Hearty & Delicious Potato Soup Recipe

Welcome to the ultimate comfort food experience! This creamy, flavorful potato soup recipe brings warmth and satisfaction to your table with minimal effort. It’s a truly satisfying dish perfect for any occasion, promising a hearty meal that everyone will love. Get ready to discover your new favorite homemade soup that tastes incredibly rich and complex.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Potato Soup

Creamy Texture: Achieve a velvety smooth consistency without needing excessive dairy or complicated steps.
Rich Flavor: Savory bacon, sweet onions, and aromatic garlic build a deep, irresistible flavor foundation.
Ultimate Comfort: This heartwarming potato soup is perfect for chilly evenings or a cozy weekend meal.
So Easy: Even beginner cooks can master this simple yet impressive recipe with confidence.
Customizable: Easily personalize your bowl with favorite toppings like cheese, chives, or extra crispy bacon.

Ingredients

Making a fantastic potato soup recipe starts with fresh, quality ingredients. Here’s what you need to create this comforting bowl of goodness:

Bacon: 6 strips, uncooked, cut into small pieces. Provides savory depth and crispy topping.
Butter: 3 Tablespoons, unsalted or salted. Essential for sautéing and richness.
Yellow Onion: 1 medium, chopped (about 1.5 cups/200g). Adds sweetness and an aromatic base.
Garlic: 3 large cloves, minced. Crucial for robust flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: ⅓ cup (42g). Acts as a thickener for a luxurious texture.
Gold Potatoes: 2 ½ lbs, peeled and diced into pieces no larger than 1” (about 6 large potatoes/1.15kg). Gold potatoes offer the best creamy texture.
Chicken Broth: 4 cups (945ml). Forms the flavorful liquid base.
Milk: 2 cups (475ml). Adds body and further enriches the soup.
Heavy Cream: ⅔ cup (155ml). For ultimate creaminess and a decadent mouthfeel.
Salt & Ground Pepper: 1 ½ teaspoon* salt, 1 teaspoon ground pepper. Seasoning essentials for perfect balance.
Ancho Chili Powder: ¼ – ½ teaspoon**. Offers a subtle smoky warmth.
Sour Cream: ⅔ cup (160g). Stirred in at the end for a tangy, creamy finish.
Toppings (Optional): Shredded cheddar cheese, chives, additional sour cream, and bacon for garnish.

Notes & Substitutions

Potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes also work wonderfully for this creamy potato soup. Russets offer a very starchy texture, while Yukon Golds are slightly waxier but still excellent. For achieving a silky, fluffy consistency, both Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes are recommended as the best types of potatoes for creamy soups.
Broth: Use vegetable broth to create a delicious vegetarian potato soup.
Dairy: For different richness levels, whole milk, half-and-half, or even plant-based milks like unsweetened cashew or almond milk can be substituted. Results may vary slightly.
Flavor Boosters: Try a pinch of dried thyme or rosemary, a bay leaf during simmering, or a dash of smoked paprika for extra depth in your homemade potato soup.
Flour: To make this a gluten-free potato soup, use a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) to thicken instead of flour. Add it at the end once the potatoes are tender.
Sour Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a great alternative for a similar tangy finish and added creaminess.

Equipment

Gathering your tools before you start makes cooking much smoother. For this easy potato soup, you’ll need:

Large Dutch Oven or Soup Pot: Essential for cooking the soup evenly.
Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: For efficient ingredient preparation.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: To ensure accurate ingredient amounts.
Whisk or Wooden Spoon: For stirring and preventing sticking.
Blender (Immersion or Standard): For achieving that perfectly creamy texture.

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create a truly irresistible and hearty potato soup recipe at home. This guide makes cooking approachable for every skill level.

Prepare Ingredients: Dice the bacon into small pieces. Chop the yellow onion, mince the garlic cloves, and peel and dice the gold potatoes into 1-inch pieces.
Cook Bacon: Place the diced bacon in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is crisp and browned, usually 8-10 minutes.
Render Fat: Remove the cooked bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Leave about 2-3 tablespoons of rendered bacon fat in the pot.
Sauté Aromatics: Add the butter and chopped onion to the pot with the bacon fat. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to let it brown or burn.
Thicken Base: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the sautéed onions and garlic. Stir continuously for one minute until the flour is fully incorporated and forms a smooth paste (roux). A whisk can help prevent lumps.
Combine Liquids & Spices: Gradually pour in the chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add the diced potatoes, salt, ground pepper, and ancho chili powder. Stir everything well to combine.
Simmer Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, approximately 10-15 minutes.
Blend Partially: Remove about half of the soup from the pot and carefully transfer it to a blender. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pot. Puree until completely smooth. (Be cautious when blending hot liquids, as steam can build pressure).
Return Puree: Pour the pureed soup back into the pot with the remaining chunky soup. Stir well to combine both textures.
Finish Soup: Stir in the sour cream and the reserved crispy bacon pieces. Cook for another 15 minutes over low heat, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen. Avoid boiling once sour cream is added.
Serve Hot: Ladle your creamy potato soup into bowls. Garnish with additional sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives, or extra bacon bits as desired. Enjoy this hearty meal!

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Achieving the perfect creamy potato soup is easy with these simple tips. Avoid common pitfalls for a consistently delicious result.

Potato Choice: Starchy potatoes like Gold or Russet varieties are best for a creamy texture, as they break down easily.
Consistency Control: If your soup is too thick, add a little extra broth or milk until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, simmer it uncovered for a few extra minutes or add a cornstarch slurry.
Seasoning: Always taste and adjust the salt and pepper before serving. Different broths have varying sodium levels, so season to your preference.
Blender Safety: When blending hot liquids, fill the blender only halfway, vent the lid, and hold it down with a towel to prevent steam buildup and splatters.
Prevent Scorching: Stir the soup frequently, especially during simmering, to prevent the bottom from sticking and scorching, particularly when using dairy.
Flavor Deepening: Let the soup rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking before serving. This allows the flavors to further meld and intensify.

Common Mistakes

Overcooking Potatoes: Potatoes can become mushy and lose their structure if cooked for too long. Cook only until tender-crisp.
Insufficient Blending: Not blending enough of the soup, or not blending it thoroughly, can result in a less creamy, uniform texture.
Adding Sour Cream While Boiling: Adding sour cream or other cultured dairy to boiling soup can cause it to curdle. Always add it off the heat or at a gentle simmer.

Serving, Storage & Variations

This versatile potato soup recipe is fantastic on its own, but also pairs beautifully with a variety of sides and can be adapted to your taste.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your comforting potato soup with a side of warm, crusty bread or a light green salad with a vinaigrette dressing. The bread is perfect for soaking up every last drop of the rich broth.

Garnish Ideas

Elevate each bowl with your favorite toppings! Consider extra crispy bacon bits, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, thinly sliced green onions or chives, a dollop of fresh sour cream, or even homemade croutons for added crunch.

Storage & Reheating

Storage: Store leftover creamy potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Gently warm the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave. Add a splash of milk or broth if it has thickened too much.
Freezing: This potato soup freezes well! Allow it to cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Variations

Cheesy Potato Soup: Stir in an extra cup of your favorite shredded cheese (like sharp cheddar or Gruyere) during the last 15 minutes of simmering.
Broccoli Cheddar: Add 1-2 cups of cooked broccoli florets along with the sour cream and bacon.
Spicy Kick: For those who love heat, add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper with the ancho chili powder.
Vegetarian Option: Simply omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a delightful vegetarian creamy potato soup.

Nutrition Information

This homemade potato soup is a hearty, satisfying meal, providing warmth and energy. It’s a rich source of carbohydrates from the potatoes, healthy fats from dairy and bacon, and some protein. Keep in mind that nutritional values can vary based on specific ingredients, portion sizes, and any substitutions you make. This recipe makes approximately 8.8 servings.

Component	Approximate Value (per serving)
Calories	Varies
Fat	Varies
Carbohydrates	Varies
Protein	Varies

*This is a general guide; for precise values, please calculate using your specific ingredients.

FAQ

Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes, you can! Substitute the milk and heavy cream with unsweetened plant-based milks like cashew or almond milk, and use a dairy-free sour cream alternative.

What if my soup is too thin/thick?
If your easy potato soup is too thin, simmer it uncovered for longer, or mix a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water) and stir it in. If it’s too thick, add more broth or milk until it reaches your desired consistency.

Can I use a different type of potato?
Absolutely. Russet potatoes yield a very starchy, fluffy result, while Yukon Gold potatoes are slightly less starchy but still create a lovely creamy texture for this potato soup recipe.

How do I prevent potatoes from getting mushy?
Cook the potatoes only until they are tender when pierced with a fork, then remove from heat or reduce to a very low simmer. Overcooking is the main cause of mushy potatoes.

Can I prepare this in advance?
Yes, this potato soup is fantastic for meal prep. You can make it a day or two ahead and reheat gently. The flavors often deepen beautifully overnight.

Conclusion

This hearty and delicious potato soup recipe is truly a game-changer for anyone seeking ultimate comfort in a bowl. With its rich, creamy texture and savory flavors, it’s a simple yet incredibly satisfying dish that feels both indulgent and homemade. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the warmth and coziness it brings to your kitchen and your table. Happy cooking!