Loaded Potato Soup (Printable)

Velvety smooth potato base loaded with cheddar, bacon, and green onions for ultimate comfort in a bowl.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 medium onion, chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Base & Dairy

05 - 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup whole milk or 2% milk
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for garnish

→ Meats

09 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Oils & Seasonings

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
03 - Stir in diced potatoes and pour in the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
04 - Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or blend half the soup and leave the remainder chunky for desired texture.
05 - Stir in milk, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts and the soup reaches a creamy texture, approximately 5 minutes.
06 - Taste the soup and adjust salt, pepper, and paprika as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with crumbled bacon, extra cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and optional toppings of choice.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a loaded baked potato in a bowl, with all the toppings you actually want.
  • You can make it as smooth or as chunky as you like, depending on your mood.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, which rarely happens with soup.
  • Its easy enough for a weeknight but feels special enough to serve guests.
02 -
  • Dont skip sautéing the onion and garlic, that step builds the foundation of flavor you cant add later.
  • If you blend the soup while its too hot in a regular blender, the lid can pop off, so always vent it and blend in small batches.
  • Add the cheese off the heat or on very low heat, high heat can make it grainy and separated.
03 -
  • Cook your bacon in the oven on a sheet pan at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, it comes out perfectly crispy with no babysitting.
  • If the soup gets too thick, thin it with a little extra broth or milk rather than water, which can dilute the flavor.
  • Grate your own cheddar from a block instead of using pre-shredded, it melts smoother and tastes sharper.
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