Description

A comforting, creamy soup made with browned Italian sausage, russet potatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese, all cooked in a single pot for easy cleanup and deep flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb sweet Italian sausage (removed from casings)
2 medium yellow onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and break it into small crumbles. Cook for 8-10 minutes until deeply browned.
Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving about 2 tablespoons of fat in the pot. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onions to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
Add the minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Add the diced potatoes, chicken broth, and bay leaves. Scrape the bottom of the pot to release browned bits.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
Remove bay leaves. Mash 1 to 1.5 cups of potatoes directly in the pot against the side until they break down into a thick paste. Stir this paste into the broth to thicken the soup.
Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and let it warm through for 2 minutes (do not boil).
Add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring constantly until melted.
Return the cooked sausage to the pot. Taste and add salt and black pepper as needed. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until hot and combined. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, grate your own cheese to avoid grainy texture. Do not boil the soup after adding cream and cheese to prevent separation. The soup thickens as it cools; add broth or milk when reheating. This soup does not freeze well due to the dairy and potatoes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 450
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 850
Fat: 28
Saturated Fat: 14
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: sausage potato soup, creamy potato soup, one pot meal, comfort food, easy dinner, cheddar cheese soup, winter soup