Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe for Cold Nights — creamy, cozy, and packed with comfort

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Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon. Add bacon to a large pot and cook until crispy. Remove it and set it aside for topping, but leave a little bacon flavor in the pot for the soup base.
  2. Sauté the onion and garlic. Add butter, onion, and garlic to the pot. Cook until the onion becomes soft and fragrant. This gives the soup a savory foundation.
  3. Make the thickener. Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir for about 1 minute. This helps remove the raw flour taste and thickens the soup later.
  4. Add broth and potatoes. Slowly pour in chicken broth while stirring, then add diced potatoes. Simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Mash part of the potatoes. Use a potato masher to lightly mash some of the potatoes in the pot. This naturally thickens the soup while leaving some chunks for texture.
  6. Add milk and cream. Stir in whole milk and heavy cream. Keep the heat gentle so the soup stays smooth and creamy.
  7. Melt in the cheese. Lower the heat and stir in shredded cheddar gradually. Adding cheese slowly helps it melt smoothly instead of clumping.
  8. Finish and serve. Stir in sour cream, taste, adjust salt and pepper, then serve hot with bacon, cheddar, green onions, and extra sour cream on top.
Pro Tip: Shred your cheddar from a block if possible. Pre-shredded cheese can make the soup less smooth because it often contains anti-caking starches.
Pro Tip: Do not boil the soup after adding cheese and sour cream. Gentle heat keeps the texture creamy and prevents separation.

Healthy Tips & Daily Wellness

This loaded baked potato soup is rich and comforting, but you can still make it fit into a balanced dinner. Potatoes add potassium, fiber, and satisfying texture, while broth, onion, garlic, and toppings bring flavor without needing complicated ingredients.

For a lighter version, use low-sodium broth, reduce the bacon, and replace heavy cream with half-and-half or extra milk. You can also blend in steamed cauliflower with the potatoes to make the soup creamy while adding more vegetables.

To make each bowl more balanced, serve the soup with a crisp green salad, roasted broccoli, turkey sandwich, grilled chicken, or a side of fresh vegetables. This gives you the cozy comfort of loaded potato soup with something fresh on the plate.

If you are meal prepping, portion the soup into containers before adding toppings. Keep bacon, cheese, and green onions separate so they stay fresh and crisp when you reheat each serving.

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