Description
Creamy “loaded baked potato soup” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your bowl. Rich potato goodness blends perfectly with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and green onion garnish, inviting you to savor each hearty spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large russet potatoes, baked
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for garnish)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
Thickening and Garnish Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the foundation by heating the oven to 400°F (200°C), carefully piercing russet potatoes with a fork, and roasting them until completely tender, approximately 1 hour.
- While potatoes bake, transform bacon into crispy morsels by frying in a skillet until golden and crunchy, then crumble and reserve for garnishing.
- In a robust cooking vessel, melt butter and introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic essence.
- Dust the vegetable mixture with flour, creating a silky roux that will thicken the soup’s consistency, then gradually incorporate chicken broth, whisking meticulously to eliminate potential lumps.
- Stream milk and heavy cream into the developing base, maintaining a gentle heat and constant stirring to prevent scorching.
- Integrate roasted potato chunks, seasoning with salt, pepper, and smoky paprika, then allow the mixture to simmer gently, developing depth of flavor.
- Enrich the soup by melting sharp cheddar cheese and folding in tangy sour cream until the texture becomes luxuriously smooth and creamy.
- Present the soup in warming bowls, adorning with crisp bacon fragments, additional cheese sprinkles, and delicate green onion slices for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Ensure potatoes are thoroughly baked for a creamy, velvety texture that melts in your mouth.
- Drain excess bacon fat for a lighter version of the soup, keeping the rich flavor intact.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like Gruyère or sharp white cheddar for a unique twist.
- Make it vegetarian by substituting bacon with smoked paprika and using vegetable broth for depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg