Easy Potato Soup Recipe

Okay, so I’m obsessed with potato soup, but I’m also lazy. I tried a bunch of complicated recipes, and they were good, but honestly, who has time for all that? This one is my go-to now – it’s super simple, and it’s actually delicious.

It’s seriously the perfect weeknight meal when it’s cold outside and you just want something warm and comforting. Plus, it’s pretty cheap to make, which is always a bonus. I’ve even made this when my fridge was practically empty, lol.

Pro-tip: It’s even better the next day, so make a big batch!

What You’ll Need

Bacon and Base:

• 8 oz bacon bite-sized pieces
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 med onion finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves minced

Soup Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper or to taste

Toppings & Finish:

• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup mild or sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• green onions

Steps

1. Peel 4 potatoes and cut them in small cubes. Add the potatoes to a bowl of cold water (this keeps them from browning).
2. In a large dutch oven, saute the bacon bits until crispy. Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pot and leave 1 Tbsp of bacon grease (because flavor!).
3. Add butter to the pot and saute diced onion. Once the onion is translucent, add in the minced garlic.
4. Whisk in the flour and allow it to cook for about a minute. This is called a roux, and it helps thicken the soup.
5. Add in the milk and chicken broth. Bring the pot up to a soft boil and add the potatoes into the pot. Simmer on low for about 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
6. Mash the potatoes lightly with a potato masher or you can use an immersion blender for an extra creamy texture. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Taste it as you go!
7. Stir in the sour cream and shredded cheese, and add the cooked bacon back in. Reserve some of the bacon for toppings. Bring the soup up to a boil and turn off the heat. Don’t overcook it!
8. Serve the soup with more sour cream, shredded cheese, green onion, and extra bacon bits.

Substitutions That Actually Work

• Honestly, store-bought bacon bits work fine.
• You can use any kind of milk you have.
• If you’re out of chicken broth, vegetable broth works too.

Making It Diabetes-Friendly

• Reduce the potatoes a bit.
• Use low-fat milk and sour cream.

Tips & Storage

• This soup keeps in the fridge for a few days, but it’s best fresh.
• Reheat it gently on the stovetop, don’t microwave it! It can separate a little if you nuke it.