Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 white onion or 3/4 cup chopped

• 3 large carrots, or 3/4 cup shredded

• 1 cup diced celery

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 3 cups chicken broth

• 3 tbsp butter

• 1/4 cup all purposes flour

• 2 cups milk

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 

• 1/4 cup sour cream

• optional cooked crumbled bacon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add the potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, basil, parsley, and chicken broth to your slow cooker. Stir.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours.
3. 45 minutes before serving, to a skillet on the stove brown the ground beef, and cook through. Remove any access grease then place the ground beef into the slow cooker.
4. In the same pan,  add butter and melt down.  Whisk in flour and continue to cook for 1 minute or until golden brown. Slowly whisk in milk, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour the creamy mixture into the slow cooker, and stir to combine.
6. Add in the cheese, stir, and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the cheese is melty.
7. serve with a dollop of sour cream and crumbled cooked bacon.