Loaded Baked Potato Soup – A cheesy potato soup loaded with all your favorite baked potato toppings.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Creamy cheesy potato soup is even better with your favorite baked potato toppings! This soup is easy to make and ultra satisfying. Bacon is doing double duty in this recipe. It’s a savory, crispy soup topping, and you use some of the bacon fat to sauté the onions and garlic, giving the entire soup an extra layer of smoky flavor.
Ingredients for Loaded Baked Potato Soup –
Soup Ingredients – scroll to the recipe card for full ingredients and instructions.
- Bacon: Crispy, savory, and smoky, bacon adds a rich flavor and texture to the soup.
- Onion: A versatile vegetable that adds sweetness and depth to the soup.
- Garlic: A pungent flavor enhancer that complements the other ingredients.
- Flour: Used as a thickening agent to create a creamy soup.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: Provides a flavorful liquid base for the soup.
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the soup.
- Russet potatoes: A starchy potato that lends a hearty texture and mild flavor. This recipe is created using the starchy russet potatoes. If you use a different potato like a red potato or Yukon gold, the texture of the soup will be different.
- Cheese: Sharp Cheddar adds the most flavor.
Toppings for Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Toppings and Seasonings:
- Bacon: Crispy bacon adds a hearty texture.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar adds the most classic cheese flavors, but other cheeses like gouda or Colby jack could be fun variations.
- Sour cream: A creamy, tangy topping that balances the richness of the soup.
- Chives: A delicate herb that adds a fresh, onion-like flavor. Chopped green onions are also great.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the flavors of the soup.
- Potato Chips: Crushed potato chips are a fun addition to potato soup for additional crunch and texture.
How to Make Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Cook the Bacon and Sauté the Vegetables: Fry bacon until crispy, then sauté onions and garlic in the bacon fat.
- Thicken the Broth: Add flour to the vegetable mixture and whisk in chicken broth and heavy cream.
- Add Potatoes and Simmer: Incorporate diced potatoes and simmer until tender.
- Blend the Soup: Use an immersion blender to achieve your desired texture, whether smooth or chunky.
- Add Cheese and Season: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with additional cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, and crushed potato chips.
Recipe Tips
- Bacon, Bacon, Bacon: For extra flavor, cook more bacon than the recipe calls for. I often use the full pound of bacon.
- Potato Perfection: To ensure evenly cooked potatoes, cut them into uniform cubes. The smaller cubes help the potatoes cook quicker.
- Cheese Please: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Gruyère, to customize the flavor profile.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to give your soup a little heat.
- Soup and Sandwich Combo: Pair the soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or a BLT for a hearty and satisfying meal.
How To Reheat
Leftover Magic: This soup reheats beautifully, making it a great option for meal prep or leftovers. Since the soup contains cheese and cream, make sure you reheat over low heat to prevent separating. Thin with milk or chicken broth as needed.
More Soup Recipes to Try
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Thick and Hearty Turkey Chili
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
A cheesy potato soup loaded with all your favorite baked potato toppings.
Servings: 6
Calories: 824kcal
Equipment
- 3.75 quart or larger Dutch Oven
- Immersion Blender
Ingredients
- 8 oz bacon chopped
- 3/4 cup onion finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 pounds russet potatoes peeled and diced into 3/4 inch cubes, set aside and cover with water to prevent discoloration
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- sour cream
- chives
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- In dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Set aside to drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Drain all but two tablespoons of bacon fat from pan. Add onions to bacon fat and sauté over medium-low heat until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Sprinkle in flour and stir for another minute. Slowly whsk in chicken broth and heavy cream and scrape up any brown bits from pot.
- Drain potatoes and add to soup mixture. Increase heat and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Season with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cover. Simmer covered for 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender.
- Remove from heat and use immersion blender to blend soup in short bursts. Start with a few short bursts and stir well until soup reaches desired thickness. Use a few short bursts for a chunky, hearty texture, or blend completely for a smooth texture.
- When soup is at desired texture, stir in 3 cups of freshly shredded cheese. Taste for seasoning. Serve with additional cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, and crushed potato chips for garnish.
Nutrition
Calories: 824kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 813mg | Potassium: 1289mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1355IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 604mg | Iron: 3mg
5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
My five FAVORITE recipes for busy families!
- Quick to make
- Light on your budget
- Easy to clean-up
- and...most important...absolutely DELICIOUS
This is one delicious recipe. It’s so thick and hearty. I’ll be making this one all winter!
Oh my goodness, this potato soup is pure comfort in a bowl! Perfect for those chilly nights when you need something warm and cozy!
This soup was everything I wanted on a chilly evening! Creamy, hearty, and loaded with flavor—just like a baked potato in a bowl.
This is my new go-to potato soup recipe! 10/10 everyone loved it
This loaded baked potato soup is amazing! Creamy, comforting, and packed with flavor, everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper!