Loaded Potato Soup

An easy and delicious creamy potato soup recipe that can be made in just one pot! Loaded with bacon and creamy potato goodness, this is a favorite comfort food in my household. Here are some tips and tricks to make your best soup: * Use the large family pack of bacon ~1 ½ lbs or more is preferred for how much you want to have inside or topping each bowl * When making your own chicken broth using bouillon powder, use 1 tsp for every one cup of water. You can also use pre-made chicken broth, but add additional salt to taste. * Add more red pepper flakes to taste * For extra protein add a few cubed chicken breasts

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Place bacon pieces in a large Dutch Oven or soup pot over medium heat and cook until bacon is crisp and browned.

Step 2

Remove bacon pieces and set aside in a bowl. Drain most of the fat from the pot leaving some in the pot.

Step 3

Add butter, chopped onion, and chopped celery in the pot and cook over medium heat until onions and celery are tender (3-5 minutes).

Step 4

Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

Step 5

Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot and stir until smooth. Cooking for 1-2 minutes

Step 6

Add diced potatoes to the pot along with chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Stir well.

Step 7

Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork (about 10 minutes). Occasionally stirring to ensure the potatoes don't stick to the bottom.

Step 8

Reduce heat to simmer and remove approximately half*** of the soup to a blender (be careful, it will be hot!) and puree until smooth (half is about 5 cups of soup, but just eyeballing the amount will be fine. Alternatively you can use an immersion blender.). Add a small handful of bacon to the blender (about ¼ cup).

Step 9

Return the pureed soup to the pot and add 1 cup cheddar cheese and ½ of the reserved bacon pieces, saving the rest for topping. Stir well.

Step 10

Allow soup to simmer for 10-15 minutes before serving. Stirring occasionally to prevent potatoes from sticking to the bottom.

Step 11

Top with optional sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese, or scallions.

Step 12

Enjoy!