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Creamy Cheddar Bacon Potato Soup

Creamy cheddar bacon potato soup made by simmering diced russet potatoes until tender, then mashing for a thick, creamy texture. Finished with melted cheddar, bacon drippings, and fresh chives for a classic American comfort bowl.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Potato soup base
  • 2 lb russet potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 clove garlic minced
  • 4 strips bacon diced
  • 4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1 sour cream for serving
  • 1 chives for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Cook the bacon and aromatics
  1. Cook the diced bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crispy, then remove and set aside, leaving the drippings.
  2. Sauté the diced onion in the bacon drippings for 4 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Build the roux and simmer potatoes
  1. Add the butter and all-purpose flour to the pot and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Pour in the chicken broth and add the diced potatoes, then bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
Mash, thicken, and season
  1. Stir in the whole milk and heavy cream, then use a masher to mash some of the potatoes for a creamy texture.
  2. Stir in the shredded cheddar until melted, then season with salt and black pepper.
Serve
  1. Serve the soup topped with the reserved bacon, sour cream, and chives.

Notes

For extra-thick soup, mash more of the potatoes after adding the dairy, but keep some chunks for texture. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3–4 days; reheat gently to avoid breaking the dairy. Freezing is not recommended because cream-based soups can change texture when thawed. For a lighter option, swap half of the heavy cream for additional whole milk.