Description
A creamy, comforting loaded baked potato soup that tastes like it took all day but is ready in just 30 minutes. Packed with bacon, cheddar cheese, and sour cream, this easy weeknight dinner is perfect for busy families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, diced
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 stalks green onions, sliced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, leaving 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan. Crumble bacon and set aside.
- In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté diced onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add butter and flour to the skillet. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to form a golden roux.
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth to avoid lumps. Add diced potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Mash about half of the potatoes directly in the pot with a fork or masher to thicken the soup.
- Stir in heavy cream and sour cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Remove from heat and gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Do not boil after adding cheese.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, topped with crumbled bacon, extra cheese, sour cream, and green onions.
Notes
For best results, shred your own cheese to prevent clumping. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. The soup thickens as it cools; add broth or milk when reheating. This soup does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 720
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
Keywords: loaded baked potato soup, weeknight dinner, comfort food, easy soup, bacon soup, cheddar soup, 30 minute meals