Loaded baked potatoes are a favorite for many! They combine many great flavors to create a dish that is sure to please anyone in a crowd. Whoever came up with the idea to turn it into a soup is nothing short of a genius! This particular recipe is an easy way to enjoy loaded baked potato soup whenever you wish.
You'll need to do some cooking in the skillet first, but neither of those steps are complicated or too time-consuming. Then, you'll transfer the ingredients into the slow cooker for the bulk of the cooking process. This soup will take four to six hours on low to cook. It may not be a “go to work and leave it” type of recipe, but it's certainly one you can make on a weekend while you spend time with family.
At the end, you'll have to use the microwave for the bacon. Make sure you buy bacon that is microwaveable, as not all types of bacon can easily be cooked in the microwave. If you want to reduce the fat content of this soup, opt for turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
We hope you enjoy this loaded baked potato soup recipe! We have plenty of other great soup recipes available, so be sure to check them all out before you leave. With our help, you'll never be left without a great soup recipe again!
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Ingredients:
8 ounces bacon (about 8 slices), chopped
1 onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 pounds russet potatoes (about 6 medium), peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces), plus extra for serving
½ cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
3 scallions, sliced thin
Directions:
1. Cook bacon in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and refrigerate until serving. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat left in skillet.
2. Add onion, garlic, and thyme to fat in skillet and cook over medium-high heat until onion is softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 1 cup broth, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.
3. Stir remaining 3 cups broth and potatoes into slow cooker. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 4 to 6 hours on low.
4. Transfer 2 cups cooked potatoes to bowl and mash smooth with potato masher. Stir cheddar into soup until evenly melted, then stir in mashed potatoes and cream. Let soup sit until heated through, about 5 minutes.
5. Microwave bacon on paper towel-lined plate until hot and crisp, about 30 seconds. Season soup with salt and pepper to taste and serve with scallions, crisp bacon, and additional cheddar.
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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com.