Homemade Potato Soup Recipe Cozy Comfort in a Bowl

Creamy potato soup weaves magic into weeknight dinners with surprising simplicity.

Cold evenings call for warm comfort straight from your kitchen.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly in this classic recipe that feels like a culinary hug.

Russet potatoes create a rich, velvety base that whispers pure satisfaction.

Crispy bacon bits and fresh chives add delightful texture and zest.

Each spoonful promises comfort and warmth without complicated techniques.

You’ll love how quickly this soul-soothing soup comes together.

Grab a ladle and savor every comforting bite.

Why Homemade Potato Soup Is Always Welcome

• Perfect for busy families wanting a delicious dinner solution that comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal cooking skills required.
• Easily adjust soup consistency by choosing between chunky potato pieces or smooth blended versions, allowing personal preference and creativity in preparing the dish.
• Utilizes affordable ingredients like potatoes, chicken broth, and common pantry staples, delivering restaurant-quality taste without expensive components or complicated techniques.
• Minimal cleanup needed since entire recipe develops in single pot, making preparation and washing dishes simple for home cooks with limited time and energy.

What You Need for Cozy Potato Soup

• Bacon: Adds rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture to the soup.
• Chicken Broth: Provides a savory liquid base with depth of flavor, choose low-sodium for better control.

• Potatoes: Hearty, starchy vegetable that gives the soup its main body and creamy texture, choose waxy or all-purpose varieties.
• Onion: Foundational aromatic that adds sweet and savory undertones.
• Garlic: Provides intense, sharp flavor that enhances overall taste profile.
• Green Onions: Fresh, mild onion flavor for garnish and brightness.

• Milk, Heavy Cream: Create luxurious, smooth texture and rich mouthfeel, whole milk works best.
• Flour: Helps thicken the soup and create smooth consistency.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp, melty topping that adds extra richness and flavor.
• Sour Cream: Tangy garnish that provides creamy contrast.
• Thyme: Earthy herb that complements potato and adds subtle complexity.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing flavors.

How to Make Homemade Potato Soup on the Stove

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bacon

Cook bacon pieces in a large pot over medium heat until perfectly golden and crunchy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, keeping bacon drippings in the pot. If skipping bacon, use butter or olive oil instead.

Step 2: Build Flavor Foundation

• Chopped onions
• Minced garlic

Saute until onions become soft and translucent, releasing their sweet aroma.

Step 3: Potato Magic

• Diced potatoes
• Chicken broth
• Thyme
• Salt
• Pepper

Bring mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat. Let simmer with lid on until potatoes become tender and almost falling apart, around 15-20 minutes.

Step 4: Create Silky Texture

In a separate bowl, whisk milk and flour until completely smooth. Pour this mixture into the pot, followed by heavy cream. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, allowing soup to thicken and develop rich consistency.

Step 5: Customize Creaminess

For extra smoothness, use an immersion blender to partially blend soup. Keep some potato chunks for rustic texture. Alternatively, blend half the soup in a standard blender and return to pot.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped green onions
• Dollop of sour cream
• Crumbled bacon pieces

Tips for Creamy, Hearty Potato Soup

• Boost Bacon Flavor: Crisp the bacon slowly over medium-low heat to render maximum flavor without burning, ensuring deliciously smoky undertones in your potato soup.
• Prevent Lumpy Soup: Whisk flour and milk thoroughly before adding to the pot, creating a smooth slurry that prevents unwanted flour clumps in your creamy soup.
• Customize Potato Texture: Use a potato masher or immersion blender to control soup thickness, leaving some chunks for rustic texture or blending completely for silky smoothness.
• Enhance Dairy-Free Option: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk for a lighter, lactose-free version that maintains rich, creamy consistency.
• Elevate Soup with Toppings: Experiment with garnishes like crispy pancetta, roasted green chiles, or fresh herbs to transform basic potato soup into a gourmet experience.

How to Save and Reheat Potato Soup Properly

• Store leftover potato soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Remove excess air, seal carefully, and freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing garnishes like cheese or bacon.
• Warm soup over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Add a splash of chicken broth or milk to restore creamy consistency if needed. Heat until temperature reaches 165°F.
• Pour soup into microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals. Stir between intervals to distribute heat evenly and prevent hot spots.

Bread and Extras for Potato Soup

• Craft a rustic bread pairing like crusty sourdough or hearty whole wheat to soak up the creamy potato soup's rich textures. The bread's crisp edges and soft interior will perfectly complement the soup's smooth consistency.
• Select a crisp, light-bodied white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to cut through the soup's richness. These wines offer bright, zesty notes that refresh the palate between spoonfuls of the creamy potato soup.
• Prepare a tangy mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing to balance the soup's creaminess. Incorporate crisp lettuce, cucumber slices, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs to add brightness and contrast to the hearty soup.
• Add a simple crispy parmesan crostini or herbed crackers alongside the soup to introduce a crunchy element. These additional textures will provide a delightful counterpoint to the soup's smooth and velvety consistency.

Potato Soup Versions Worth Trying

Vegetarian Comfort Blend: Replace bacon with smoked paprika and sautéed mushrooms for a rich, umami flavor profile that adds depth without meat.

Dairy-Free Creamy Option: Swap heavy cream and milk with coconut milk and cornstarch, creating a silky texture that’s lactose-free and suitable for sensitive diets.

Herb-Infused Wellness Version: Incorporate roasted garlic, fresh rosemary, and add nutritional yeast for a protein-packed, herb-enhanced soup that boosts overall nutrition.

Low-Carb Cauliflower Swap: Substitute half the potatoes with cauliflower florets to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining a similar creamy consistency and hearty feel.

Best Homemade Potato Soup Recipe

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4.5 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comfort meets culinary magic in this creamy potato soup, blending rustic Irish tradition with hearty home-cooked goodness. Silky potatoes, crisp bacon, and rich cheese come together, inviting you to savor each luxurious spoonful of warmth and flavor.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced (about 5 cups)
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
• 1 cup heavy cream

Protein and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon, diced (optional)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for thickening)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Topping Ingredients:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sliced green onions or chives
• Sour cream
• Additional cooked bacon, crumbled

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Instructions

1. Render the bacon in a spacious pot over medium flame until it turns golden and crisp. Extract the bacon with a perforated utensil, preserving approximately two tablespoons of rendered fat. If omitting bacon, substitute with equivalent butter or olive oil.
2. Introduce chopped onions into the pot, sautéing until translucent and softened. Incorporate minced garlic, allowing it to release its aromatic essence for approximately one minute.
3. Tumble diced potatoes into the pot along with chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Elevate temperature until liquid reaches a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow potatoes to tenderize, approximately 15-18 minutes.
4. Create a silky thickening agent by whisking flour and milk until completely smooth. Gently integrate this mixture into the simmering soup, followed by heavy cream. Continue cooking for 5-7 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent scorching.
5. For enhanced creaminess, utilize an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, maintaining some potato chunks for textural contrast. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a standard blender, process until velvety, then reincorporate into the pot.
6. Transfer the steaming soup into serving vessels. Embellish with sharp cheddar cheese, freshly snipped green onions, dollops of sour cream, and reserved crispy bacon fragments. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Bacon Brilliance: Crisp the bacon separately to control crispiness and prevent soggy texture, ensuring maximum flavor and crunch in every spoonful.
• Potato Perfection: Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for creamy, thick soup consistency that breaks down smoothly during cooking.
• Texture Tactics: Partially blending creates a luxurious balance between creamy base and hearty potato chunks, giving soup more interesting mouthfeel.
• Diet-Friendly Modifications: Swap dairy with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk for vegan version, or use gluten-free flour to make soup celiac-friendly.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg