Description
Hearty cheesy sausage potato soup delivers comfort in a bowl, perfect for chilly evenings. Rich flavors blend seamlessly, warming hearts with creamy goodness you’ll savor until the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground sausage (Italian or breakfast)
- 1 ½ lbs (680 g) potatoes, diced (Yukon Gold or Russets)
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
- ¼ cup (10 g) chopped fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle sausage in a large pot over medium heat, breaking into small pieces until golden brown and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatic Foundation: In the same pot, sauté onions until translucent, then add garlic and briefly toast to release fragrant notes. If needed, add minimal olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Liquid and Potato Integration: Pour chicken broth into the pot, add diced potatoes. Bring to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook potatoes until tender, approximately 15-18 minutes, testing with a fork for soft texture.
- Texture Transformation: Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, creating a smooth yet chunky consistency. If using a standard blender, carefully transfer portions and reincorporate.
- Flavor Harmonization: Return cooked sausage to the pot. Stream in heavy cream and sprinkle smoked paprika, stirring to blend flavors thoroughly. Gradually melt shredded cheddar cheese into the soup.
- Final Seasoning: Adjust salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Ensure cheese is completely melted and ingredients are well integrated.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions. Serve alongside crusty bread or crisp crackers for a complete meal.
Notes
- Manage Meat Quality: Select high-quality sausage with balanced fat content for maximum flavor depth and smooth texture in the soup.
- Control Potato Consistency: Cut potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- Master Blending Technique: When partially pureeing, leave some potato chunks intact for textural complexity and rustic soup character.
- Cheese Melting Strategy: Add cheese gradually off direct heat and stir continuously to prevent clumping and achieve silky smooth incorporation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 462
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg