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Creamy Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon

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A rich, velvety comfort food soup featuring Yukon Gold potatoes, a classic roux base, and topped with crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 12 ounces thick-cut bacon (divided)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
  • Sour cream for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, cook half of the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving 2 tablespoons of fat in the skillet. Chop bacon and set aside.
  2. In a large Dutch oven or pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle flour over the onions and butter. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until the mixture resembles wet sand and turns light golden.
  4. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream to create a smooth base. Add diced potatoes, thyme, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
  5. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Remove from heat. Mash about half of the potatoes directly in the pot to thicken the soup.
  7. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  8. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and half of the crispy bacon. Adjust consistency with extra milk or broth if needed, and season with salt.
  9. Ladle into bowls and top with remaining bacon, green onions, sour cream, and extra cheese.

Notes

Add garlic at the end to prevent burning. Shred cheese from a block to ensure smooth melting. Soup thickens upon cooling; add liquid when reheating. For gluten-free, substitute flour with cornstarch or GF blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked potato soup, creamy potato soup, bacon soup, comfort food, winter soup, easy dinner, loaded potato soup

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/creamy-loaded-baked-potato-soup-best-easy-recipe/