Description
Hearty loaded baked potato soup delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen in Wisconsin. Rich potato base blends creamy textures with crisp bacon, sharp cheddar, and green onion garnish you’ll savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 12 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
Protein and Aromatics:
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Thoroughly cook potatoes at 400°F for 45-60 minutes until fork-tender, then carefully remove skin and create rustic potato chunks.
- Render bacon in a heavy-bottomed stockpot until golden and crisp, transferring pieces to paper towel while reserving rendered fat.
- Sauté diced onions and minced garlic in bacon drippings for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Create a smooth roux by incorporating butter and flour, stirring continuously for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Slowly incorporate chicken broth, whole milk, and heavy cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps and ensure silky consistency.
- Fold mashed potatoes into liquid mixture, allowing soup to gently simmer for 8-10 minutes to develop rich flavors and thicken.
- Reduce heat and blend in sharp cheddar cheese, tangy sour cream, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until harmoniously combined.
- Ladle steaming soup into bowls, garnishing with reserved crispy bacon crumbles, additional shredded cheese, and thinly sliced green onions for vibrant presentation.
Notes
- Achieve perfectly cooked potatoes by piercing them with a fork before baking to prevent bursting and ensure even cooking.
- Customize the soup’s thickness by adjusting the amount of chicken broth or cream, creating a texture that suits your preference.
- Make this soup gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend when creating the roux.
- Reduce calories by using turkey bacon, low-fat milk, and Greek yogurt instead of traditional high-fat ingredients while maintaining rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg