Description
Hearty potato bacon soup combines rustic comfort with rich, savory flavors. Creamy ingredients and crispy bacon garnish create a satisfying meal you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) red potatoes, peeled and diced
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 (0.5) onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 1/2 (0.5) teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 (0.5) teaspoon black pepper
Liquids & Dairy:
- 2 1/2 (2.5) cups (590 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2/3 (0.67) cup (158 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 (0.5) cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
Garnish:
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Crisp the bacon in a skillet until golden brown and crunchy, reserving the flavorful rendered fat for subsequent cooking.
- Sauté diced onions in the bacon drippings until they become translucent and softened, releasing their sweet aromatics.
- Transfer the potatoes, minced garlic, fresh thyme, seasoning, and broth into the slow cooker, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Allow the mixture to simmer on high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6-8 hours, ensuring potatoes become fork-tender and ingredients meld together.
- Use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup, creating a luxurious texture with some potato chunks remaining for heartiness.
- Whisk cream and cornstarch together, then incorporate into the soup along with shredded cheese, tangy sour cream, and crumbled bacon pieces.
- Continue cooking on high for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup reaches a rich, velvety consistency and all ingredients are thoroughly integrated.
Notes
- Bacon Perfection Choose thick-cut bacon for richer flavor and extra crispiness, ensuring maximum texture and taste in your soup.
- Oil Saving Strategy Bacon drippings are liquid gold – they’ll add incredible depth and smoky undertones to your soup’s base flavor profile.
- Dietary Flexibility Swap bacon for turkey bacon or smoked mushrooms to create vegetarian and lighter versions without losing rich, savory essence.
- Texture Mastery Blend carefully to maintain some potato chunks, creating a rustic, hearty soup with varied mouthfeel and interesting consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (on High) or 8 hours (on Low)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg