Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (2024)

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This easy cheesy potato soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food! For an extra treat, you can even go for a loaded potato soup version, using all of your favorite loaded potato toppings!

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (1)

In my mind, there’s only one thing that sounds better than potato soup in the fall and winter. And that’s cheesy potato soup. I’ll tell you right now, this recipe does not skimp on the cheese. You could almost call it potato-y cheese soup!

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (2)

When preparing this, I was in the mood for mega comfort food, so I went all out. There are several ways to lighten up the recipe if that’s your preference. You can cut back on the calories and fat in several places.

This soup includes a whopping 7 ounces of cheddar cheese. For added richness I sautéed the vegetables in a bit of bacon fat and also garnished the soup with bacon, but you can easily use olive oil or butter, omitting the bacon entirely for a tasty vegetarian soup.

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (3)

How do you make a Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup?

This soup can easily be modified into a loaded potato soup! Here are a few of my favorite additional toppings to add, which you can mix and match depending on personal preference:

  • Sour cream
  • Chives (green onions would also work)
  • Bacon
  • Cheeses: shredded cheddar and/or Monterey jack

How do you reheat Cheese Soup?

It’s important to note that cheese will separate and develop a gritty texture if you heat it up too quickly over high heat. Low and slow is key, while stirring constantly to ensure that the soup heats evenly. I recommend not going above medium low. A heavy bottom saucepan also really helps.

Looking for more Cheesy Recipes? You may also like my Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Pasta, Cheesy Baked Jalapeño Popper Dip, and Cheesy Broccoli Bacon Quiche! I also love this Cheesy Lasagna Soup from Joanne at Fifteen Spatulas.

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (4)

Print Pin Recipe

Cheesy Potato Soup

5 from 6 votes

This easy cheesy potato soup recipe is rich, creamy and perfect for chilly fall and winter months!

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword cheesy potato soup

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 220

Author Jennifer Farley

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil or bacon fat
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (approximately 3 cups)
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable stock, preferably homemade
  • 1 1/2 cups half-and-half or whole milk
  • 7 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Optional garnishes: fresh parsley and cooked, diced bacon (see notes for more options)

Instructions

  • In a large dutch oven or heavy bottom pot, melt the olive oil or bacon fat over low heat and then add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Allow the vegetables to sweat for several minutes until soft.

  • Add the potatoes and stir well. Allow the vegetables to cook for 5-10 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

  • Add the stock, stir, and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, cover (venting slightly), and allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.

  • Add the half-and-half, and then carefully ladle the soup into a blender. Puree the soup, in batches if necessary, and return the soup to the pot. Do not turn the heat back on (too much heat can cause cheese to separate). Stir in the cheese in batches until the soup is evenly combined. Add salt, pepper and cayenne. Taste; adjust seasoning if desired.

  • Serve with optional garnishes. Reheat over low or medium-low heat to prevent the cheese from breaking.

Notes

For a lighter soup, try using reduced fat milk and/or cheese. You could also use baking spray instead of the olive oil. I wouldn't do all three; cheesy potato soup should have some fat! I recommend at least using some or all full-fat cheese for best results.

You can also garnish with more traditional loaded baked potato toppings, such as sour cream, chives, and shredded cheese.

Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1665IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe Troubleshooting

For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe - Loaded Potato Soup - Savory Simple (2024)

FAQs

What is loaded potato soup made of? ›

This creamy soup is a comfort dish ideal for chilly days. It contains all the flavors of a baked potato but can be made in a fraction of the time. Onions, celery, and bacon add powerful flavors to the tender potatoes, while cream, cheddar cheese, and parsley bring the finishing touches.

How do you make potato soup not bland? ›

Try adding a little more salt. That's usually the answer to any issue of blandness, no matter the recipe in question. A basic Appalachian style potato soup uses only a handful of simple ingredients, leaning on milk and water and often bouillon to create the brothy soup base.

How do you thicken loaded potato soup? ›

A slurry can thicken a soup toward the end of the cooking process. Combine cornstarch and a little bit of water—or the chicken stock from the soup—in a small bowl. With the soup simmering over medium-low heat, whisk in the slurry. The soup should start to thicken almost immediately.

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? ›

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? Most creamy soups require you to add dairy of some sort into it. If you're finding your soup is too thin adding milk, add in cream instead, or whole milk.

How to make can potato soup taste better? ›

ADD ACID

Fresh lemon juice: this is best to add at the end of cooking, otherwise the lemon flavor can become bitter. Cooking Vinegars: such as balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar. Hot sauce: helps to add both acid and heat, so you're getting even more bang for your buck.

What to add to bland potato soup? ›

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

What is the best thickener for potato soup? ›

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch or arrowroot with a small amount of cold water to form a slurry. Once the slurry is smooth, gradually pour it into the simmering potato soup. Stir well to ensure the slurry is evenly distributed.

Will cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

Can you use instant mashed potatoes to thicken potato soup? ›

Yes. Incredibly effective? You bet. This trick works because the instant mashed potatoes are naturally starchy and therefore are similar in form to other commonly used thickeners, such as cornstarch, only without the clumps.

How do I fix bland tasting soup? ›

Add a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to your soup to make it taste better. Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness.

How do you fix soup that has no flavor? ›

Use Herbs and Spices

You may also add more spices like turmeric, ground ginger, ground paprika, or nutmeg for a touch of spice and color to your soup broth. Remember that you must add dried herbs and spices early on, while fresh herbs must be added at the end of cooking.

Why do you add flour to the potato soup? ›

First, the starch in the potatoes will help thicken it. I also whisk together some flour and milk and add it to the soup to give it some body. There's heavy cream in it, too. Heavy cream is nice and thick on its own, but it gives the soup next-level thick, rich creaminess.

What if I put too much garlic in my potato soup? ›

Adjust Other Ingredients Increment the amount of different fixings in your soup to weaken the force of the garlic flavor. This could mean adding more stock, vegetables, or some other principal parts of the soup.

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