If you're craving something warm, comforting, and downright irresistible, you've just stumbled upon The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe. This soup is creamy, flavorful, and easy enough to whip up any night of the week—get ready to curl up with a bowl that feels like a cozy hug!

potato soup - A white bowl filled with a thick, creamy soup that is pale yellow in color. On top, there are small bits of crispy reddish-brown bacon pieces scattered around, bright orange shredded cheese pieces, and vivid green chopped scallions spread evenly. There are also a few dollops of white sour cream and a light dusting of brown seasoning sprinkled across the surface. The bowl rests on a blue and white striped cloth with a piece of brown bread at the edge. The background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made a lot of potato soups in my life, but this one always wins hearts (and repeat requests). It's rich and creamy, yet has just the right balance of chunky potato bits and smooth velvety broth. If you want a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this is it.

Perfect Creaminess: Half the soup gets blended for a silky texture while still leaving tender potato chunks to enjoy.
Flavor-Packed Base: Bacon, garlic, and a hint of ancho chili powder add layers of savory goodness.
Simple Ingredients: Nothing fancy needed—just pantry staples that come together beautifully.
Customizable: Easy to add your favorite toppings or tweak the spice level to suit your taste buds.

potato soup - Two white bowls filled with creamy white soup are shown from above. Each bowl has a layer of shredded orange cheddar cheese sprinkled on top, mixed with small pieces of crispy brown bacon and chopped green onions. The soup's surface is smooth and thick, with a few specks of brown seasoning scattered lightly. Both bowls have a gold spoon with a branch-like handle resting inside. Around the bowls, there are small pieces of bread with a golden crust placed on a white marbled surface with a striped cloth underneath one bowl. Some cheese and green onion bits are scattered on the surface nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays a role in creating that luscious, comforting bowl of potato soup you'll want on hand all winter. Let me walk you through why I love each key component and how to pick the best ones for your version.

potato soup - Flat lay of fresh golden potatoes peeled and diced, crisp raw bacon strips in a rich reddish-brown hue, a medium yellow onion with its papery skin partially peeled to reveal pale layers, three plump garlic cloves with smooth white skins, vibrant green chives with slender stalks, a small pile of shredded bright orange cheddar cheese, a dollop of creamy white sour cream with a glossy texture, and a small heap of deep reddish-brown ancho chili powder, all beautifully arranged with natural spacing and soft natural light highlighting their colors and textures, placed on white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Bacon: Crispy bacon adds that smoky, salty crunch; don’t skip it or the soup loses a punch of flavor.
Butter: Helps soften the onions and garlic while adding rich depth to the soup.
Yellow Onion: Sweet and mellow, it’s the perfect base flavor that blends beautifully with potatoes.
Garlic: Just a few cloves make the broth aromatic without overpowering the dish.
All-Purpose Flour: This is your thickening agent—sprinkled on before liquids to create that creamy texture.
Gold Potatoes: Waxy but tender, they hold their shape slightly and have great flavor; I use Yukon Golds.
Chicken Broth: Gives savory depth; homemade or a good-quality store-bought broth makes a big difference.
Milk and Heavy Cream: These create the soup’s luscious creaminess without being too heavy.
Salt and Pepper: Essential to bring all flavors together; start light and adjust to taste.
Ancho Chili Powder: Just a touch for warmth and subtle smoky heat—you’ll want to try it!
Sour Cream: Stirred in at the end for tanginess and extra creaminess that brightens the soup.
Toppings (Cheddar, Chives, Bacon): Optional but highly recommended for that classic, irresistible finish.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe is super forgiving and easy to personalize. For instance, I sometimes swap half the milk for cream cheese to add extra tang or sprinkle in smoked paprika instead of ancho chili powder for a different smoky note.

Variation: When I want it vegan, I replace bacon with smoked tempeh and use vegetable broth plus coconut milk. It’s surprisingly still rich and satisfying.
Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or chipotle powder for a real kick if you like your soup with heat.
Chunkier Version: Blend a quarter of the soup instead of half, so it’s heartier with more potato pieces.
Seasonal Boost: Toss in some roasted corn or diced roasted red peppers for summer flair.

Step-by-Step: How I Make The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe

Step 1: Sizzle That Bacon to Perfection

Start by heating your pot on medium and adding those bacon pieces. Let them crisp up nicely—they'll not only flavor the soup but also be perfect for topping later. Once browned, scoop them out and leave the bacon fat in the pot; it’s liquid gold for flavor.

Step 2: Build the Flavor Base with Onion and Garlic

Add the butter to the bacon fat and toss in your chopped onions. Cook gently for 3–5 minutes until soft and fragrant. Stir in minced garlic and cook for just 30 seconds—don’t let it burn! This step sets a savory foundation for your soup.

Step 3: Thicken Things Up with Flour

Sprinkle the flour over the onion-garlic mixture and whisk until it’s lump-free and smooth. This is what will give your soup that wonderful creamy body once liquids are added, so don’t skip or rush this part.

Step 4: Add Potatoes, Broth, Milk, and Seasonings

Toss the diced gold potatoes into the pot, then pour in chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, and the ancho chili powder. Give everything a good stir and bring it to a boil, letting the potatoes soften for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Blend Half for That Silky Smooth Texture

Once your potatoes are fork-tender, carefully ladle out about half the soup into a blender (or use an immersion blender right in the pot if you have one). Puree until smooth, then stir the creamy mixture back in. This step makes The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe stand out with its perfect balance of creamy and chunky.

Step 6: Final Stir and Simmer

Stir in sour cream and the reserved bacon pieces, then let the soup simmer gently for 15 minutes so all those flavors mingle perfectly. Don’t skip this simmer—it really helps develop that cozy, comforting taste.

Top Tip

Through many batches, I found these tricks make The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe truly shine. These tips save you from common pitfalls and bring out the best flavors and textures.

Don’t Overblend: Pureeing only half the soup keeps texture and visual appeal—totally transforms a normal potato soup into the ultimate comfort food.
Use Ancho Chili Powder Sparingly: It adds great depth without overwhelming—start small and add more if you want.
Simmer Low and Slow: Let your soup gently bubble for those final 15 minutes to marry flavors perfectly.
Reserve Bacon for Toppings: Tossing some back into the soup is great, but keeping crispy bits for garnish really ties it all together.

How to Serve The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe

Garnishes

I always top my bowl with extra crispy bacon, a generous handful of shredded sharp cheddar, a dollop of sour cream, and fresh chives. The contrast of creamy soup with the crunchy bacon and sharp cheese is absolute bliss. Feel free to mix it up with green onions or even a sprinkle of paprika!

Side Dishes

This soup pairs beautifully with crusty bread or warm dinner rolls to soak up every last drop. Sometimes I serve it with a simple green salad tossed in vinaigrette for balance or roasted veggies for a heartier meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like serving The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe in small, hollowed-out bread bowls with all the toppings piled high. It’s fun, rustic, and perfect for impressing guests without much extra work.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I let the soup cool completely, then store it in airtight containers in the fridge. It keeps well for about 3 to 4 days. When I reheat, I always do it gently on the stove over low heat to avoid curdling the cream.

Freezing

This recipe freezes surprisingly well! I portion it out into freezer-safe containers, leaving some headspace, and freeze for up to 3 months. Just be aware the texture can thin a bit after thawing, so stirring in a splash of cream or a spoonful of sour cream while reheating freshens it right up.

Reheating

Reheat gently over low to medium heat on the stove, stirring regularly. If it gets too thick, add a splash of milk or broth to loosen it. Avoid reheating in the microwave if possible, since slow warming keeps the texture smooth and cream intact.

The Ultimate Potato Soup Recipe