Recipe: Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Scallions & Cheddar (2024)

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Sarah Rae Smith

Sarah Rae Smith

Sarah Rae Smith has lived all across the Midwest and currently calls the bratwurst-laden city of Sheboygan home. She seeks out kitchens that make the best pie and farmers with fresh eggs.

updated May 12, 2022

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Recipe: Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Scallions & Cheddar (1)

Serves10 to 12

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Recipe: Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Scallions & Cheddar (2)

In the past we’ve looked at a few more refined versions of potato soup. There has been a creamy curried potato soup, a sweet potato soup with miso and ginger, and a roasted garlic and potato soup. But I’m not as polished as the rest of our Kitchn writers. See, this Midwestern girl wants her meat and potatoes and she doesn’t always want them to be fancied up — well, unless you consider bacon fancy.

There are so many different ways to make potato soup — it’s rather ridiculous. A quick Google search will show you many of the infinite variations. But when it comes to a traditional dish that makes your stomach growl from the other room just thinking about it, accept no substitute for this thick, creamy, and extra-comforting dish.

Now before we start, there are a few disclaimers. This dish isn’t low-fat, and it isn’t light in calories. Under no circ*mstances does it even pretend to be the healthiest soup on the block. This dish is a stick-to-your-ribs type meal that can be served at the end of a long day. It falls into the comfort food category and is best eaten in fuzzy slippers and pajamas. Not because that’s the attire the meal requires, but because the only thing more comforting than this meal is fuzzy slippers. If you’re going to go all out, that’s how to do it!

If you already have a few baked potatoes and some cooked bacon in the fridge, this dish comes together in less than five minutes. Make these things ahead so this soup is ready to be thrown together at a moment’s notice. There’s no long drawn out cooking time for broth; you can literally come home from work and have this meal on the table before your children get a chance to tear the house apart! Fabulous!


Tester’s Notes:

As Sarah Rae says, this is exactly the kind of rich and hearty meal you crave at the end of a long day. I tend to see a recipe like this and automatically start thinking about subbing in a lower-fat milk, using yogurt instead of sour cream, and other calorie-cutting techniques. If you have similar instincts, I urge you to curb them for this recipe. It’s worth it to go all in and just enjoy the ride. This ridiculously good soup is the very definition of comfort food, and we all need that every now and then.

The only change I actually make is to cut the recipe in half, or even in quarters. As it is, the recipe will feed a whole crowd of very hungry people, which is good for a Super Bowl party or potluck dinner. When it’s just my small family, a smaller batch is just the thing for a cozy night in. Emma

Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Green Onion & Cheddar

Serves 10 to 12

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks

    (1 cup/16 tablespoons) unsalted butter

  • 1 cup

    all-purpose flour

  • 8 cups

    whole milk

  • 5

    large potatoes, baked and cubed (peeled, if desired)

  • 2 pounds

    bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 2 cups)

  • 3 cups

    shredded cheddar cheese

  • 2 cups

    sour cream

  • 1 bunch

    green onions, thinly sliced

  • 1 tablespoon

    kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon

    ground black pepper

  • 1 clove

    garlic, minced (optional)

  • 1/4 cup

    grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in the bottom of a large pot over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk to combine until thickened. Whisking continuously, slowly pour in the milk and whisk until mixture is smooth. Be sure to get the corners of the pan.

  2. Add all of the remaining ingredients and lower the heat to medium. Stir occasionally until the cheese is melted and the soup is warmed through. Be sure to scrape bottom of the pot as you stir so the soup doesn't burn.

  3. Serve when warm and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

If you don't have them already prepared, bake the potatoes and fry the bacon before starting this recipe.

On using sliced bacon: You can of course start by using sliced bacon and can even hold onto the rendered fat, substituting it for part of the butter called for in the soup recipe. Just reduce your butter accordingly and add it right in.

On pre-baking your potatoes: Since this recipe uses potatoes that are already baked, you might want to toss a few in the oven the night before to bake them off ahead of time. Baked, they'll keep in the fridge for a week (easily), so dinner can be ready to go any night of the week!

Related: Recipe: Ajiaco (Chicken and Potato) Soup

Filed in:

Cheese

dinner

easy

Main Dish

milk

One-Dish Meal

Recipe: Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Scallions & Cheddar (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my potato soup taste better? ›

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch is not the only thickening agent you can use. Other alternatives include flour, arrowroot powder, instant mashed potatoes, or even pureed vegetables like cauliflower or cooked oats. Each of these options will add thickness to your soup while imparting its own unique taste and texture.

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? ›

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? Most creamy soups require you to add dairy of some sort into it. If you're finding your soup is too thin adding milk, add in cream instead, or whole milk.

What can I add to potato soup for flavor without? ›

Use plenty of cream combined with milk, lots of cheddar cheese, garlic, ground black pepper, salt to taste, creamery butter and parsley. Don't forget the potatoes boiled than baked into the soup.

What gives soup more flavor? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

How do you doctor up bland potato soup? ›

Your potato soup is bland? Try adding a little more salt. That's usually the answer to any issue of blandness, no matter the recipe in question. A basic Appalachian style potato soup uses only a handful of simple ingredients, leaning on milk and water and often bouillon to create the brothy soup base.

Which type of potato is best for soups? ›

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

Do you cook potatoes before adding to soup? ›

Add Potatoes to Your Soup Base

Now that your potatoes are perfectly boiled, it's time to add them to your soup base. Whether you have a creamy or chunky potato soup recipe, gently stir the boiled potatoes into your prepared soup mixture and simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together.

Does sour cream thicken soup? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in potato soup? ›

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream.

How to make baked potato soup thicker? ›

To thicken potato soup without creating lumps, you can use a roux made of equal parts butter and flour. Melt the butter in a separate pan, add the flour, and whisk until smooth. Slowly whisk the roux into the soup, and let it simmer until thickened.

Does cream cheese thicken up potato soup? ›

It's especially appropriate in potato soups as it adds some fat and body to accentuate the starchiness of the spuds. Cream cheese also adds that all-important tang, imparting brightness and a touch of salty-sweetness that provides a depth of flavor to your simmering soup.

What is the most significant ingredient of a soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes. Acidic Ingredients: If your soup contained highly acidic ingredients (e.g., tomatoes), it could have affected the texture of the potatoes. Acidic ingredients can slow down the softening process of potatoes.

Why does my potato soup taste sour? ›

Soup can become acidic due to a variety of factors such as using acidic ingredients like tomatoes, vinegar, or lemon juice, overcooking certain vegetables, or adding too much of ingredients like wine or citrus. It can also be caused by fermentation or spoilage of soup over time.

How do you spice up boring soup? ›

The key here is using the right herbs. Choose tender, leafy herbs for topping soup, like parsley (flat leaf or curly), cilantro, chives, or even mint. Skip the woody herbs, like rosemary and thyme — or add them in the beginning of the cooking process — otherwise they will dull, rather than brighten, the flavor.

How do you make potato soup less soupy? ›

Whisk 2 tbsp (25 g) of cornstarch or 2 tbsp (30 g) of flour with 14 cup (59 mL) of cool water. Once the starch is completely dissolved, pour the slurry into the main pot. Heat the soup to boiling for 1 minute, then reduce the heat and simmer until the soup is as thick as you'd like it.

How do you add thickness to potato soup? ›

A slurry can thicken a soup toward the end of the cooking process. Combine cornstarch and a little bit of water—or the chicken stock from the soup—in a small bowl. With the soup simmering over medium-low heat, whisk in the slurry. The soup should start to thicken almost immediately.

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