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Loaded Potato Soup

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This loaded potato soup is ultra creamy, packed with tender potatoes, crispy bacon, and melty cheese, making it the ultimate comfort food for chilly nights or family dinners. It’s hearty, customizable, and comes together quickly for a satisfying meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 6–8 slices bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
  • 2 cups whole or 2% milk
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste (start with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper)
  • Chives or green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • Optional: crumbled bacon (reserved from above), extra shredded cheese, more sour cream, hot sauce or paprika for topping

Instructions

  1. Peel and dice potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Dice onion, mince garlic, and cut bacon into small pieces. Shred cheddar cheese and cube cream cheese.
  2. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy (about 6-8 minutes). Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings in the pot.
  3. Add diced onion to the pot and sauté in bacon drippings for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly.
  4. Add diced potatoes to the pot, then pour in chicken broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15-18 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Use a potato masher to mash some of the potatoes for a thicker soup, or use an immersion blender to blend about half the soup for a creamier texture.
  6. Stir in milk, cream cheese cubes, and butter. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until cream cheese is melted and soup is smooth (about 5 minutes). Do not let it boil.
  7. Remove pot from heat. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream until melted and fully combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  8. Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with reserved crispy bacon, extra shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and sliced chives or green onions. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra creaminess, don’t skip the cream cheese. Mash or blend only part of the soup for the best texture. Add dairy off the heat to prevent curdling. Adjust thickness with extra broth or milk as needed. The soup is naturally gluten-free and can be made vegetarian by omitting bacon and using vegetable broth. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded potato soup, creamy potato soup, comfort food, family dinner, easy soup recipe, bacon, cheddar, gluten-free, cozy dinner, winter soup

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/loaded-potato-soup-recipe-best-creamy-dinner-idea-for-families/