Homey Old-Fashioned Potato & Bacon Soup Recipe For Chilly Days

Comfort winds through my kitchen whenever I stir this hearty old-fashioned potato & bacon soup into existence.

Memories of grandma’s cooking surface with each chopped ingredient.

Rustic flavors dance between creamy potatoes and crisp bacon pieces.

Warm broth promises deep satisfaction on chilly evenings.

Simple ingredients combine into something magical that feels like a culinary hug.

We can create magic with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Prepare to savor every spoonful of this soul-warming classic.

Why Old-Fashioned Potato & Bacon Soup Hits the Spot

Quickly Devour Comfort: Transform simple ingredients into a soul-warming meal that hugs your taste buds.

Minimal Kitchen Skills Required: Perfect for beginner cooks who want a delicious result without complicated techniques – just chop, sauté, and simmer.

One-Pot Wonder: Streamline your cooking process by using a single pot, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your hearty soup.

Budget-Friendly Feast: Create a filling meal with affordable pantry staples like potatoes, bacon, and basic seasonings that won’t break the bank.

Potato & Bacon Soup Ingredient List

• Bacon: A smoky, crispy meat that adds rich flavor and texture to the soup, preferably thick-cut for better crunch.
• Chicken Broth: The liquid base that provides depth and savory foundation for the soup's flavor profile.

• Onion, Garlic: Foundational aromatics that create a robust and complex flavor base for the soup, fresh and finely chopped.
• Potatoes: Starchy vegetables that provide creamy texture and hearty substance, preferably waxy or all-purpose varieties like Yukon Gold.

• Milk, Heavy Cream: Silky ingredients that create a smooth, luxurious consistency and add richness to the soup.
• Cheddar Cheese: Optional garnish that offers sharp, tangy flavor and additional creamy texture.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential flavor enhancers that balance and elevate the soup's overall taste profile.
• Green Onions: Fresh garnish that provides a light, sharp finish and visual appeal.

Potato & Bacon Soup Traditional Cooking Guide

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bacon

Cook bacon in a large pot over medium heat until golden and crispy.

Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, crumble into pieces, and reserve a small amount of bacon grease in the pot.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

Drop chopped onions and minced garlic into the bacon grease.

Stir and cook until onions become soft and translucent, releasing their sweet fragrance.

Step 3: Simmer Hearty Potatoes

Add diced potatoes to the pot and mix well.

Pour in chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil.

Reduce heat and let potatoes simmer until tender and easily pierced with a fork.

Step 4: Create Creamy Texture

Gently mash some potatoes using a potato masher or immersion blender.

Keep some chunks intact for a rustic, satisfying texture.

Step 5: Enrich with Creamy Goodness

• Milk
• Heavy cream
• Salt
• Black pepper

Simmer on low heat, allowing the soup to thicken and develop rich flavors.

Step 6: Final Touches

Sprinkle crumbled bacon back into the soup.

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Ladle hot soup into bowls.

Old-Fashioned Potato & Bacon Soup Tips

• Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to achieve maximum crunchiness without burning, creating a perfect textural element for your soup.
• Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold, which hold their shape better during cooking and provide ideal soup consistency.
• Reserve some bacon grease for sautéing vegetables, intensifying the overall taste profile and adding rich, smoky undertones to the dish.
• Experiment with mashing techniques – use a potato masher for chunky soup or an immersion blender for smoother consistency based on personal preference.
• Swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half for a lighter version, and use turkey bacon for a lower-fat alternative without compromising delicious flavor.

Potato Bacon Soup That Stays Delicious the Next Day

• Store leftover potato and bacon soup in a sealed container within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space at top. Freezes perfectly for up to 2 months, maintaining rich flavor and creamy texture.
• Warm soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of chicken broth or milk to restore original consistency if soup thickens too much during storage.
• Heat in microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Stop heating once soup reaches desired temperature to prevent separation or burning.

Best Match for Potato & Bacon Soup

• Pair with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Slice a warm, tangy sourdough loaf to dip into the creamy potato soup, enhancing the rich bacon flavors and providing a delightful textural contrast.
• Complement with Crisp Sauvignon Blanc: Select a chilled, light-bodied white wine with bright acidity to cut through the soup's richness and refresh the palate between spoonfuls.
• Match with Herb-Roasted Green Salad: Create a light side salad with mixed greens, fresh herbs, and a zesty vinaigrette to balance the soup's hearty and creamy profile.
• Serve with Chilled Apple Cider: Pour a cold, slightly sweet apple cider that provides a refreshing counterpoint to the savory soup and complements the bacon's smoky undertones.

Potato Bacon Soup Made Different Ways

• Vegetarian Potato Soup: Replace bacon with smoked paprika and use vegetable broth for a meat-free version that still delivers rich, smoky flavor.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Swap milk and cream with unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk, and use olive oil instead of bacon grease for cooking vegetables.
• Gluten-Free Comfort: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free, particularly the broth. Add extra herbs like thyme or rosemary to boost the soup's depth and complexity.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Substitute potatoes with cauliflower florets, keeping the creamy texture while reducing carbohydrate content and maintaining a similar hearty feel.

FAQs

• What type of potatoes work best for this soup?

Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are ideal. They break down nicely and help create a creamy texture while providing good flavor and thickness to the soup.

• Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Yes, substitute bacon with vegetarian bacon bits or smoked paprika for a similar smoky flavor. Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth to keep it completely vegetarian.

• How can I make the soup healthier?

Use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon, choose low-fat milk, and reduce the amount of cream. Add extra vegetables like carrots or celery to increase nutritional value.

• Is this soup freezer-friendly?

Absolutely! You can freeze this soup for up to 3 months. Just avoid adding dairy before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator and stir well when reheating to restore the creamy consistency.

Old-Fashioned Potato & Bacon Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty potato & bacon soup whisks home cooks straight to comfort’s embrace. Creamy Wisconsin potatoes and crisp bacon blend in perfect harmony, promising warmth and satisfaction with each delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 6 medium potatoes (peeled and diced)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk
• 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Aromatics and Seasonings:

• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional, for added flavor)

Finishing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Render bacon in a spacious pot over medium flame until golden and crisp. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, crumbling into bits while reserving a thin layer of rendered fat in the cooking vessel.
2. Introduce finely diced onions and minced garlic into the residual bacon drippings. Sauté until aromatics become translucent and fragrant, releasing their delicate essence.
3. Incorporate cubed potatoes into the vegetable mixture, gently coating them with the flavorful base. Pour chicken broth over the ingredients, ensuring potatoes are completely submerged.
4. Elevate heat until liquid reaches a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow potatoes to tenderize, approximately 15-18 minutes, until they yield effortlessly when pierced with a fork.
5. Gently disrupt potato structure using a manual masher or immersion blender, creating a rustic texture with a mixture of smooth puree and hearty chunks.
6. Introduce milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper to the potato foundation. Maintain low heat, allowing flavors to harmonize and the soup to develop a luxurious, velvety consistency.
7. Reintegrate crispy bacon fragments into the soup, stirring to distribute their smoky essence throughout the creamy landscape.
8. Conduct a final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt and pepper to personal preference. Ladle into warm bowls, crowning with verdant green onion slivers and optional sharp cheddar cheese shreds.

Notes

• Choose thick-cut bacon for a more robust flavor and crispier texture, ensuring it renders enough fat for sautéing vegetables.
• Reserve some bacon grease to enhance the soup’s depth and richness, creating a more authentic old-fashioned taste.
• For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, and use turkey bacon to reduce overall fat content.
• Customize the soup’s consistency by adjusting potato mashing – more mashing creates a smoother texture, while less creates a chunkier soup.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg