Creamy Carrot Soup has surprisingly simple ingredients like carrots, onion, celery, and bacon, but it tastes gourmet. Just like our popular Potato Soup, this is a quick and easy recipe that comes together in one pot. You will love the silky smooth texture and rich flavor.

Creamy carrot soup in pot garnished with bacon and parsley

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Why You’ll Love This Carrot Soup Recipe

Carrot soup is loaded with sweet carrots, plenty of onion and celery (don’t worry – they disappear into the final soup but add amazing flavor), fresh garlic, bacon, and light cream. Sauteeing the bacon first and cooking the rest of the soup in a little bit of bacon grease elevates the flavor of this cream of carrot soup.

It’s such a comforting and flavorful bowl of soup. All you need to go with it are some Dinner Rolls or crusty French Bread.

Carrot soup recipe ingredients with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bacon, broth, cream and milk

How to Make Easy Carrot Soup

You’ll love how this soup comes together in one pot. If you use an immersion blender, it’s even easier since you can blend it right in the pot and don’t have to transfer it to the blender. Immersion blenders are amazing!

  • In a large pot or 5 1/2 Qt Dutch oven, brown the bacon over medium heat and transfer to a plate, keeping the bacon grease in the pot.
  • Add diced onion, celery, and sliced carrots and cook 6-8 min. Add minced garlic, salt, and black pepper and cook another minute.
  • Add chicken broth, and simmer partially covered 20-25 min until carrots are soft.
  • Puree soup in batches in a blender or use an immersion blender.
  • Return soup to the pot, stir in 1/2 cup cream, 1/2 cup milk, salt and pepper to taste, then bring to a simmer and remove from heat.

Ways to Blend Creamy Soups

There are many ways to blend soup, but not all are effective in getting a restaurant-quality ultra-smooth consistency.

  • High-Powered Blender: Transfer your soup to your blender in batches. You should never fill a blender more than halfway with hot liquids to avoid burns, spills or ‘explosions.’ A high-powered blender will do the job best. Our blender has openings in the lid to allow heat to escape so you don’t end up with a vacuum.
  • Immersion Blender: You can blend the soup to the right consistency and save yourself some dishes by using an immersion blender. Blend directly in your soup pot. It has a shield around the blade to avoid scratching your pot. Wear an oven mitt and apron while using in case there is any splatter.
  • An Electric Hand Mixer – This is not as good as an immersion blender for getting a silky smooth texture. An electric hand mixer can also scratch up your coated pots.
  • A Food Processor is our least favorite option as it doesn’t achieve the smoothness that you get from a high-powered standing blender or immersion blender. It is better for processing thicker and chunkier sauces and soups.

Tips for the Best Carrot Soup

I fell in love with creamy soups on our honeymoon in Mexico where we dined in 5-star restaurants and soup was often served as a starter. They were so simple and so elegant at the same time. Here are some tips to make silky smooth blended soups:

  • Don’t overcook or undercook the vegetables. Cook until uniformly soft without resistance to the bite.
  • Season to taste at the end. You won’t be able to truly gauge the flavor until the end after it’s all blended.
  • Add cream last. You don’t want to keep boiling after the cream is added.
  • Don’t forget toppings! They aren’t just for looks. Toppings like bacon, parsley, black pepper or an extra swirl of cream will add just the right amount of texture and flavor and keep your soup exciting for adults. Remember it’s not baby food!

Can I Make This a Dairy-Free Carrot Soup?

Yes! You can skip the cream and milk and use coconut milk instead for a carrot coconut soup, just like we did in our Sweet Potato Soup. It will still have amazing flavor and be a dairy-free creamy soup.

This Carrot soup is a feel-good comfort food and will warm your belly. If you love quick and cozy soup recipes, don’t miss our most popular Zuppa Toscana, classic Chicken Noodle Soup, and loaded Taco Soup (to change up your Taco Tuesday routine). These are just a few of our best soup recipes.

More Creamy Soup Recipes

Creamy Carrot Soup

4.95 from 134 votes
Creamy Carrot Soup has surprisingly simple ingredients but tastes gourmet. This is a 30-minute recipe that comes together in one pot. You will love the silky smooth texture and rich flavor.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people (1 cup servings)
  • 6 oz bacon, 6 strips, chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (2 cups)
  • 1 celery rib, diced (1/2 cup)
  • 2 lbs carrots, 8 large, peeled and sliced into 1/2” thick rings
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cups chicken stock, or broth (reduced sodium)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, plus more to garnish
  • 2 Tbsp parsley, to garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Brown bacon in a 5 1/2 qt Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat and remove browned bacon with a slotted spoon.
  • Into the same pot with the rendered bacon fat, add diced onion, celery, and sliced carrots and cook 6-8 minutes until onions soften (do not brown). Add minced garlic and 2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, and stir another minute.
  • Add 4 cups chicken stock, bring to a simmer then partially cover and cook 20-25 minutes or until carrots have softened.
  • Puree soup in a blender in batches or use an immersion blender.
  • Return soup to pot and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup milk. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Per Serving

180kcal Calories18g Carbs9g Protein8g Fat4g Saturated Fat25mg Cholesterol1270mg Sodium541mg Potassium3g Fiber9g Sugar19178IU Vitamin A8mg Vitamin C73mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Carrot Soup
Amount per Serving
Calories
180
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
25
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
1270
mg
55
%
Potassium
 
541
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
 
18
g
6
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
9
g
10
%
Protein
 
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
 
19178
IU
384
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
73
mg
7
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carrot soup
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 180
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.95 from 134 votes (71 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Marianne
    March 26, 2021

    I can’t get the print function to work.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 26, 2021

      Hi Marianne, The print-friendly recipe is at the bottom of each post. Once you scroll there, click on the print icon in that recipe card, which will open a print screen, then you would need to click file —> print. I hope that helps! If not, please let me know exactly what steps you are taking and where you are navigating to print our recipes.

      Reply

  • Chris
    March 16, 2021

    Would roasting the carrots before adding to soup add more flavor? I haven’t tried the recipe yet, just wondering about this.
    Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 16, 2021

      Hi Chris, yes, I imagine it would. I hope you can give this recipe a try and share with us how you liked it!

      Reply

  • Matt
    March 5, 2021

    I love this soup, make it all the time and freeze portions. I also add some chilli flakes to give a little kick😉 In addition, I add a handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) and 1/4 cup of Parmesan👍🏼
    Thanks Natasha 😊
    Matt

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 5, 2021

      Hi Matt, I’m happy to know that you enjoyed this soup! Thank uyou so much for sharing your good comments with us.

      Reply

  • Shannon Burnett
    February 15, 2021

    Made a batch and put into canning jars , just don’t know with the milk products to keep in fridge or if it’s ok in cupboard. Don’t know how long it would last every one loved it but would love some on hand to warm up

    Reply

  • Shannon Burnett
    February 14, 2021

    Is it ok to can and does it have shelf life or need to be in frig

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 15, 2021

      Hi Shannon, I haven’t tried canning this yet to advise but I imagine you can freeze this too.

      Reply

  • Shannon burnett
    February 14, 2021

    When canning Carrot soup does that need to be refrigerated or can you put it in the cupboard

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 15, 2021

      I haven’t tried canning this yet to advise but I imagine you can freeze this too.

      Reply

  • Richard K Rodgers
    January 11, 2021

    I’m making the recipe and I can’t find what to do with the bacon after I remove it. So, I’m dicing it and going to put half in after the puree process. Using the other half as a garnish.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 11, 2021

      Hi Richard, we saute the bacon first and cook the rest of the soup in that little bit of bacon grease to really elevate the flavor of this cream of carrot soup. The actual bacon is then used at the end and can be added into the soup bowls when serving to preserve the crush to put into the soup pot once the soup is ready.

      Reply

  • Janet
    December 9, 2020

    Soup looks yummy. Just wondering how it freezes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 9, 2020

      Hi Janet, I haven’t tried freezing but that should work well.

      Reply

  • Joan Turner Rosner
    November 11, 2020

    I love all your soups. I would like to use my instant pot. Would I do the same amount of stock?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 11, 2020

      Hi Joan, I haven’t tried this in an instant pot, but I would still use the same amount of stock.

      Reply

      • Joan Turner Rosner
        November 15, 2020

        I made it tonight , added some fresh ginger and thyme. 5 minutes in the instant pot and I left it 10 minutes natural release.

        It was delicious.

        Than’s for the recipe.

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          November 16, 2020

          So awesome! Thanks for your great feedback, Joan. I hope that you will love all the other recipes that you will try.

          Reply

  • Kim
    November 4, 2020

    Hi.
    I am making this recipe now and noticed the last step of garnishing with bacon is not included. I can’t wait to taste it. Smalls great!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 4, 2020

      Hi Kim, thank you for that feedback. It is an optional step and garnish.

      Reply

  • Jennifer
    October 13, 2020

    I feel like I was expecting it to be a little sweeter. Almost like butternut squash soup. Anything I can do to tweak it?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 13, 2020

      Hi Jennifer, it can depend on how sweet your carrots are. I have found organic carrots tend to be a little sweeter. You could add a little brown sugar to taste to sweeten it up.

      Reply

      • Christy
        December 24, 2020

        add half of a chopped green apple

        Reply

  • Glenda
    October 10, 2020

    I made this soup and it is delicious!!! I only had hickory smoked bacon on hand and I think it gave the soup a deeper level of flavor. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 11, 2020

      Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing.

      Reply

  • Caroline
    October 5, 2020

    Hi Natasha

    Absolutely delicious soup and so easy to make. Had it with toasted cheesy baguettes and so filling. Will certainly make this again. Love it!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 5, 2020

      I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Caroline!

      Reply

  • Linda ann Zimak
    September 12, 2020

    It was a bit cool out yesterday, so I was craving soup. Made your creamy carrot again. Just love this soup. So simple to make and just delicious.
    And of course needed to have something sweet for afterwards, so made a batch of your cinnamon rolls as well. Just delicious

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 12, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Gee gee
    September 11, 2020

    Would this still taste good without the celery? Any substitution ideas… more carrots maybe.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      September 12, 2020

      Hi, once the celery is in, you cant tell it’s in there after blending but it does add rich flavor. It’s difficult to replace it, but a little extra onion and carrot is what I would do if I couldn’t get celery.

      Reply

      • Glenda
        October 10, 2020

        I have used celery seed instead of celery to get that flavor in the past. Works well for me.

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          October 11, 2020

          That’s good to know, Glenda. Thanks for sharing!

          Reply

  • Kat
    August 10, 2020

    Thank you! It was great. Perfect soup to use up corned beef stock after St. Patricks Day!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 10, 2020

      Great idea!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe Kat!

      Reply

  • Barbara Smith
    August 4, 2020

    I made this recipe today, as written. This is very easy to make and so, so good. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 4, 2020

      You’re welcome, Barbara. We’re so glad you enjoyed the soup!

      Reply

  • Linda Hagen
    July 11, 2020

    Could you send me the recipe for zucchini soup please

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 11, 2020

      Hi Linda, I do not have zucchini soup on my blog at this time. Thank you so much for that suggestion, I will add it to my list.

      Reply

      • Danielle Irelan
        December 27, 2020

        I always put a zucchini with potato and carrots soup it is good also

        Reply

  • ry
    June 24, 2020

    i like to use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. add some curry powder and give it a nice thai-ish flavor

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 24, 2020

      Sounds good, thanks for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Kimberly
    June 23, 2020

    Delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 23, 2020

      Love it! Thanks.

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.