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Creamy Loaded Baked Potato & Bacon Soup

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This creamy loaded baked potato and bacon soup is the ultimate comfort food, made with frozen hash browns for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It’s packed with smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and all the classic baked potato toppings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (30-ounce) bag frozen hash browns
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup green onions, sliced, for garnish
  • Optional toppings: extra shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, extra sour cream, fresh chives

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place chopped bacon in a cold Dutch oven. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Add butter to the pot with the bacon fat. Once melted, add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Make the roux: Sprinkle flour over the onions and garlic. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until a thick, golden paste forms.
  4. Add the broth: Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Scrape the bottom of the pot to release browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  5. Add the hash browns: Dump in the entire bag of frozen hash browns. Stir, bring back to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes until hash browns are tender and have started to break down.
  6. Add the dairy: Remove pot from heat. Stir in heavy cream, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream until cheese is melted and soup is smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  7. Finish and serve: Ladle soup into bowls. Top with remaining shredded cheddar, crispy bacon bits, a dollop of sour cream, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a thicker soup, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot. To prevent graininess, always remove the pot from heat before adding dairy and use freshly shredded cheese. If soup is too thick after adding dairy, stir in a splash more broth or milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: potato soup, bacon soup, loaded baked potato soup, creamy soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://noshbelle.com/creamy-loaded-baked-potato-and-bacon-soup-best-easy-recipe/