When it comes to comforting and effortless weeknight meals, soup is the natural answer.
“But wait,” you say. “I love cheese more than any other food, and cheese is just a topping for soup.” Oh, but it’s so much more.
We’re firm believers that cheese has a place in every meal, and soup is no exception. In fact, cheese is the perfect addition to take any soup or chili to the next level.
These 6 straight soups are packed full of flavorful, creamy, delicious cheeses to make your belly—and your heart—happy.
Wisconsin-Style French Onion Soup
A timeless classic of the soup world, French onion soup boasts big, hearty flavors from just a few ingredients. One spoonful of this soup will make you feel like you’re hugging warm laundry.
In a word, it’s hygge: the Danish word for indescribable cozy comfort.
While you might imagine French onion soup in a Parisian brasserie, it’s the ultimate at-home meal to soothe your worries and warm your soul from the inside. Stacked high with sweetly caramelized onions, crusty bread, and piles of melted cheese, it’s hard to imagine anything better.
Featured Cheese:
Blaser’s Mild Wisconsin Brick: While French onion soup is typically topped with gruyere, we think this Wisconsin Original does an even tastier job. Blaser’s brick is a young variety with lots of nutty meltable goodness without getting into the more flavorful territory of aged brick.
Fun Fact: Wisconsin cheesemakers named brick cheese after the bricks they used to press the curds during the cheese-making process.
Get the full recipe and cooking guide here.
Cheesy Lasagna Soup
All the lasagna flavors you love, in soup form. If you love cheese, odds are good you love lasagna too.
But let’s be realistic: much to Garfield’s dismay, no one is whipping up a quick lasagna on a weeknight. So, we set out to find a solution to that tragedy—this Cheesy Lasagna Soup is the result.
We managed to take all the flavors of lasagna and turn it into a soup you can make in a fraction of the time. You’re welcome.
Featured Cheese
Wisconsin Dairy State’s Mozzarella: A lasagna without mozzarella would hardly be a lasagna at all. This delightfully springy, milky, and smooth cheese is America’s favorite for a reason. Feel free to sub-in your favorite Wisconsin mozzarella here—there are nearly two dozen makers to choose from!
Weyauwega Star Dairy’s Parmesan: This heavyweight of the cheese world packs the kind of depth and complexity that every lasagna needs. Weyauwega Star Dairy’s parmesan is aged for 10 months to develop the classic crystalline structure that parmesan is known and treasured for. Our recipe only uses half a cup which means you’ll have plenty left over for snacking while you cook—which is the best part of this recipe.
Clock Shadow Creamery’s Ricotta: Specializing in fresh cheeses, Clock Shadow Creamery knows a thing or two about making outstanding ricotta. We love ricotta for its light and airy texture that can play nice in sweet and savory dishes. In our lasagna soup, it does a little of both. Give it a try and you’ll see what we mean.
Fun Fact: Just how much mozzarella does Wisconsin make? The state of cheese has been averaging around one billion pounds annually.
Get the full Cheesy Lasagna Soup recipe and cooking guide here.
Beer Cheese Soup
Ever had a beer cheese dip with soft pretzels? It’s bar food classic for a reason: beer and cheese are phenomenal together.
This soup reimagines all the flavors you love in one big bowl. Picture dry, hoppy beer melted into creamy, rich cheese-filled with bright pops of herbaceous flavors.
If you’re willing to up the ante, serve it in a salty, chewy pretzel roll bowl for what might just be the best weeknight meal.
Featured Cheese
Scray Fresh or Medium Cheddar: Cheddar is one of our favorite pairings with beer, and this is no exception. Whether you opt for fresh or medium, it’s packed full of flavor. Fresh cheddar is milder and melts well, while medium has a slightly fuller flavor perfect for soups or broths.
Ponderosa Farmstead Colby: This melt-in-your-mouth colby is soft, mild, and a great accompaniment to beer. It’s the Homecoming King of the cheese world. Everybody loves this American classic.
Fun Fact: The Scray family has been producing amazing cheese since 1924! That’s right: almost a whole century of crafting cheese. Hard to brie-lieve!
Get the Beer Cheese Soup recipe and cooking guide here.
Asiago Broccoli Soup
The best way to eat broccoli? Covered in cheese. This is our kind of health food. This elevated take on a classic broccoli-cheese soup is a crowd-pleaser.
The nutty, flavorful asiago interplays with the bright earthiness of the broccoli, creating the best “healthy-ish” comfort food out there. Don’t forget to finish the soup with some freshly ground black pepper!
Featured Cheese
Cello® Riserva Hand Crafted Asiago: This hand-crafted, small-batch cheese is aged for over 10 months, resulting in a sharp cheese with a depth of flavor and texture. Buttery yet tangy, mild yet assertive, sweet yet balanced: this asiago has it all. Each bite is a gift to your taste buds.
Cheese Tip: Asiago was developed as a cross between aged cheddar and parmesan. Because it’s a firmer cheese, it’s best to bring it to room temperature before shredding.
Get the Asiago Broccoli Soup recipe and cooking guide here.
Chicken Tortilla Soup with Monterey Jack
Spicy, crunchy, and cheesy. This Mexican-inspired soup is bound to make you smile.
If you’re in the mood to spice things up, this Chicken Tortilla Soup is the perfect evening meal with tons of room for fun toppings. (Topping bar? Yes, please.)
The best part? This one-pot soup is so simple, you could probably do it blindfolded. While we don’t recommend that, it does mean that you’ll have some extra time on your hands—time that could be spent eating more delicious cheese. Win-win.
Featured Cheese
Dupont Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey jack is an ultra-creamy, meltable cheese that will add enough milky sweetness to balance out the spice and smokiness of this soup. It adds that little “je ne sais quoi” to a bite filled with spicy roast chicken, salty tortilla chips, and buttery avocado. There’s nothing cheddar.
Recipe Tip; Whether you’re feeling traditional or in the mood to mix things up, monterey jack can suit any cheese-lover’s taste. Try out new flavors to put your own unique spin on this Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Get the Chicken Tortilla Soup with Dupont Monterey Jack recipe and cooking guide here.
Cheesy Beef Chili — So Gouda!
Your search for the best chili recipe is over. We know what you’re thinking: “Does chili count as a soup, is it a stew, or maybe its own category entirely?” Here’s the thing—we don’t care. That’s how delicious this is. The key? Wisconsin cheese.
Few recipes strike the balance of cheap, quick, and wholesome like a warm bowl chili.
How quick are we talking? Just 20 minutes of prep, two steps, and one pot—it takes us longer just to look over the cheese section at the grocery store.
If you’re the kind of person who feels intimidated by the idea of cooking a meal from scratch, or you’re tired after a long day and just need some comfort food, look no further than this chili.
Featured Cheese
Roth’s 3 Chile Pepper Gouda: Chipotle, habanero, and jalapeno peppers come together to transform Roth’s award-winning gouda into something truly unique. This melty cheese isn’t just a topping, it’s our favorite ingredient. With a perfect balance of spice and smokiness, Roth’s 3 Chile Pepper Gouda has plenty of character and gentle heat without overwhelming your taste buds.
Recipe Tip: Can't find this specific cheese? Feel free to substitute chipotle cheddar, chipotle monterey jack, chipotle gouda, or pepper jack!
Get the full recipe, complete with recommended accompaniments and plating guide, here.
Conclusion
These soups are guaranteed to be soup-er delicious, thanks to Wisconsin cheese. If you’re eager to pick something else that suits your style, choose from our selection of over 300 handcrafted recipes featuring Wisconsin cheese. Share your warm bowl of soup (or chili) with us on Instagram or Facebook and become part of the largest cheese community in the world.
