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Kid-Friendly Loaded Baked Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon

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This thick, creamy loaded baked potato soup tastes like a baked potato turned into a hug in a bowl. With real chunks of potato, crispy bacon bits, and melted cheese, it’s the perfect family-friendly comfort food that even picky eaters will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 cups peeled and diced russet potatoes (about 3 medium potatoes)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Extra crispy bacon crumbles for topping
  • Extra shredded cheddar cheese for topping
  • Chopped fresh chives or green onions for topping
  • Additional sour cream for topping

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place chopped bacon pieces in a cold pot. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy and fat has rendered (about 8-10 minutes). Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter to bacon fat and let it melt. Add diced onion and cook until softened and translucent (about 5 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Build the base: Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add diced potatoes, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Mash and thicken: Remove pot from heat. Using a potato masher, gently mash some of the potatoes right in the pot (about 6-8 good mashes) to create a mix of creamy and chunky bits.
  5. Add the dairy: Return pot to low heat. Stir in milk, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Stir continuously until cheese is fully melted and soup is smooth (about 3-4 minutes). Do not let it boil.
  6. Finish and season: Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in half of the crispy bacon bits, reserving the rest for topping.
  7. Serve immediately: Ladle soup into bowls and let everyone customize with extra cheese, sour cream, chives, and reserved crispy bacon.

Notes

Don’t skimp on the bacon fat—leave at least 2 tablespoons in the pot for flavor. Keep heat low when adding dairy to prevent curdling. If soup is too thick, thin with warm milk or broth; if too thin, mash more potatoes. Soup thickens as it sits, so cook potatoes slightly less if making ahead. Always cook extra bacon for topping and snacking.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded baked potato soup, kid-friendly soup, creamy potato soup, bacon potato soup, easy soup recipe, family dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/kid-friendly-loaded-baked-potato-soup-with-crispy-bacon/