Transform the classic loaded baked potato into a warm, comforting soup made with all the favorite ingredients: crispy bacon, potatoes, cheese, and more! This easy loaded baked potato soup is the perfect fall or winter meal for a cold night. Every bite is comfort food at its best, hands down.
Original post: March 2015 | Updated: October 2019 and April 2025
Why This Easy Soup Recipe Works
- Comforting – This is one of my favorite soup recipes. It’s a loaded baked potato in your soup bowl and every bite is pure deliciousness!
- Quick – Like all the best soups, this dish is quick and super easy, made by sharing just two pans on the stove top and done in under an hour.
- Versatile – Great for weeknight dinners or for hosting guests. Makes a great party food for potlucks or game day, too!
OH MY GOODNESS! I have been excited to make loaded baked potato soup for a while now, but I had no idea just how delicious it would be. I’d venture to say this is my new favorite homemade soup. Every spoonful of this loaded creamy potato soup is pure comfort food at its absolute best.
This yummy and comforting dish is beyond delicious. I ate it for four consecutive meals and am still not tired of it! This loaded potato soup uses simple ingredients and is super easy and quick to make – done in under an hour!
This cozy soup is a great option for weeknight dinners – my whole family devours it! – but also fancy enough when hosting friends for dinner. It even makes a great party food or pot luck dish, too! Just transfer it to a crock pot to keep it warm for hours.
Loaded Potato Soup Recipe Ingredients
Anything that goes on a loaded potato can go in this soup! Use fresh, quality ingredients for the best flavor.
Potatoes – Russet Potatoes work best for this recipe. Dice the potatoes fairly small so that they cook quickly and will blend nicely (if a smoother consistency is desired).
Bacon – Use your favorite variety/brand.
Onion – Use white onion or yellow onion.
Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic or replace with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder if desired.
Salt and black pepper – The perfect, simple seasoning duo.
Broth – Chicken stock and chicken broth can be used interchangeably.
Unsalted butter – Do not replace the butter with oil for this recipe.
Flour – All-purpose flour works great. For a gluten-free version, use your favorite GF flour.
Milk – For a creamier soup, substitute the whole milk with heavy cream or half and half.
Ham – Use fully cooked ham chopped to semi small pieces.
Cheese – Use any type of melty cheese, but cheddar cheese is most common for topping baked potatoes with, making it the perfect choice for this soup.
Toppings – Sour cream, green onion slices and extra bacon or ham bits.
How to Make Creamy Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Follow full instructions found in the recipe card for the best results.
Step 1
Cook bacon until crispy in a skillet. Remove, chop and set aside on a paper towel. Drain bacon grease, but don’t clean the skillet.
Add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper to the skillet and cook until onions are soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Step 2
Transfer the onion mixture to a Dutch oven or heavy saucepan.
Add the chicken stock and potatoes.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender. Use an immersion blender or potato masher to reduce chunkiness (this is optional).
Step 3
Make the roux: Melt the butter over medium heat in the skillet the bacon was cooked in. Add the flour and whisk until combined.
Add the milk and continue to whisk until the mixture is thick, approximately 3 minutes.
Step 4
Transfer this mixture to the Dutch oven, along with the chopped bacon, ham and cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the soup is warmed through.
Serve immediately and top with sour cream, extra cheese, bacon bits, ham and/or sliced green onions.
What Is Roux?
A roux is a simple combination of flour and fat (such as butter) mixed together until it is smooth and creamy. It is typically added to a sauce, soup, gravy or creamy pasta recipe and used as a thickening agent.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- You can add a variety of vegetables to the soup, if desired! Mushrooms, carrots and celery make great options.
- Yukon golds will work for this recipe, but I avoid red potatoes in it.
- If we’ve gotten you in the mood for a Twice-Baked Potato, we’ve got you covered there.
- If all you have is salted butter, just reduce the amount of salt you add to the soup pot.
How To Add Flavor To Soup
These are just a few ideas for how to add extra flavor to any soups and stews. Check out my full post for tips here to learn how to Add Flavor To Your Next Batch Of Soup!
- Add a touch of cayenne pepper. Or a few drops of your favorite hot sauce- mine’s Tabasco – will add some zing!
- Add dried herbs like Italian seasoning or fresh herbs such as parsley, chives or thyme.
- Top the soup with some shaved Parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cheese (or any shredded cheese!) just before serving.
- Additional spices of your choice, such as paprika, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, cumin etc. Your choice of spices will depend on the type of soup.
- Bacon! Or sausage. Or both!
- Minced garlic or garlic powder.
- Seasoned salt.
Best Toppings for Potato Soup
These are some of my favorite toppings for potato soup!
- Fresh shredded cheese
- A dollop of sour cream
- Sliced green onions or leeks
- Bacon or ham bits
- Ground sausage
- Oyster crackers, crushed saltines or club crackers
What To Serve With Potato Soup
Soup is a comforting meal that’s easy to prepare for dinner any time of the year. But what do you serve alongside it? Here are a few fun ideas, but click over for 15 delicious ideas about what to serve with potato soup.
- Bread – A piece of warm crusty bread, breadsticks or dinner rolls with butter are perfect sides for this soup. Garlic bread is a great option, too!
- Sweet potatoes – Double up on potato-y goodness and serve baked or roasted sweet potatoes alongside this delicious soup.
- Sandwiches – A grilled cheese sandwich or a Reuben make a great side for a complete meal.
- Salad – A crisp salad or simple tomato salad would taste great, too!
How Long Does Potato Soup Last In The Fridge
Allow the soup to cool completely to room temp to avoid condensation forming during storage. Store in an airtight container with a good seal. The container shouldn’t be too big. Allowing too much air in the container during storage can allow bacteria to form, shortening the shelf life of your soup.
When properly stored in airtight containers, homemade potato soup will last for up to five days in the fridge. Start checking for signs of spoilage at three or four days.
If you have leftover soup to store and you’re not sure whether to refrigerate, toss or freeze your potato soup, then click here!
How to Reheat Leftover Potato Soup
Leftover potato soup is great cold, but you can reheat leftovers in a saucepan over medium or medium-high heat, stirring often, until heated through to your liking.
You can also reheat the soup in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes, stir, then heat for another 2 minutes until heated.
How To Freeze Potato Soup
Allow the soup to cool completely and place in an airtight container or store individual portions in ziploc freezer safe bags. Use within 6 months for best results.
When you are ready to enjoy another bowl, place it in the fridge and allow it to thaw. Then place it on the stove top and warm over a low temperature until it’s completely warmed through.
How To Reheat Potato Soup From Frozen
Transfer the container from the freezer to the fridge and allow the soup to thaw slowly.
Transfer thawed soup to a saucepan and set stove top to medium heat. Cook until the soup is warmed through.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup is a veggie-packed, cheesy, hearty and comforting dinner that everyone at the table will love. Done in just 20 minutes!
- Instant Pot Ham Bone Soup – Use your leftover ham bone to make this comforting, hearty Ham Bone Soup in your Instant Pot!
- Delicious soup does not have to be difficult! This Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup tastes like the real deal, but requires half the effort.
- Instant Pot White Turkey Chili becomes even more delicious when made in a pressure cooker. Packed with turkey meat, white beans and veggies, this will quickly become a dinner favorite.
- Make a batch of comforting Chicken Noodle Soup in your Instant Pot! Using this appliance will save you time and will produce the most perfectly cooked soup you’ll ever taste.
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Easy Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy in a skillet over medium heat. Remove, chop and set aside. Drain grease from skillet, but don’t clean it out. Add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
- Transfer the onion mixture to a Dutch oven or heavy saucepan. Add the chicken stock and potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and let cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Use an immersion blender or potato masher to reduce chunkiness (this is optional).
- Make the roux: Melt the butter over medium heat in the skillet the bacon was cooked in. Add the flour and whisk until combined. Add the milk and continue to whisk until the mixture is thick, approximately 3 minutes.
- Transfer this mixture to the Dutch oven, along with the chopped bacon, ham and cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the soup is warmed through. Serve immediately and top with sour cream, extra cheese, bacon bits, ham and/or sliced green onions.
Notes
- You can add a variety of vegetables to the soup, if desired! Mushrooms, carrots and celery make great options.
- Yukon golds will work for this recipe, but I avoid red potatoes in it.
- If we’ve gotten you in the mood for a Twice-Baked Potato, we’ve got you covered there.
- If all you have is salted butter, just reduce the amount of salt you add to the soup pot.
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