Description
Comforting baked potato soup delivers creamy Wisconsin cheddar magic in every spoonful. Hearty potato chunks, crispy bacon bits, and green onion garnish invite you to savor this classic winter comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 russet potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
Protein and Flavor Enhancers:
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
Seasoning and Thickening Agents:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chives (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F and roast whole potatoes for approximately 1 hour until completely soft throughout.
- After cooling, carefully remove potato skins and thoroughly mash the interior flesh into smooth, creamy chunks.
- Prepare a classic roux by melting butter in a large cooking pot over medium temperature, then swiftly incorporating flour and stirring continuously for 60 seconds.
- Slowly introduce milk into the roux, whisking consistently to prevent lumps and encourage smooth thickening of the base.
- Gently fold mashed potato chunks into the developing creamy liquid, ensuring even distribution and maintaining a consistent texture.
- Incorporate shredded cheddar cheese, blending until completely melted and creating a rich, velvety consistency.
- Stir in sour cream, adjusting seasoning with salt and ground black pepper to enhance overall flavor profile.
- Simmer the soup for an additional 3-5 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and temperature to become uniformly hot.
- Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with crispy bacon fragments and delicately chopped chives for added visual appeal and textural contrast.
- Serve immediately while soup maintains optimal warmth and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Boost potato flavor by rubbing skins with olive oil and salt before baking for extra crispy, caramelized exterior.
- Create a lighter version by substituting half-and-half with low-fat milk and using reduced-fat cheese for healthier alternative.
- Elevate texture by partially mashing potatoes, leaving some chunks for rustic, hearty soup experience.
- Enhance depth of flavor by adding roasted garlic or smoked paprika during roux stage for more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 392 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg