Hearty Potato, Cheddar, & Bacon Soup

2.9 from 264 ratings

Because nothing's more comforting on a cold winter night than a hearty, savory potato soup that tastes just like a loaded baked potato. (Did I mention this soup has Cheddar cheese and bacon?)Click here to see more Warm Winter Soup recipes.

Servings

servings

Ingredients

8 medium-size yellow potatoes, quartered
32 ounce low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 pound thick-cut slabs of bacon
3/4 cup whole milk
10 ounce shredded sharp cheddar cheese, reserving some for garnish
salt and pepper, to taste
sour cream, for garnish
parsley or scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions

In a large pot over medium-heat, add the quartered potatoes and chicken broth. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat.
While you're waiting for the potatoes to cook, add the bacon slabs to a medium-sized pan and cook the bacon until crispy, about 6 minutes on each side. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then crumble into small pieces.
Once the potatoes are fully cooked, purée the potato-broth mixture with an immersion blender until smooth or transfer to a food processer in batches and blend until liquified, returning to the pot when finished. Add in the milk and cheese and mix until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
To serve, garnish with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of shredded cheese and crumbled bacon, and a little of the sliced parsley or scallions.