Shred the cheese from a block, measure out the sour cream and half and half. Let them all sit out at room temperature.

Cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain grease. Remove the ground beef from the pot and set aside.

While the meat cooks, peel the potatoes and cut them into thirds. Add to a stock pot and cover with 1 inch of water. Add the salt and boil gently for 10-15 minutes or until very fork tender. Drain, then gently mash. Add the sour cream and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Set aside.

Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

Whisk in flour, use a silicone spatula to stir as the flour cooks for 1 full minute to remove the raw flour taste.

Add the chicken broth in splashes, stirring continuously. Use a silicone spatula to loosen any beef remnants from the bottom of the pot, this will add flavor.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, and sage. Slowly add the half and half. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Stir in the potatoes until well-combined into the broth. If possible, use an immersion blender to blend until creamy. You can also transfer it to a blender in batches.

Add the ground beef and frozen vegetables and allow them to heat through, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Gradually sprinkle with shredded cheese and stir until combined. Make sure the base of the soup isn’t too hot or the cheese won’t melt creamy and smooth. The soup will continue to thicken as it sits.

Taste, season with salt/pepper if desired and serve!