Welcome to a fun recipe blog hop ~ the Ultimate Recipe Challenge ~ using one of my favorite ingredients ~ potatoes! I’m sharing my Loaded Potato Soup ~ basically your favorite loaded baked potato in a soup bowl. My Grandmother Nellie {of Sweet Potato Pie fame} always said, “If you’re out of potatoes, you’re out of food!” and we believe that to this day in my family. Bluwatermom will run out of milk and bread before she runs out of potatoes!
I’m sharing my recipe, along with recipe ideas from so many other talented bloggers. I know you will find some great ideas to try out. This is one of my favorite soup recipes, and LOADED with flavor. You can take some shortcuts ~ skip the onions, use pre-cooked bacon, and simply blend by hand with a potato masher ~ but I hope you’ll try it at least once with all the bell and whistles. It takes a bit over an hour and it is sooooooo worth the effort!
loaded potato soup ~
ingredients ~ 6 to 8 portions
4 medium idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small yellow onion, diced
6-8 strips of bacon, cut into 1/2 inch strips cross-ways
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons bacon grease
1 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, finely grated
32 ounces chicken stock or broth
fresh or dried minced chives for garnish
salt and pepper to taste
cooking instructions ~
1 ~ wash potatoes, peel, cut into cubes and place into 5 qt. stockpot or dutch oven – cover with cold water
2 ~ bring potatoes and cold water to a boil, reduce heat to maintain a low boil, and cook until fork tender, 20~25 minutes
3 ~ remove from heat, drain into bowl, and reserve starchy cooking water {use to thicken soup, if needed}
4 ~ reserve roughly 1/3 of cooked potatoes and set aside
5 ~ cut bacon cross-ways into half-inch strips, and fry on medium heat until crisp, remove and drain on paper towels, crumble when cooled ~ reserve bacon grease and set aside {be careful ~ it’s HOT!}
6 ~ reuse the bacon pan ~ add diced onion and sauté in 2 teaspoons of reserved bacon grease until soft, but not caramelized, and set aside
7 ~ reuse stockpot or dutch oven from potato cooking ~ add 3 tablespoons of bacon grease and three tablespoons flour and wisk to form a roux ~ cook slowly, wisking continuously until slightly browned ~ 2 to 3 minutes
8 ~ add milk to slightly browned roux and wisk to remove lumps
9 ~ continue wisking gently, allowing to thicken ~ roughly 2 minutes
10 ~ add half of the grated cheese (1 cup) and wisk to melt and combine – should be smooth and free of lumps
11 ~ add chicken stock to cheese and roux mixture, and wisk to combine
12 ~ add reserved sautéed onion and stir to combine
13 ~ add 2/3 of cooked potatoes ~ reserve 1/3 {you can use 1/4 to 1/3 cup of starchy reserved liquid to thicken soup if needed at this point ~ but soup will likely be thick enough already}
14 ~ purée or blend until smooth {an immersion blender or a regular blender will do the job}
15 ~ add reserved cooked potato and 2/3 of the crumbled bacon and stir to combine {reserve remaining bacon for garnish}
Label into soup bowls and garnish with reserved bacon, cheese and minced chives!! Enjoy ~~~
Kim (TheKimSixFix) says
Your soup looks so rich and decadent. It is definitely on my “must try” list!
Bluwatergal says
Thanks so much Kim! Hope you give it a try. High five for creating the Ultimate Recipe Challenge. So many great recipes & lots of fun reading! Bwg ~~~
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod says
Bobbi – this soup looks delicious. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Bluwatergal says
Hi Vicki ~ glad you like it and glad we get to trade recipes! Bwg ~~~
Michele says
Wow! That soup is PACKED with flavor!! I can’t wait to make it. Thanks for the delicious looking recipe! 😉
Bluwatergal says
Hi Michelle ~ yep, no bland flavors here! Hope you make it & enjoy eating it to 🙂 Thanks for visiting! Bwg ~~~
Amy Dowling says
My mouth is watering! This looks so good. Thanks for sharing!
Bluwatergal says
Thanks Amy ~ glad you like it! Thanks for stopping by to visit too 🙂 Bwg ~~~
BonBon @ Farmhouse 40 says
I love potato soup. I can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Bluwatergal says
Yay! Hope you try it& enjoy it. Happy eating 🙂 Bwg ~~~
Meegan says
Thanks for a new recipe for my file, Bobbi!
Bluwatergal says
Hi Meegan ~ happy to share! Thanks visiting too 🙂 Bwg ~~~
Kim @This Ole Mom says
Your potato soup looks delicious. And, anything with bacon I’m a fan!
Bluwatergal says
Hi Kim ~ yay for bacon! The soup is really good, and then, bacon. I’m a charter member of that fan club too. 🙂 Bwg ~~~
Bluwatergal says
Thanks for all the great comments y’all! A tech snafu prevented comments and replies from displaying on the site 🙁 but it’s fixed now! The Ultimate Recipe Challenge is so much fun, and HUGE shout-out to Kim at thekimsixfix.com for the start-up. Watch for more great recipes! Bwg ~~~
Diane | An Extraordinary Day says
I love making and eating soup… but I have never made potato soup. Yours looks amazingly delicious and so easy. Pinning and adding it to my menu rotation. Thanks so much, Bobbi!!!
Bluwatergal says
Hi Diane! Glad you like the recipe. Good soup is always a favorite at my house. Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Bwg ~~~