Loaded Potato Soup with Cheddar (Printable)

Rich, creamy potato soup with tender russets, sharp cheddar, bacon bits, and zesty green onions for ultimate comfort in a bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 medium onion, chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Base & Dairy

05 - 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup whole or 2% milk
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Meats

09 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Oils & Seasonings

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
03 - Stir in diced potatoes and pour in broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
04 - Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or blend half the soup and leave the remainder chunky for desired texture.
05 - Stir in milk, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until cheese melts and soup reaches creamy consistency, approximately 5 minutes.
06 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and paprika as needed to achieve desired flavor profile.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with crumbled bacon, extra cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and optional toppings.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like a baked potato and a creamy dream had a baby, and that baby is ridiculously comforting.
  • You can make it on a weeknight without losing your mind, and it still feels like you tried.
  • Leftovers actually get better the next day, which almost never happens with soup.
  • Everyone can top it however they want, so picky eaters and adventurous eaters both win.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of letting the onions cook all the way through, raw onion flavor will haunt your soup.
  • If you blend the whole thing until it's completely smooth, you lose some of the homey texture, leave a few chunks.
  • Add the cheese off the heat or on very low heat, high heat makes it split and get oily.
  • Taste before you serve, every batch is a little different depending on your broth and cheese.
03 -
  • Cook your bacon in the oven on a sheet pan at 400 degrees F, it comes out perfectly crispy and you don't have to babysit it.
  • If you don't have an immersion blender, transfer half the soup to a regular blender, but let it cool a minute first and blend with the lid vented so it doesn't explode.
  • For deeper flavor, use smoked paprika instead of regular, it adds a subtle campfire vibe.
  • Always add your toppings right before serving, nobody wants soggy bacon.
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