Description
Creamy potato soup delivers comfort straight from scratch kitchens. Hearty potatoes, crisp bacon, and rich cream create a satisfying meal that warms souls completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 (medium) russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced (about 5 cups)
- 3 cups (710 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 4 slices bacon, diced (optional)
- 1 (medium) onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour (for thickening)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced green onions or chives
- Sour cream
- Additional cooked bacon, crumbled
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a large pot over medium heat until golden, then transfer to a paper towel, reserving the rendered fat for subsequent cooking.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté diced onions in bacon drippings until translucent, then quickly introduce minced garlic to release its fragrant notes, creating a flavor-rich foundation.
- Potato Infusion: Add cubed potatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil before reducing to a gentle simmer, allowing potatoes to become tender and absorb the seasoned liquid.
- Creamy Transformation: Whisk flour and milk into a smooth mixture, then incorporate heavy cream into the simmering soup, stirring consistently to develop a rich, velvety consistency without lumps.
- Textural Enhancement: Partially blend the soup using an immersion blender, maintaining some chunky potato pieces for rustic texture and visual appeal while ensuring a creamy overall profile.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the soup into warm bowls, topping generously with sharp cheddar cheese, delicate green onion slivers, a dollop of sour cream, and the reserved crispy bacon pieces for a multi-layered flavor experience.
Notes
- Select High-Quality Potatoes: Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for the creamiest texture and best flavor absorption.
- Control Bacon Crispness: Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to render fat completely and achieve perfect crunchiness without burning.
- Prevent Potato Breakdown: Cut potatoes into uniform, medium-sized cubes to ensure even cooking and maintain structural integrity during simmering.
- Manage Soup Thickness: Gradually add milk-flour mixture while stirring constantly to prevent lumps and achieve desired creamy consistency without over-thickening.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg