Potato Soup

 There is just no other way to survive winter without a big pot of soup simmering on the stove. Today we’re sharing a Nebraska favorite—Baked Potato Soup. While there are a lot of ways to do this one, like in the crockpot or instant pot, our recipe is straight on the stove with a lot of chopping and whisking. It’s a big effort but so worth it! And per usual, feel free to double, triple or halve to fit your family size.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients—

5 TBSP Unsalted Butter

1/3 Cup Flour

1 Sweet Onion, diced

2 Carrots, peeled and diced

2 Celery Stalks, diced

2 Cloves Garlic, minced

2 Cups Milk, at least 1%

1 Cup Heavy Cream

2 Cups Chicken Broth

6-7 Golden Potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

¾ Cup Shredded Gouda Cheese

1 Cup Sour Cream

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

8 Slices of Bacon, cooked and crumbled

Green Onions, diced

Directions—

Step #1—

Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery and cook until onion is translucent, and carrots are tender. Stir often. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute, or until fragrant. Whisk in flour and continue cooking until mixture is golden brown.

Step #2—

Slowly whisk in milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly until slightly thickened. Gradually add the chicken broth. Once liquid is fully combined, add potatoes. Bring to a simmer, but it’s important not to boil.

Step #3—

Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are fork tender. Stir often to keep from burning the soup on the bottom of the pot. While soup is simmering, cook bacon in the oven at 400 for 15 minutes, flip, cook for an additional 7-10 minutes. Drain grease and crumble bacon.

Step #4—

Once potatoes are tender, stir in the sour cream to the soup. Add 3/4ths of the shredded cheese and half the bacon. Add your spices. Stir to combine. If soup is too thick, you can add milk a little bit at a time to thin it out. Once it’s heated through, serve in big bowls with a good hunk of crusty bread. Add more cheese and bacon and the green onions as a garnish. Warm your bones. Enjoy delicious soup. Live your best winter life.