Creamy Potato Soup Recipe
This comforting Potato Soup recipe combines crispy bacon, tender mashed russet potatoes, and a creamy broth enriched with sharp cheddar cheese and fresh chives. Perfectly balanced with savory sautéed onions and garlic, this hearty soup is ideal for cozy meals and easy to prepare using stovetop cooking.
- Author: Rami
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Soup Base
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half-and-half
Finishings
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Cook Bacon: Cook the diced bacon over low heat in a large pot until crispy. Remove the bacon pieces and set them aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pot to cook the next ingredients.
- Boil Potatoes: While cooking the bacon, place the diced potatoes in a pot of salted water and bring to a gentle boil. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes thoroughly and lightly mash them with a fork or potato masher.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the pot with the bacon drippings, sauté the diced onions over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened. Add the butter and minced garlic, cooking for an additional minute to release their aroma without browning.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed onions and garlic, stirring continuously and cooking for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste and create a roux that will thicken the soup.
- Add Liquids and Potatoes: Gradually pour in the chicken broth and half-and-half, stirring constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir in the mashed potatoes until fully combined.
- Add Sour Cream and Seasoning: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the sour cream and black pepper to taste. For a creamier texture, you may blend a portion of the soup using an immersion blender, but this step is optional.
- Incorporate Cheese and Bacon: Slowly add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until it is completely melted and the soup is smooth. Finally, stir in the cooked bacon pieces and chopped fresh chives.
- Serve: Serve the soup warm, garnished with extra chives or cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Using russet potatoes is best as they break down well and lend creaminess.
- You can adjust the consistency by adding more broth for a thinner soup or less for thicker.
- Blending part of the soup is optional but enhances smoothness.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Keywords: Potato Soup, Creamy Potato Soup, Bacon Potato Soup, Comfort Food Soup, Hearty Soup, Easy Soup Recipe