This easy creamy loaded Potato Soup recipe is so good! It’s loaded with hearty potatoes and savory, crunchy bacon in a creamy base made without using heavy cream. This quick, 30-minute recipe is a total comfort food that you’ll make over and over again.

Loaded baked Potato soup in a bowl topped with cheese, sour cream and cheese.

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We love easy creamy soups all year long, like fresh Corn Chowder, Roasted Tomato Soup, Clam Chowder, and this baked Potato Soup, because they are simple to make and are hearty enough to serve as the main course, paired with crusty Sourdough or French Bread

The Best Potato Soup Recipe

This creamy, homemade potato soup is one of our favorite restaurant copycat recipes. It’s so easy to make from scratch and beats any restaurant soup. The base is so filling that it’s like a delicious loaded baked potato with all your favorite toppings or Loaded Potato Casserole, but in soup form–yes, please!

You’ll love how we thicken this potato soup! Instead of using heavy cream, we make a roux (a mixture of butter, flour, broth, and milk). So it’s creamy without the extra calories in the cream.

Potato soup is perfect for meal prep since it keeps well in the fridge and freezer and can be saved in portion sizes for a quick and easy meal.

Ingredients for Potato Soup

The soup uses ingredients you most likely already have at home and can be made so quickly. Whip it up as a satisfying meal on a busy weeknight evening or serve it as a comforting weekend meal.

  • Bacon – crumbled bacon is the traditional potato soap ingredient, but you can substitute cubed ham if desired.
  • Potatoes – our favorite potatoes for soup are Russet or Idaho potatoes but Yukon gold potatoes also work well. NOTE: If you’re using Yukon potatoes, the skin may be left on.
  • Vegetables – we only added onion and garlic, you can add cubed carrots and celery in step 3.
  • Broth – a roux thickens the soup with butter, flour, broth, and milk. We add sour cream for a bit of acid and creaminess. Chicken broth or vegetable broth works fine here. For a Gluten Free potato soup, you can substitute flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour.
  • Cheese – Mild cheddar or sharp cheddar is great. Try to grate the cheese yourself, since pre-shredded cheese is coated to keep it from sticking, but shredded will work in a pinch.
Potato soup made with potatoes, bacon and cheese in a Dutch oven with a ladle and topped with greens and cheese.

Pro Tip:

For a spicy kick in the soup, add a 1/4 tsp (or to taste) of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, smokey paprika, or chili powder.

How to Make Potato Soup

It’s simple to make this potato soup recipe for a weeknight meal or meal prep, but see our tip below for achieving the best consistency.

  1. Place potatoes in a pot, cover with water, season with salt, and cook until tender then drain.
  2. Saute bacon until crispy in a separate Dutch oven, remove and set aside, reserving 1 Tbsp bacon grease.
  3. Add onions and butter to the bacon grease and saute until soft. Add garlic, and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Whisk in flour, milk, and broth until smooth. Bring the mixture to a soft boil.
  5. Add drained potatoes and season with salt and pepper.
  6. Stir in sour cream, cheese and bacon. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. 
Step-by-step collage how to make dinner in a Dutch Oven

Pro Tip:

We like a chunky soup, but you can adjust the thickness by blending a portion or all of the soup. Before adding the bacon into the pot in step 6, use an immersion blender or scoop some of the hot soup into a blender and blend to get the creamy texture you prefer.

Toppings for Potato Soup

Serve this easy potato soup recipe with your favorite toppings! We like to make it a truly loaded soup, so here are some of my favorite options:

  • Bacon bits
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Diced avocado
  • Cooked kernels of boiled corn
  • Croutons
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Green onion or chives

What to Serve with Potato Soup

This hearty meal is thick and creamy and perfect for feeding a hungry family. To make it a more complete meal, try these side dishes that perfectly complement the warm soup:

Two bowls of soup topped with a spoon and potato soup toppings.

Loaded baked potato soup is comfort food at its finest. You’re going to love the combination of flavors in the soup. Every bite is loaded with creamy soup with chunks of potatoes, bacon, and cheese.

Storage

Loaded baked potato soup keeps well in the refrigerator and the freezer. Let the soap completely before storing.

  • To Refrigerate: Store for up to 5 days in an airtight container
  • Freezing: divide into portion sizes and freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 6 months
  • To Reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat from frozen in a pot on the stove until heated through. You can slowly add more milk to get a creamier consistency.

More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love

I love easy and quick but tasty meals for weeknight dinners, like this potato soup. Once you try this one, check out these other easy dinner ideas:

Potato Soup Recipe

4.97 from 454 votes
Potato Soup garnished with cheese, chives, bacon and sour cream in a pot
You'll love this easy recipe for creamy Loaded Potato Soup. We skip the heavy cream and use a roux (flour, butter, broth, and milk) to thicken the soup. The chunks of potatoes and savory bacon bits in this cheesy soup base are so warming and satisfying. Add in a bit of sour cream and your favorite baked potato toppings to make this a pure comfort food!
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 servings (about 2 cups per serving)
  • 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 8 oz bacon, bite-sized pieces
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ med onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour, or use Gluten Free 1:1 flour
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup mild or sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp pepper, or to taste
  • green onions, to serve

Instructions

  • Place sliced potatoes into a stockpot and completely cover with 1" of water. Season with ½ tsp salt and cook 8-10 minutes or until potatoes pierce easily with a knife then drain. 
  • Meanwhile, saute bacon in a Dutch oven until crispy and then transfer to a plate, reserving 1 Tbsp bacon grease in the pot. 
  • Add 4 Tbsp butter and chopped onions then saute until tender. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant. 
  • Quickly whisk in the flour then slowly add 2 1/2 cups milk and 2 1/2 cups broth, whisking constantly. Bring the mixture to a soft boil. 
  • Add drained potatoes and season soup with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper or season to taste. 
  • Stir in 3/4 cup sour cream, 1 cup shredded cheddar, and half of your cooked bacon (reserving the rest for serving). Bring to a boil then remove from heat and serve with your favorite toppings. 

Notes

-Peeled Russet potatoes work best, but Yukon Gold Potatoes work well too. You can choose not to peel the Yukon Gold Potatoes.
-For a smoother consistency, use an immersion blender or scoop half the into a blender to smooth before adding the bacon in step 6.
-Topping Ideas: bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheese, croutons, avocado, chives, green onion, grilled corn kernels
-Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. To thaw, move to the fridge overnight or thaw in a pot on the stove by heating slowly until cooked through.
 

Nutrition Per Serving

428kcal Calories30g Carbs22g Protein25g Fat14g Saturated Fat65mg Cholesterol1632mg Sodium877mg Potassium3g Fiber6g Sugar770IU Vitamin A17.4mg Vitamin C335mg Calcium5.3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Potato Soup Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
428
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
25
g
38
%
Saturated Fat
 
14
g
88
%
Cholesterol
 
65
mg
22
%
Sodium
 
1632
mg
71
%
Potassium
 
877
mg
25
%
Carbohydrates
 
30
g
10
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
22
g
44
%
Vitamin A
 
770
IU
15
%
Vitamin C
 
17.4
mg
21
%
Calcium
 
335
mg
34
%
Iron
 
5.3
mg
29
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Lunch, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: potato soup, potato soup recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 428
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.97 from 454 votes (332 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Jennifer Lamontagne
    November 10, 2019

    Can you use frozen potatoes to make this? Such as diced frozen potatoes?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 11, 2019

      Hi Jennifer, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe

      Reply

  • Katie
    October 30, 2019

    Would you be able to cook this in the crockpot?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 31, 2019

      Hi Katie, I haven’t tested that to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe

      Reply

  • Greg Pavich
    October 20, 2019

    Just made it and it was awesome. Thanks again for providing another outstanding recipe. They never fail

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 20, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Greg!

      Reply

  • Natalya S.
    October 14, 2019

    This will definitely be on rotation for cold season soups. Loved it! Both me and hubby got seconds and i almost licked the bowl afterwards!! And our 2 year old did not complain one bit, but all his soup and said it was good

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 15, 2019

      That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Felicia
    October 10, 2019

    What is the reserved bacon grease for? (PS- I love you and all of your videos!!)

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 11, 2019

      Hi Felicia, you want to keep 1 Tbsp of bacon grease in the pot to continue cooking with and discard an excess grease. You can keep all of it in the pot if you prefer a richer potato soup.

      Reply

  • Cindy
    October 7, 2019

    Would I be able to use white potatoes?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 7, 2019

      I haven’t tested that but I imagine it should work.

      Reply

  • lisa
    October 6, 2019

    how many lbs of potatoes do you use?

    Reply

  • Kat Campbell
    September 30, 2019

    Modified to add tons of frozen vegetables, chicken and fresh spinach! Love the whole thing, the flavor of the base is yummy and the bacon adds a nice element

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 30, 2019

      That’s so great, Kat! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

    • Donna
      October 6, 2019

      Can this be frozen

      Reply

      • Natasha
        October 6, 2019

        Hi Donna, I haven’t tried but I think that would work fine to freeze.

        Reply

        • Barry
          September 28, 2021

          I have tried to freeze this wonderful soup, but it really doesn’t freeze well.

          Reply

  • Jill
    September 15, 2019

    Hi Natasha! If I choose to use heavy cream instead of the roux, in what step and how would I incorporate it? Beginner cook here! Looking forward to your reply

    Reply

  • Megan
    September 11, 2019

    Made this recipe. Did take a bit longer but it was absolutely delicious! We added frozen corn to it as well!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 12, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Carolyn
    September 8, 2019

    So Delicious! Will definitely be making this again and again:)

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 9, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Jen
    September 6, 2019

    I have red potatoes from the garden. Do you think they will work okay?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 6, 2019

      Hi Jen, I haven’t tested that but I imagine it will work. If you experiment, please let me know how you like that.

      Reply

    • Rebecca
      October 6, 2019

      Just made this and it was delicious! My husband and I LOVE your recipes! Thanks so much!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 7, 2019

        That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Rebecca!

        Reply

  • Nat
    August 9, 2019

    This is the second recipe that we’ve tried from Valentina and absolutely loved! The soup was so easy to make and it was delicious!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 10, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Nat! So glad you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Dee
    May 16, 2019

    Can heavy cream be used? Would it be good?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 17, 2019

      Hi Dee, I haven’t tried this with heavy cream but that should work. If you experiment please let me know how you like that.

      Reply

  • Jennifer
    May 16, 2019

    BEST POTATO SOUP EVER!!! My family loved it! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 16, 2019

      I’m so happy you all enjoyed that! Thank you for sharing that with me Jennifer!

      Reply

    • Angelina
      December 27, 2021

      What can be used in place of flour to make this gluten free?

      Reply

  • Emma Stone
    May 16, 2019

    Such a luscious starter and that too when the weather is so chilly outside. My husband and kids loved your soup so much. Thanks a ton for sharing this!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 16, 2019

      You’re so welcome, Emma! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • Jocelyn
    May 15, 2019

    Wow! This soup was so creamy and delicious! I loved the bacon in it!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 15, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • krissy
    May 14, 2019

    potato soup is one of my favorite comfort foods in the winter. this version is so delicious, creamy and full of mouthwatering flavor. well done.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 14, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Krissy! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.

      Reply

  • Kristyn
    May 14, 2019

    Ok, even though it’s warm here, I want this! It’s one of my favorites! It’s full of so much flavor & easy to make!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 14, 2019

      That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Beth Pierce
    May 14, 2019

    Made this for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Going to have it again, this evening!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 14, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Beth!

      Reply

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