Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

This is a new one, but it sounds yummy and hearty.

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 cup onions, diced
2 cups reduced fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
5 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, shredded
2 cups potatoes, cubed
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, cubed
4 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1 cup skim milk
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp pepper
Chopped hamburger dill pickles (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook onions and ground beef together in a large skillet until meat is no longer pink.

2. Next combine all ingredients in your slow cooker (including the cooked beef and onions) EXCEPT for the shredded cheddar cheese, milk and flour.

3. Stir to combine ingredients. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours.

 

4. When 10 minutes are left, will add a thickener and the cheese. To make the thickener, combine milk and flour. Whisk until all clumps are gone.

5. Uncover crockpot and stir in shredded cheese and milk/flour mixture. Cover and cook for the remaining 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Serve soup with chopped up dill pickles to add that cheeseburger feel.

Recipe adapted from Family Fresh Meals