pilsner beer
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and a pinch of salt; cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over the onions and butter. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to create a roux that looks like wet sand.
- Slowly pour in the beer while whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes.
- In a separate skillet, cook the sliced smoked sausage over medium heat until browned and slightly crispy.
- Reduce the heat of the soup to low. Add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring constantly until melted before adding the next handful.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard. If the soup is too thick, add a splash of broth; if too thin, simmer for another minute.
- Stir in half of the cooked sausage. Taste and adjust seasoning with black pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with the remaining crispy sausage.
Notes
Shred your own cheese to ensure smooth melting; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that cause graininess. Keep heat low when melting cheese to prevent separation. Do not boil the soup after adding cheese. This soup freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups with sausag
- Calories: 650
- Sodium: 1200
- Fat: 45
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: beer cheese soup, Oktoberfest soup, budget-friendly meals, comfort food, cheddar soup, smoked sausage soup, easy dinner, family meals