This Sweet Potato Soup is easy, nutritious, absolutely delicious, and has been a family favorite for years. It’s silky smooth with creamy coconut milk, and the bacon on top adds a nice salty bite, but you can easily make it a vegetarian sweet potato soup (see notes below).

This soup is perfect for meal prep because it keeps well in the refrigerator or freezer and reheats like a dream. It’s a keeper!

Creamy sweet potato soup in bowl garnished with coconut milk

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As soon as the weather cools, soups like Corn Chowder, our famous Zuppa Toscana, and this Sweet Potato Soup are on the regular rotation.

Sweet Potato Soup Video

Watch the video tutorial, and you’ll see how easy it is to make this creamy sweet potato soup.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

Our kids are pretty selective about their soups, so I am happy they love this soup. I think the crispy bacon topping draws them to this soup, but it works, and I’m ok with that. When I tell them what we’re having for dinner, I always add, ‘it’s the soup with bacon,’ and all resistance melts away.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup is a comfort food that will warm you up and give you cozy vibes. The surprising addition of coconut milk adds a silky, sweet nuttiness to the soup.

Creamy sweet potato soup in a bowl garnished with toppings

Sweet Potato Soup Ingredients

This soup is so delicious, creamy (without needing heavy cream), and full of flavor, especially when you cook the bacon in the soup and use the bacon grease to cook the veggies.

  • Sweet Potatoes: peeled and diced. Get organic sweet potatoes if you can get your hands on them.
  • Bacon: cooked and diced for the perfect garnish. Thin or thick-sliced work well. For a vegetarian sweet potato soup, you can cook the soup in olive oil and garnish with parmesan cheese, croutons, or toasted pumpkin seeds like we did in our Pumpkin Soup.
  • Chicken Broth: We love using our Homemade Chicken Broth, but any chicken stock or broth will work. You can even use a vegetable broth.
  • Coconut Milk: Canned coconut milk is best for soups to create a creamier texture and makes it a dairy-free sweet potato soup. You can also use the refrigerated “original” or unflavored coconut milk that comes in a carton, giving you a lower-calorie soup. The nuttiness of coconut milk pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the yams.
  • Onion and Celery: these aromatic ingredients create the perfect soup base.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic infuses the soup with great flavor.
  • Thyme: an excellent seasoning with sweet potatoes. You can use a few sprigs of fresh thyme and add them in whole (no need to strip the leaves). You’ll remove the stems later. If using dried thyme, add it to taste as it has a more robust flavor profile, and a little bit goes a long way.
Peeled and diced sweet potatoes for Sweet Potato Soup

Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same?

There have been decades of debate over sweet potatoes and yams and 99% of the yams and sweet potatoes in a grocery store are the exact same thing!

  • Sweet Potatoes –  have an orange or reddish peel and sweet orange flesh. Look for medium-sized ones, as the larger ones are starchier. They should have tight and unwrinkled skins without blemishes. You’ll feel better eating Sweet Potato Casserole, Baked Sweet Potatoes and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
  • Real Yams are much harder to find in a typical grocery store and less nutritious than the vegetables we typically refer to as sweet potatoes. They have a darker brown skin that looks like tree bark, are more fibrous, and less sweet.

How to Make Sweet Potato Soup

  • Cook bacon in a large pot or Dutch Oven, cook the bacon until crisp and remove from pot. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan.
  • Sautee vegetables – add onion, celery and saute 4 minutes then add garlic.
  • Add sweet potatoes, along with thyme, salt and pepper. Add the chicken stock, partially cover, and simmer until sweet potatoes are soft.
  • Puree soup with an immersion blender or blend in batches in a blender until smooth (see “How to Puree Soup” below), then stir in 12 oz of coconut milk and return to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve in warm bowls garnished with a drizzle of the remaining coconut milk, bacon, and fresh parsley.
Cooking the bacon, sautéing celery and onions, and adding the diced sweet potatoes and broth to make Creamy Yam Soup.

Pro Tip:

To avoid kitchen messes while cooking soup, place a wooden mixing spoon across one side of your pot and place your lid over it. This way, the lid won’t hang over the edge and drip onto the stove, and you are more likely to avoid the mixture boiling over from a lid that accidentally covers the top.

Cooking trick: stock pot with wooden spoon propping up the lid to prevent the soup from boiling over

How to Puree a Creamy Soup

We love creamy soups in the fall and winter! This Sweet Potato Soup along, with our Creamy Carrot Soup, and our Creamy Cauliflower Soup, are some of our favorites. Getting ultra-smooth restaurant-quality soup can be tricky. Here are some of our favorite methods to make a creamy soup.

  • Immersion Blender: Our favorite method allows you to blend your soup right in the pot! Use an immersion blender to save on dishes and get the right consistency directly in your soup pot. Be sure to wear an oven mitt and apron in case of splatters!
  • High-Powered Blender: A high-powered blender will do the best job. We love this blender with openings in the lid to allow heat to escape so you don’t end up with a vacuum. You will need to transfer your soup in batches and be sure to never fill a blender more than half full with a hot liquid to avoid explosions and burns.
  • A Food Processor is our least favorite option. It is better for processing thicker sauces and soups but can work in a pinch. Just realize it won’t give you the same smoothness as the other two options.
Freshly pureed yam soup in stock pot

Make-Ahead

Allow the soup to cool completely before storage. You can speed up the cooling process by setting the pot over an ice bath or transferring the soup to smaller containers.

  • To Refrigerate: Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freezing: Transfer individual portions to freezer-safe zip-top bags or containers, leaving a little room for expansion at the top. Remove excess air and freeze for up to 4 months.
  • To Reheat: Thaw frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight, or you can speed-thaw ziptop bags in a cold water bath. Transfer the soup to a saucepan and reheat over medium/low heat, stirring frequently.
Sweet Potato Soup garnished with bacon bits, fresh parsley, and coconut milk

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Soup?

Soup is a meal in itself; often, all you need is a batch of warm Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter. The spongy texture of Sourdough Bread is also perfect for soaking up the soup.

To make this soup the main course, pair it with a soup. Afterall, soup and salad are a classic meal combination. Our favorite salads to pair with Sweet Potato Soup are:

More Comforting Soup Recipes

Just as soon as the leaves start to turn, this Creamy Sweet Potato Soup is a staple dinner at our house. I hope it becomes a favorite for you as well! Be sure to try some of our other delicious soups.

Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

4.94 from 115 votes
Sweet potato soup in a white bowl garnished with coconut milk
Sweet Potato Soup is comfort in a bowl. It’s creamy without using cream and an easy, cozy soup recipe you’ll enjoy in the cooler months. 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6
  • 8 oz bacon (about 6 strips), chopped into 1/2-inch strips, *see notes for vegetarian soup
  • 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large celery rib, diced (1 “stick” of celery)
  • 2 lbs sweet potatoes (3 medium), peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3, or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 14 oz canned coconut milk*, (shake well before opening), divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 2 Tbsp parsley to garnish, optional

Instructions

  • In a large pot, or Dutch Oven, over medium heat, cook bacon in it's own fat until crisp (8-10 min). Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave 3 Tbsp oil in the pot; discard excess or leave it in there for a more flavorful soup.
  • Add chopped onion, and celery and cook 4 min or until soft, stirring occasionally, then add 2 pressed garlic cloves and saute another minute.
  • Stir in diced sweet potatoes, thyme,* salt and pepper. Now pour in 4 cups chicken broth, partially cover, and simmer for 20 min or until sweet potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Remove and discard the thyme stems.
  • Puree soup until smooth using an immersion blender or use a high-powered blender and blend in batches. Return soup to pot and stir in 12 oz coconut milk, reserving a bit for garnish, then season with more salt and pepper to taste if desired. Return to a boil, then remove from heat. Serve garnished with a drizzle of coconut milk, crispy bacon and parsley.

Notes

*How to keep your soup from boiling-over – Place a wooden mixing spoon across one side of your pot and place your lid over it. This way, the lid won’t hang over the edge and drip onto the stove, and the lid won’t shut unexpectedly and cause your pot to boil over.
*For Vegetarian Soup – omit the bacon and use olive oil to sautee the veggies.
*For a lower-fat soup, you can also use “original” coconut milk in refrigerated cartons. 
*Thyme Sprigs can be added whole with the stem – there’s no need to strip the leaves off. Remove the stems before blending the soup. If using dried thyme, add it to taste since it can have a more robust flavor profile.

Nutrition Per Serving

476kcal Calories39g Carbs12g Protein32g Fat19g Saturated Fat3g Polyunsaturated Fat8g Monounsaturated Fat0.05g Trans Fat25mg Cholesterol979mg Sodium953mg Potassium7g Fiber10g Sugar21631IU Vitamin A10mg Vitamin C77mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Sweet Potato Soup Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
476
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
 
19
g
119
%
Trans Fat
 
0.05
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Cholesterol
 
25
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
979
mg
43
%
Potassium
 
953
mg
27
%
Carbohydrates
 
39
g
13
%
Fiber
 
7
g
29
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
12
g
24
%
Vitamin A
 
21631
IU
433
%
Vitamin C
 
10
mg
12
%
Calcium
 
77
mg
8
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy, sweet potato soup
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 476
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.94 from 115 votes (59 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Lindsay
    September 11, 2015

    This looks delicious!! I have one question though; when you stir in the potatoes to cook them, it says to “simmer” for 20 mins. Do I turn the heat to low or keep it on medium?

    Thank you for the wonderful recipe!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 11, 2015

      Turn it down until you are at a simmer. For most stoves, you’ll want your heat on low 🙂

      Reply

  • maria
    August 31, 2015

    Loved it ! Turned out delicious. I doubled the recipe. Because i used sweet potatoes it didn’t have that rich orange colour so i added a touch of turmeric powder and it was just perfect!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 31, 2015

      The turmeric powder addition is a great idea! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂

      Reply

  • Jan in the UK
    March 15, 2015

    Lovely soup – I would post a picture but the family ate it all too fast! Only difference was it was cooked in blue Le Cruset!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      March 15, 2015

      Thank you for the great review Jan :), my hubby just made some last week as well. It got eaten very quick too :).

      Reply

  • Anna Radchenko
    February 20, 2015

    I just made this soup last night and it is DELICIOUS! Just ate some leftovers and it satisfied my hunger until dinner with my husband tonight 😉 love it!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 20, 2015

      I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup! Thanks Anna 🙂

      Reply

  • Jane
    February 11, 2015

    I’ve never been a big fan of soup but with this winter dragging on and on and on I needed something warm and soothing so when I saw this recipe I decided to try it. I have never tried any form of sweet potato soup before and when i saw the coconut milk I had to try it. I now have a new addiction lol, this soup is absolutely soul satisfyingly delicious! I had it with some home made sourdough bread and I wiped the bowl clean with it (seemed better than trying to lick the bowl clean lol) Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 11, 2015

      Hi Jane! Thank you for writing in. I’m so happy to hear it sounds like you found a new favorite. 😉

      Reply

  • Dasha
    January 19, 2015

    As always, thumbs up on a recipe, Natasha! My hubby is very much “anti sweet potatoes” (go figure!) so I could certainly use a recipe that disguises them well, yet is still fully of their amazing flavor! One question though – should one use canned coconut milk here? I had the same question about your coconut coleslaw recipe, actually. I made it several times already using canned milk, and then noticed that in a photo you have a carton of coconut milk. Thanks in advance for your reply!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 19, 2015

      Canned coconut milk is a little bit richer so you might get better flavor with the canned version. I used the carton for both recipes, but really you can use either one. 🙂 PS my husband is exactly the same way!

      Reply

  • Maria
    January 6, 2015

    I made this soup tonight and just had to take time to thank you for sharing it with us. This is one of the best tasting soups I’ve ever had! I’m adding this to my binder of favorite go-to recipes.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 7, 2015

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it!! Thanks so much Maria!

      Reply

  • Oksana
    December 23, 2014

    Hey! Just made this soup, but sadly it’s not for my taste buds. Too sweet. But of course I’ve loved everything else I’ve made so far 😉 thank u for all you do!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 23, 2014

      You might try to add just a little bit more salt and see if that helps. Love for sweet potatoes is somewhat of an acquired taste :). I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog :).

      Reply

  • Petra
    December 20, 2014

    This is the most amazing looking potato soup I’ve ever seen! We only know this one as a really basic comfort food, but your version is a great “upgrade”! Honestly, if I was cooking, the result never looked so tasty. I realized how important is the way we see the food we are we eating only thanks to a pop-up dining event I recently attended, this kind of: We met in an ordinary, home looking building and the chef was preparing the Thai sweet pork salad just in front of us, sharing his knowledge. I’ve seen the whole process and realized that creating a dish that looks delicious is easier than I thought and it’s all about the small details… Well, that was a real eye-opening moment that inspired me to add some food blogs to my feed…Thank you, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 20, 2014

      Thank you for adding my blog to your feed and thank you for the compliments! 🙂

      Reply

  • Galina
    December 9, 2014

    is it ok to use regular milk in this soup?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 9, 2014

      Yes 🙂

      Reply

  • Olga
    December 8, 2014

    Would love to have that beauty!

    Reply

  • Deb Jackson
    December 7, 2014

    Instagram as carlaaldrich

    Reply

  • Vicki Maltsev
    December 7, 2014

    Looks delish!
    Love the giveaway! Great pot to cook everything in 🙂
    Blessings

    Reply

  • Leeza
    December 7, 2014

    Can’t wait to try this new soup ! Sounds scrumptious !

    Reply

  • sheeri
    December 7, 2014

    Right away, i would make a huge pot of this wonderful sweet potato coconut soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  • Shokhsanam
    December 7, 2014

    I made a wish to make this soup if I win. (Because this will be a gift for me from you!) And then next food I like to try is chicken and wine slow cooked meal that I saw on youtube. Also we love to make soups with my mom like borsh, svekolnik, and of course we would be making lots of slow cooked meals in this pot. Thank you very much for doing this giveaway. 🙂
    ~Shokhsanam.

    Reply

  • olga
    December 7, 2014

    What an awesome giveaway.

    Reply

  • Julia Kazakova
    December 7, 2014

    Lovely piece of cookware. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Love anything with sweet potato! Thanks for posting!

    Reply

  • Julia Kazakova
    December 7, 2014

    i’ve had my eye out for one of these for a while now. It would be so nice to win this set. And this recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it. I love anything with sweet potato in it.
    Thanks for posting.
    Julia

    Reply

  • lana
    December 7, 2014

    Nice. Wish ill win this.

    Reply

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