Description
A rich, creamy, and comforting soup made with russet potatoes, crispy bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese. This quick weeknight dinner comes together in under 45 minutes and is perfect for cozy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Sour cream, for serving
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- White pepper, optional
Instructions
- Peel and dice the potatoes into small, uniform pieces. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and cook the bacon until crispy. Crumble the bacon and set aside, leaving some for garnish.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Add the diced potatoes to the pot and stir to coat them in the butter and onion mixture.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Use an immersion blender to blend half of the potatoes directly in the pot (or transfer half to a blender) until smooth. Return to the pot.
- Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through.
- Remove from heat. Stir in half of the crumbled bacon and half of the shredded cheese.
- Ladle into bowls and top with remaining bacon, cheese, green onions, and a dollop of sour cream. Serve immediately.
Notes
Russet potatoes are best for a creamy texture. For a vegetarian version, swap bacon for smoked paprika and use vegetable broth. The soup thickens in the fridge; thin with milk or broth when reheating. Do not freeze as dairy may separate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 18
Keywords: loaded baked potato soup, creamy potato soup, bacon soup, comfort food, quick dinner, russet potato soup, cheddar soup