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.
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).
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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!
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.
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
The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe
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
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
Nutrition
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.
Kristy
I added a 1/2 chopped celery and subbed out the ancho for smoked paprika. DELISH! I used golden yellow potatoes that I normally use for scalloped. They hold up better once diced and blend very well.
Recipe going in the SAVE bin. Also, smoked applewood bacon – thick cut. YUM.
Kristy
Sorry – that’s a 1/2 cup of chopped celery. oops
Sam
So happy to hear the soup was such a success, Kristy!! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your substitutions 🙂
Patricia Strong
So good! I didn’t have chicken broth so I used vegetable broth and added a chicken bouillon cube. Also used skim milk but I figured with the cream and sour cream, it wouldn’t matter too much. It makes a lot for just the two of us….can it be frozen?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Patricia! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the Potato Soup. Unfortunately, the consistency of the soup doesn’t fare well after being frozen due to the dairy, it tends to separate a bit after being thawed. 🙁
Denise
My daughter askes for potato soup every time she is sick. I have cooked multiple recipes. This one was a home run! I have saved, printed and shared. Take your time and it will pay off!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that you enjoyed the Potato Soup, Denise! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂
Jared
The most amazing potato soup in the entire world. I followed the recipe exactly as written and it turned out perfect. My family loves this so much.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the Potato Soup was such a hit and your family enjoyed it, Jared! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Dani
Could I add some cream cheese instead of sour cream?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Dani! I personally have not done so but it should work fine. Someone commented on the post that they added about 2/3 cup of cream cheese instead of sour cream and it works perfectly. I hope that helps. Enjoy the Potato Soup. 🙂
Don
I made this yesterday, and was pretty worried since it was my first time making potato soup. My wife and I loved it, our daughter said it was okay. It was delicious, finished the leftovers today, still delicious. I plan on this recipe being a once a month meal. Thanks for sharing @SugarSpun_Sam
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Don! I am so glad that your family enjoyed the Potato Soup. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Betsy
I’m not a fan of sour cream – do you have a recommendation for a substitute, or could I just omit it?
Sam
Hmm unfortunately I don’t have a great recommendation for a substitute, though plain Greek yogurt could potentially work. Sour cream adds to the creaminess and gives a great depth of flavor, but the soup would still turn out if you choose to omit it.
Amy Mensah
Cream cheese is AWESOME in potato soup, & it helps make it creamy!
Beth
I forgot to sprinkle in the flour! Reckon it will be alright?
Sam
The flour helps thicken it so I’m not sure that it will be as creamy. How did it turn out for you?
Beth
We just got to eating it and it’s SO good. I went ahead and made a slurry and added it in before the simmer. Worked out perfectly! Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the Potato Soup, Beth! 🙂
Hopper Farms
We just made this soup, and added some extra ingredients such as fresh parsley in the soup after blending and topped with fresh jalapenos. Absolutely delicious! Thank you so much.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Eric! I am so happy that you enjoyed the Potato Soup. 🙂
Keith VanEvery
My girlfriend and I make a different soup every Sunday for dinner. This week she chose potato bacon soup. I found the recipe, got the ingredients and together, we made this soup. We were both amazed at how easy it was to make and how delicious it turned out. I was also able to find a loaf of fresh baked sour dough bread for dipping. We will definitely be making this again!!!
Sam
I am so happy to hear that it was such a hit, Keith!! Thank you so much for commenting, I really appreciate it.
Bill
I’m not sure what made me try this recipe for dinner tonight but I’m damn glad I did! Best potato soup I have ever had! Thanks alot!
Sam
Woohoo! Glad to hear the recipe was such a success for you, Bill! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Donald Salafia
My favorite potato soup is from Houlihans restaurant, and this definitely a much better tasting soup, I think it blows there’s out of the water yum yum, thank you soooooooo much for sharing the recipe. Sincerely Donald Salafia.
Sam
This is quite the compliment!!! Thank you so much, Donald, I’m so happy to hear it was such a hit for you! 🙂
Becka
does it have to have bacon? because I have none and I would love to make this soup.
Sam
Hi Becka! The bacon really gives it a great flavor but you can make the soup without! I would probably bump up the butter another Tablespoon, though. I hope you love the soup!
Nilha
Tasty, creamy, and very filling! Perfect for a chilly night! We loved the ancho chili flavor….quite unusual in potato soup. We didn’t have any bacon so we used diced smoked sausage. It was delicious and made the soup even more hearty. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Nilha! I am so glad that you enjoyed the Potato Soup. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Joan W.
I have tried other potato soup recipes in the past all were not the soup I was hoping for – until this one! This is by far the best potato soup I have tasted! The only thing I might add would be a little more bacon, but that is my family’s preference . Try making this recipe – you will be pleased!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the Potato Soup was such a hit with your family and the recipe exceeded your expectations. Thanks so much, Joan! 🙂
Cathie Lindsay
This soup is freaking delish. Added some sharp cheese velveeta into soup and some diced ham. Basic recipe is great. My 97 yr old MIL gobbled this down and it’s hard to get her to eat!!!!
Tawana
My goodness. This is the best potato soup ever. Thanks for the recipe. 😋
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Tawana! I am so glad that you enjoyed the Potato Soup. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Ryan King
I just made this a couple days ago. It’s probably the best potato soup I’ve ever eaten. I used two bags of frozen hash browns with onions and peppers in them, and a whole pound of bacon, chopped.
So. Good!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Ryan! I am so glad that you enjoyed the Potato Soup! 🙂
Stacie
First time ever making potato soup, DELICIOUS!! Thank you so much. Definitely was a hit for the family. I didn’t have the ancho chili powder , I added some crushed red peppers (I like heat)
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that your family enjoyed the Potato Soup, Stacie! Heat is never a bad thing! Thanks for commenting. 🙂