Potato Soup Recipe (Creamy, Cheesy & Easy)

This is the kind of homemade potato soup you toss together on a chilly night with simple ingredients, then top with crispy bacon, green onions, and an extra sprinkle of cheese. Keep it mild for the whole family, or add a little heat the Chili Pepper Madness way.

My mother made a version of this when I was growing up and I always enjoyed it. This is my upgraded version with easy instructions (not like Mom whipped it together!) and big comforting flavors.

Ingredients You'll Need

The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Potatoes & Veggies for the Best Homemade Potato Soup

• Potatoes. I’ve made this with both russet and Yukon gold potatoes. Russets give you a thicker, fluffier texture. Yukon golds are naturally creamy and hold their shape a bit better. You can’t go wrong with either.
• Onion, Celery, Garlic. Classic soup base for sweetness and depth.

Creamy & Cheesy Ingredients

• Bacon. Cooked first to build flavor and as topping.
• Flour + Broth. Simple roux-thickened base for thickness and creaminess.
• Milk + Half-and-Half or Cream. For velvety texture and richness you will love. I find it is rich enough with half-and-half or even whole milk only, though you'll definitely notice the extra rich body with heavy cream.
• Cheddar + Sour Cream. Classic potato toppings that add loads of flavor to the final soup.

Seasonings and Optional Heat

• Smoked Paprika. Smoky flavors pair perfectly with potatoes and cheese, and smoked paprika won't scare off the spice-shy.
• Thyme, Salt, Pepper. Simple, approachable seasonings.
• Jalapeño. Optional for a mild kick. You can easily dial the heat up with more jalapenos or hotter chilies like serrano or habanero.

See the variations section below for chipotle, buffalo, green chili twists and other options.

How to Make Potato Soup (Step-by-Step)

Cook the Bacon

• Fry the bacon until crisp and set aside. Keep 2-3 tablespoons fat in the pot.

Build the Flavor Base

• Sauté the onion, celery, jalapeño in bacon fat and butter.
• Add garlic just until fragrant.

Make the Roux

• Sprinkle in the flour and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Slowly whisk in broth until smooth.

Simmer the Potatoes

• Add potatoes, paprika, thyme, and salt and pepper.
• Simmer 15-20 minutes until tender.

Make It Creamy

• Lightly mash the softened potatoes with a masher or partially blend with a hand mixer or blender (be careful transferring hot soup). Don't over process or the soup can become gluey.
• Stir in the milk, cream, and cheddar until melted through and creamy.
• Finish off-heat with sour cream.

Serve it Up

Ladle into bowls and top with bacon, cheddar, sour cream, green onion, and a dash of hot sauce.

Boom! Done! This is truly an easy potato soup! One pot, simple steps, and about 30-40 minutes on the stove.

How to Make This a Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This is a popular request! You can serve this the way it is as a classic potato soup, or turn it into Loaded Baked Potato Soup with a couple easy tweaks. Use leftover or freshly baked potatoes by scooping out the flesh from 3-4 potatoes, roughly chopping it, and adding it after the broth so it warms through and starts to break down.

Then go big on toppings - lots of crispy bacon, extra sharp cheddar, sour cream, and green onions - so it really tastes like a baked potato in soup form.

Recipe Variations

I kept the base recipe mild and family-friendly, but this is Chili Pepper Madness, so of course we’re adding some heat and extra flavor. Start with one of these easy variations or mix and match to make it your own.

• Smoked Ham and Potato Soup. Add chopped smoked ham after mashing the potatoes in the pot (step #9) and simmer 5 minutes to warm, then add the dairy. I also love it with sliced andouille sausage or cooked crumbled spicy sausage. See my Sausage and Potato Soup Recipe, or my Cheese and Potato Soup with Guajillo.
• Chipotle Potato Soup. Stir 1-2 tablespoons (or a whole 7 ounce can for big flavor) finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo into the pot when you add the potatoes. You’ll get a deeper smoky flavor and a nice, slow-building heat that works perfectly with the creamy base. Ancho powder is another great option (use 1-2 teaspoons, or to taste).
• Buffalo Potato Soup. At the end of cooking, swirl in 3-4 tablespoons of my homemade buffalo sauce recipe (or more to taste). Top with bacon, a sprinkle of cheddar, and a few blue cheese crumbles.
• Hatch or Green Chili Potato Soup. Stir in about 1 cup chopped roasted Hatch chiles or other roasted green chilies with the potatoes. If you add a lot, reduce the broth slightly so the soup stays thick and creamy.

I'd love to hear some of your tested variations. Email me anytime if you'd like me to help you adapt this recipe. I've made it many different ways over the years.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing

Store leftover potato soup in airtight containers for 3 to 4 days. The soup will thicken as it sits.

Reheat gently. Warm on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring often. Add a splash of broth or milk if it’s too thick. Avoid a hard boil to keep the dairy smooth.

Freezer. Creamy soups can change texture a bit when frozen, but this one holds up reasonably well. Cool completely, freeze up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently with a splash of liquid if needed.

FAQs

• Can I make it gluten-free? Yes, use cornstarch slurry instead of flour.
• Can I make potato soup without bacon? Yes, use butter/olive oil and maybe extra smoked paprika for flavor.
• Can I make this in a slow cooker? Yes. Add the potatoes, veggies, broth, and seasonings to your slow cooker and cook until tender, then mash a bit and stir in the milk, cream, cheese, and sour cream at the end for an easy crockpot potato soup. Serve warm.

What to Serve with Potato Soup

I usually serve this potato soup on its own with lots of toppings, though we love the smoked ham or andouille sausage variation. Add a fresh grilled corn salad or classic potato salad for a lighter side.

Serve with skillet cornbread, jalapeno cornbread, crusty jalapeno-cheddar bread, or jalapeno-cheddar biscuits to soak up the rich and creamy soup.

More Cozy Soup & Chili Recipes

If you love this Potato Soup, you’ll also love...

• Easy Hamburger Soup
• Sausage Soup Recipe
• Jambalaya Soup Recipe
• Beer Cheese Soup
• See all of my Soup Recipes

About Mike

I’m Mike, the chilihead behind Chili Pepper Madness and the author of several spicy cookbooks, including The Spicy Food Lovers’ Cookbook and Flavor Madness. I’ve spent years testing and tweaking soups, chilis, hot sauces, and all things bold and zesty for home cooks who love big flavor as much as I do.

I’ve made more batches of potato soup than I can count! This is the one we find ourselves craving over and over and the one that finally earned a permanent spot in our winter rotation.