Loaded Baked Potato Soup (2024)

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Loaded Baked Potato Soup is rich and creamy and full of the flavors of a loaded baked potato, like cheese, bacon, and green onions. It’s warm and comforting, and simple enough to make that it’s perfect for a cold weeknight dinner.

Melty cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and sour cream are some of my favorite baked potato toppings and now I can have it all in one big pot of delicious, rich and creamy loaded baked potato soup! I usually serve a tossed garden salad with it for a complete meal.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup is one of my favorite things to make for dinner any time of the year but especially during the chilly fall and winter months. Be sure to check out some of our most popular soups, likeGround Turkey Soup with Rice and Kale, Easy Chicken Minestrone, Homemade Chicken Soup andSplit Pea Soup with Bacon.

Table of Contents

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe Ingredients
How to Make It
FAQs
Pro Tips
More Favorite Soup Recipes
Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Why We Love Loaded Baked Potato Soup

It takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, making it a great weeknight dinner option.
Kids love the creamy texture of the potatoes and broth.
You can customize it with your favorite baked potato toppings.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe Ingredients

Butter and Flour – To make a roux for the soup base.
Onion – One white or yellow onion, diced
Garlic – 2 cloves, minced. You can use pre-minced in a jar, but fresh will have the best flavor.
Milk – I exclusively buy fat free milk, so that’s what I used. But you can use whatever kind of milk you have on hand.
Heavy Cream – For a rich, creamy soup.
Broth – I like to use vegetable broth but chicken broth will also work.
Potatoes – You need 2 pounds of russet potatoes. I like russets because hold their shape better and don’t turn to mush in the soup.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Freshly grated, off the block.
Sour Cream – For a little extra creaminess.
Bacon – About half a pound of bacon, cooked until it’s crispy and them crumbled into bits.
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper – Wait until the soup is done to taste and add salt and pepper.
Fresh Chives – for garnish.

How to Make It

It’s super simple with some basic steps, like sauteing and simmering.

First, grab a large soup pot. My 5-quart cast iron dutch oven is my favorite piece of cookware in my kitchen and it’s perfect for this soup. Melt some butter and saute about a cup of diced sweet onion and some garlic.
Whisk in flour – it’s time to make a roux. This is the base of what will thicken your soup. Let the flour get golden in color then pour in some milk and heavy cream. You can really use any ratio of milk to cream as long as you get a full 3 cups.
Pour in some chicken or vegetable broth and whisk until it’s all combined. Add diced potatoes and bring everything to a simmer (gentle bubbles at the surface). You don’t want a rolling boil as that could end up spoiling the milk.
Reduce the heat to low, but leave the pot uncovered. Stay close by and stir occasionally to keep the bottom from scorching. Cook until the potatoes are tender.
While the potatoes are cooking, chop up some bacon and cook it in a skillet until it’s crispy. This is not the place for soggy bacon! PRO TIP: To save yourself from a crumbly bacon mess, cut the raw bacon directly into the hot skillet using kitchen shears. Set the bacon aside to drain on paper towels while you finish the soup.
Once the potatoes are nice and tender, turn off the heat and stir in sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and about half of the bacon. Be sure to have more sour cream and cheese on hand for garnishing each bowl. Taste your soup and add salt and pepper as desired.

FAQs

How do you thicken potato soup?

Potatoes are very starchy, so as they cook they release this starch into the cream broth, thickening it as it simmers. Starting with a roux also helps to thicken your soup. If your soup is too thick, stir in milk or broth a little at a time until you are happy with the consistency.

Should you peel potatoes for soup?

Russet potatoes have a thicker skin so I prefer to peel it off. However you can leave the skin on if you don’t want to take the time for peeling. Just know that some of the skin will fall off and be left floating in the soup.

Serving Suggestions

This soup is a very rich and hearty meal on its own. I will usually toss a green salad together to serve on the side because you really don’t need much else.

To serve, I like to top each bowl with crispy bacon, shredded cheddar, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream. Just like a regular baked potato!

What to do with leftovers

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Freezing: Potato Soup makes an excellent freezer meal. Allow the soup to cool completely, then portion into freezer bags or airtight freezer containers. Make sure to label them, then store in the freezer for up to six months.

Reheating: Thaw completely in the refrigerator first if necessary, then heat in a saucepan on the stovetop. You can also heat in the microwave, gently.

Pro Tips

Cut potatoes as evenly in size as possible for even cooking.
The cooking time could vary based on the heat level or even on the potatoes themselves or how big you cut them.
I wanted the potatoes to still have some texture, so you may want to cook them a little longer than I did.
Use freshly grated cheese; avoid pre-shredded bags of cheese which have a cellulose coating that will prevent melting.
You can use all milk and you’ll still get a thick soup, but it just won’t have the same creamy consistency.

More Favorite Soup Recipes

Bacon and Bean Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Tortellini Soup
Hamburger Soup
Egg Drop Soup
Italian Bean Soup

Recipe

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

4.75 from 60 votes

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup diced onion about half of one medium onion
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups nonfat milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 large russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 2 pounds)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese plus more for garnish
1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 slices bacon diced and cooked crisp
chives minced

Instructions

Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for one minute more. Whisk in flour and cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually pour in the chicken broth and whisk until combined. Stir in potatoes and bring the mixture to a simmer (do not boil).
Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes, stirring often to keep the bottom from burning.
Meanwhile, cook bacon until crisp. Drain grease and chop into bite sized pieces.
Stir in sour cream, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, and half of the bacon. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. If the soup is too thick, add more milk as needed until the consistency is to your liking.
Serve immediately, garnished with chives, and the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and bacon, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freezing: Potato Soup makes an excellent freezer meal. Allow the soup to cool completely, then portion into freezer bags or airtight freezer containers. Make sure to label them, then store in the freezer for up to six months.
Reheating: Thaw completely in the refrigerator first if necessary, then heat in a saucepan on the stovetop. You can also heat in the microwave, gently.
The cooking time could vary based on the heat level or even on the potatoes themselves or how big you cut them.
I wanted the potatoes to still have some texture, so you may want to cook them a little longer than I did.

Nutrition

Calories: 572kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 19gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 619mgPotassium: 740mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1386IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 457mgIron: 2mg

Keyword baked potato soup, loaded baked potato soup, potato soup

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