Easy 30-Minute Loaded Potato Soup (Creamy, Cheesy & Comforting!)
The best easy 30-minute loaded potato soup recipe! Thick, creamy, and packed with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and tender potatoes.
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs Russet potatoes peeled and diced
- 6 strips bacon chopped
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups high-quality chicken broth
- 1.5 cups whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded, plus more for topping
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 green onions sliced, for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crispy, then remove and reserve the rendered fat in the pot.
- Add butter to the bacon fat, whisk in flour, and cook until lightly toasted.
- Gradually whisk in chicken broth to prevent lumps.
- Add diced potatoes and milk, simmering until potatoes are fork-tender.
- Mash about half the potatoes directly in the pot, leaving the rest in chunks.
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese gradually until melted.
- Ladle into bowls and top with crispy bacon, extra cheese, and green onions.
Notes
- Never boil the soup after adding the cheese; keep it off direct heat to prevent grainy separation.
- Reserve the rendered bacon fat to build your roux for extra smoky depth of flavor.
- Mash only about half the potatoes for the ideal thick-yet-chunky loaded potato soup texture.