Name: Thick Cheesy Baked Potato Soup Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 6 cups cubed russet potatoes (scrubbed and cut into 2-inch cubes); 6 cups chicken broth (or enough to cover the potatoes); 1 lb bacon (I used thick-cut); 2 cups cheddar cheese (white or yellow freshly shredded); 4 tbsp unsalted butter; 3 cups whole milk; 1/2 cup flour; salt and pepper; 3 green onions (thinly sliced white and green sections)

JUMP TO RECIPE

Baked Potato Soup Recipe is like a creamy loaded baked potato loaded with bacon, green onion, and more cheese! It’s delicious comfort food that will warm you from the inside out.

Two soup cups loaded with thick cheesy potato soup topped with cheese, green onion & bacon. Wooden bowls filled with bacon, cheese, and green onions sit in the background.

Creamy Potato Soup Recipe

I’ve got to come clean. I don’t like nor ever have I liked potato soup or scalloped potatoes. My mother frequently made both of those meals much to my dismay!

John doesn’t get it. Scalloped potatoes are served at all of the funerals around here and John is under strict orders that they don’t show up at mine. I’ve threatened him that I’ll haunt him for the rest of his life if they do.

Scalloped potatoes and potato soup were made very similarly in my opinion. Potatoes floating in watered down milk with some butter thrown in and sometimes ham or bacon…yuck. John and the kids always liked potato soup but never at home. I neglected them I know.

I love baked potatoes and the more you can pile on them the better. So in a weak moment, I decided to give my version of a loaded baked potato soup a try.

I think you’re going to love it. It’s a quick and easy potato soup recipe that gets my stamp of approval. I think I ate it three days in a row and loved it.

A soup cup filled to the brim with Cheesy Baked Potato Soup topped with more cheese, onion, and bacon. Wooden bowls of bacon and cheese sit in the background.

Let me show you how easy it is to make this cheesy potato soup

The great thing about soup is you can make a little or a lot. Just increase or decrease the amount of ingredients used. It won’t make any difference to the flavor.

Ingredients for creamy potato soup recipe

russet potatoes
onion
bacon
cheddar cheese
unsalted butter
chicken stock
whole milk
flour
salt and pepper
green onion (optional garnish)

Large pot filled with unpeeled potatoes cubed into 2-inch pieces.

Steps to make easy potato soup

cook potatoes
Saute onions
bake bacon
Smash cooked potatoes
add flour to milk
combine ingredients and heat through
serve and garnish as desired

Pro Tip

One of the things I love about baked potatoes is the skin. So I left it on them on. I used russet potatoes because they are firmer and less likely to become mushy! So cut them in large 2-inch chunks and don’t let them overcook. Cover the potatoes in chicken stock instead of water for added flavor.
You don’t have to bake the bacon. You can cook it in the skillet with the onion. I bake it because even though it’s delicious, I wanted the fat in my soup.
The soup will thicken as it heats through so don’t attempt to thin it or thicken it until it’s hot (simmering)

Variations you can make

Use a similar firm potato such as Yukon Gold
Replace whole milk with cream or half and half
Use ham instead of bacon or leave both out for a vegetarian option
Add fresh or dried herbs such as thyme and rosemary

Thick potato soup loaded with green onions, bacon and cheddar cheese

You can find all of our soup, stew, and chili recipes here!

Here are a few more recipes you may enjoy

Don’t forget to stop back and let me know how your Cheesy Baked Potato Soup Turned out!

Angled view of a bowl of loaded baked potato soup with cheese.

Thick Cheesy Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

Thick Cheesy Baked Potato Soup is like a creamy loaded baked potato in a bowl. It’s a delicious comfort food that the whole family is going to will love. You’ll love how easy it is!

5 from 11 votes

Print Recipe Collect Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword: Baked Potato Soup

Servings:

Equipment

Ingredients

6 cups cubed russet potatoes scrubbed and cut into 2-inch cubes
6 cups chicken broth or enough to cover the potatoes
1 lb bacon I used thick-cut
2 cups cheddar cheese white or yellow freshly shredded
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper
3 green onions thinly sliced white and green sections

Instructions

Put the potatoes in a large dutch oven or stock pot. Cover with chicken stock and cook until tender. Don’t drain.
Bake the bacon on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil for 10 minutes in a 400° F oven. Remove all of the bacon except for 4 slices and put it on a plate lined with a paper towel. Put the 4 slices of bacon back in the oven for 2-4 minutes or until crispy. Once cooked allow them to drain on the plate covered with the paper towel. Cut the bacon that was cooked for 10 minutes in 1-inch pieces. Chop the crispy bacon finer for garnishing the soup.
Using a potato masher to coarsely smash the potatoes leaving large pieces. This helps thicken the soup and creates texture.
Heat a skillet and add the butter. Saute the onion until it begins to soften.
Stir the flour into the milk and whisk until smooth. Stir into the potatoes and chicken stock mix. Add 1-1/2 cups of the cheese, chopped onion and cubed bacon with the rest of the ingredients. Cook until the soup begins to simmer and it’s heated through.
If soup is too thick add additional milk or chicken stock to thin it. If it’s too thin add a little more flour blended with milk (or water). Let it come up to temperature before judging the thickness. It does thicken as it heats.
Garnish with green onion, remaining cheese and crispy bacon.

Notes

You can dice the raw bacon and cook it with the onion if you don’t want to bake it. Baking it reduces the overall fat content of the soup. It is flavorful though so it’s up to you.

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 494mgPotassium: 169mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 270IUVitamin C: 5.3mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 0.5mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

I always make a large batch and then freeze the leftovers in serving-sized containers.
Soup Pot. I use this large pot for a lot of soups and stews and it’s a great size for cooking pasta too!
Lastly, I use my potato masher for smashing potatoes. I use it when I make guacamole too!

Emma

Wednesday 7th of December 2022

One of the best soups that I've made at home. Tasted like something you'd get out of a restaurant. Makes me want to try more of your recipes!

Julie Menghini

Thank you so much, Emma! I sure hope you will try some more and I'm here if you need recommendations.

Jennifer Stewart

Tuesday 26th of March 2019

This soup looks so delicious and flavorful!

Wednesday 27th of March 2019

Thank you Jennifer!

Andrea Metlika

Looks hearty, creamy and delicious! Love everything about this soup.

Thank you Andrea!

Sandra

Sunday 24th of March 2019

Now this is my kind of comfort food! With just the two of us most days, freezing half works well for us.

Monday 25th of March 2019

Thank you, Sandra. I don't know where I'd be without my freezer!

Michaela Kenkel

OH my gosh!! ME TOO!! Scalloped potatoes and potato soup were something I hated as a kid!! However - loaded baked potatoes? yes!! That soup looks super yummy!!

I thought I was the ONLY one! Thanks, Michaela!