• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Breads (Yeast & Quick Breads)
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Soups & Chilis

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    Updated: February 25, 2019 by Sam Merritt • 6,669 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    potato soup in white bowl

    An easy and delicious creamy potato soup recipe that can be made in just one pot!  Loaded with bacon and creamy potato goodness, this is a favorite comfort food in my household.

    A close up view of creamy potato soup, topped with bacon, sour cream, chives, and cheddar cheese

    Something savory today!

    Savory, creamy, and loaded with bacon, sour cream, and cheese.  You guys already know that we don’t exactly do health food around here, right? 😉

    Even when I’m not sharing desserts, the food is always comfort food, and that’s usually best served with extra cheese (have you tried my baked mac and cheese yet!?) and usually comes with a few calories.  Let’s not think about that too much, alright?

    I know I mentioned to you guys that I had this potato soup recipe for you back when I posted my Oreo Balls; I made it when Zach had a bad cold and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since (you might think that’s an exaggeration, but I can assure you that my food obsessions run deep… Please see photo below to understand why).

    An overhead view of a bowl of potato soup]

    Zach prefers to eat healthy most of the time (I pretend that I do, too, but really if I lived alone I’m pretty sure I’d eat creamy cheesy foods every night and never fit through any doors ever again), so the soup was a good break from baked chicken breast, but this definitely isn’t an every night kind of meal in our house.

    Potato soup is definitely on the menu for this weekend, though… it’s so frigid outside I’ve convinced myself that I need soup, specifically creamy potato soup, to survive.  Potato soup makes me dramatic, evidently.

    If you’re in the midst of a cold spell yourself (or even if you’re not) I think you’re going to enjoy this creamy potato soup as much as we do.  Read on for some tips on how to make it!

    Two bowls of potato soup

    Tips for Perfect Creamy Potato Soup

    • Cut your potatoes into pieces no larger than ¾″ and try to keep them around the same size so that they cook at the same time.  Nothing worse than biting into a crisp, raw-inside chunk of potato!
    • To make this soup nice and creamy, I recommend pureeing about half of it either by using an immersion blender or by transferring a portion of the soup to a blender, pureeing, and then stirring the pureed soup back into the pot (maybe you recognize this technique from my corn chowder).  If you want a completely smooth soup you can puree all of it, but I prefer to have a few actual pieces of potato, so I think pureeing half gives it the best taste and texture.
    • Don’t return the bacon to the pot until after you have pureed some of the soup. It’s best not to blend the bacon 😉.
    • The ancho chili powder is, in my humble opinion, a must and gives this soup the most perfect depth of flavor. I blend it into the potato soup and also sprinkle it on top before serving. I recommend adding just a ¼ teaspoon and then taste testing before adding more.

    Creamy Potato Soup, loaded with bacon and cheese

    This would make a great comfort food for this cold and windy weekend (is there anything more cozy than a pot of soup simmering on the stove while the wind is howling at your window? Anything!?), and while I don’t follow football at all I do know that this would be great to make ahead and enjoy during the big game this weekend.

    Who really cares about football when you can make yourself a Super Bowl of soup! 🤣😂 OK OK I’m sorry, enough of that!

    Enjoy!

    How to Make Potato Soup

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe

    An easy and delicious creamy potato soup recipe that can be made in just one pot! Loaded with bacon and creamy potato goodness, this is a favorite comfort food in my household.
    4.98 from 4643 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings (recipe makes 3.5 qts of soup)
    Calories: 521kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt
    YouTube video

    Ingredients

    • 6 strips (uncooked) bacon cut into small pieces
    • 3 Tablespoons butter unsalted or salted will work
    • 1 medium yellow onion chopped (about 1.5 cup/200g)
    • 3 large garlic cloves minced
    • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (42g)
    • 2 ½ lbs gold potatoes peeled and diced into pieces no larger than 1” (this was about 6 Large potatoes for me/1.15kg)
    • 4 cups chicken broth (945ml)
    • 2 cups milk (475ml)
    • ⅔ cup heavy cream (155ml)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon* salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
    • ¼ - ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder**
    • ⅔ cup sour cream (160g)
    • Shredded cheddar cheese, chives, and additional sour cream and bacon for topping optional

    Recommended Equipment

    • Immersion blender
    • Dutch Oven

    Instructions

    • Place bacon pieces in a large Dutch Oven or soup pot over medium heat and cook until bacon is crisp and browned.
    • Remove bacon pieces and set aside, leaving the fat in the pot.
    • Add butter and chopped onion and cook over medium heat until onions are tender (3-5 minutes).
    • Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
    • Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot and stir until smooth (use whisk if needed).
    • Add diced potatoes to the pot along with chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and ancho chili powder. Stir well.
    • Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork (about 10 minutes).
    • Reduce heat to simmer and remove approximately half*** of the soup to a blender (be careful, it will be hot!) and puree until smooth (half is about 5 cups of soup, but just eyeballing the amount will be fine. Alternatively you can use an immersion blender.).
    • Return the pureed soup to the pot and add sour cream and reserved bacon pieces, stir well.
    • Allow soup to simmer for 15 minutes before serving.
    • Top with additional sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese, or chives. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *I recommend starting with a more reserved amount of salt and then adding more as needed, the amount of salt needed will vary depending on the type/brand of broth you use
    **If you haven't used ancho chili powder before, I recommend starting with ¼ teaspoon and then taste-testing before increasing to ½ teaspoon if you like the taste.  
    ***If you want a completely creamy soup you can puree all of it, just puree in batches, about half of the soup at a time.  I prefer my potato soup with actual chunks of potatoes and prefer to puree just half of it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1326mg | Potassium: 1176mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 897IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    More Soup Recipes

    • Bowl of roasted carrot soup topped with croutons.
      Roasted Carrot Soup
    • Pot of vegetarian chili made with sweet potato, beans, and more.
      Vegetarian Chili
    • Bowl of creamy southwest chicken soup made with beans, chicken, peppers, and more.
      Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
    • Overhead view of a bowl of turkey chili topped with avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
      Turkey Chili

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mia

      September 27, 2025 at 5:58 pm

      5 stars
      This soup is a family favorite!! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!😋

      Reply
      • Brenda Brinkman

        September 28, 2025 at 2:53 pm

        5 stars
        I have used your recipe several times and I have to say it is the absolute best
        potato soup recipe! The ancho chili powder is perfect in this recipe. Thanks for
        the share!

        Reply
    2. Marianne

      September 24, 2025 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      Best potato soup I have ever made! Thanks for a great recipe.
      I want to make this for my co-workers, so I will have to make it at home the night before and then reheat at work. What would work best – microwave or crock pot?

      Reply
      • Sam Merritt

        September 24, 2025 at 9:29 pm

        Hi Marianne! Personally, if I had the ability to use a crock pot that is what I would do. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jan Baker

      September 22, 2025 at 6:21 pm

      Can this soup be frozen?

      Reply
      • Sam Merritt

        September 23, 2025 at 10:23 pm

        Hi Jan! I don’t recommend freezing it as it could separate when frozen. 🙁

        Reply
    4. Jay

      September 21, 2025 at 10:26 pm

      Can this soup be frozen with good results?

      Reply
      • Sam Merritt

        September 23, 2025 at 10:38 pm

        Hi Jay! While others have done it with success I recommend against it as it could potentially separate.

        Reply
      • Jan Baker

        September 24, 2025 at 8:31 am

        Dang! Already frozen. We’ll see…..

        Reply
    5. Jane

      September 21, 2025 at 3:57 am

      Is it okay to leave out the ancho chili powder? Or do you have another suggestion as a substitution? I have a medical condition that doesn’t allow me to have any kind of spicy food (even mild with no heat). I hate it because I LOVE spicy food & haven’t been able to have it since being diagnosed. Not unless I want to end up at the ER or in the hospital.

      Reply
      • Sam Merritt

        September 23, 2025 at 10:51 pm

        Hi Jane! You can certainly leave out the ancho chili powder. It will just change the flavor a little bit. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Shernika

      September 20, 2025 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      My family ask for this all the time. I’m making it right now!!!

      Reply
    7. Charity

      September 19, 2025 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      This was my first time making this kind of soup and I’m so glad I used your recipe. It is so good 🤤

      Reply
    8. Joyce

      September 18, 2025 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      This bar none is the best of the best! I have made this several times and my 95 year old Mom requests it all the time. Super easy and as I mentioned is the best I have ever had, even in restaurants.

      Reply
    9. Athena Stroud

      September 15, 2025 at 3:22 pm

      5 stars
      the best I’ve ever had!!!!!!!!

      Reply
    10. Hannah

      September 14, 2025 at 6:30 pm

      Hi do you have to blend the ingredients?

      Reply
      • Sam Merritt

        September 14, 2025 at 9:52 pm

        Hi Hannah! You don’t have to blend the ingredients. You will just have a chunkier/thinner soup. 🙂

        Reply
      • Amy

        September 16, 2025 at 1:49 am

        Yes ! Blend all of the ingredients together after the soup has been made and the potatoes are soft.

        Reply
      • Eddie

        September 18, 2025 at 4:26 pm

        5 stars
        I’m making it for the 2nd time and I didn’t puree either time. Still amazing.

        Reply
    11. Vickie

      September 14, 2025 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      Best potatoes soup ever!! 😋

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    4.98 from 4643 votes (2,119 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

    The Best Fall Recipes:

    Apple slab pie with scoop of vanilla ice cream

    Apple Slab Pie (with Video!)

    glazed apple fritters on a cooling rack with the center fritter missing one bite

    Apple Fritters Recipe (with Video!)

    stacked slices of apple bread resting against the remaining loaf

    The Best Apple Bread Recipe

    slice of apple pie with ice cream on white plate

    Dutch Apple Pie

    fork piercing a cut section from a stack of thick and fluffy pumpkin pancakes

    Pumpkin Pancakes

    Apple crumb cake cut into slices and drizzled with vanilla glaze.

    Apple Crumb Cake

    More Summer Recipes

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    Slice of cheesecake

    The Best Cheesecake Recipe

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    Stack of cookies made from this chocolate chip cookie recipe with melty chocolate chips and a bite missing from the top cookie

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    © 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.