Smoked Cheddar Potato Bacon Soup

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Soup has been servedddd! There are some things that are so comforting on a cold day that you wake up dreaming about them. One of those is a steaming bowl of Smoked Cheddar Potato Bacon Soup. This creamy, savory, smoky blended soup is soul-warming and filling on those days you’re craving some comfort. 

It’s the kind of meal made for slow evenings at home. The soup is a blend of tender boiled potatoes, onion, celery, garlic, crispy bacon, and smoked cheddar melted into a rich, creamy broth. The rich creaminess comes from a blend of cottage cheese and milk, making it hearty without being heavy. And each bite has a subtle smoky flavor that makes it extra cozy. 

Whether you’re curling up on the couch or gathering around the table, this soup was made to be enjoyed unhurried. It’s simple, comforting meals like this that will become staples in your kitchen. Let’s dive into the yummy details!

Why You’ll Love this Soup

• It’s the ultimate comfort meal. Nothing is quite cozier than a cheesy potato soup. There’s something so soul-warming about it. So next time you’re craving the ultimate comfort meal, keep this recipe on hand!
• It’s cheesy, creamy goodness! The mixture of milk, cottage cheese, and smoked cheddar takes this soup to the next level. Milk and cottage cheese add creaminess, and combined with the melty smoked cheddar, you have a recipe for a dreamy, creamy soup. 
• Super simple!! We love a good, simple soup recipe, and this one is no exception. Really, all you have to do is cook, boil and blend!

How to Make Smoked Cheddar Potato Soup, Step by Step

Step 1. Prepare your mis en place. 

Mise en place means “everything is in its place” and is the practice of setting up your ingredients before cooking. And can be super helpful when you are making recipes that require a lot of chopping or measuring, like soup.

Chopping all your vegetables ahead of time will make this soup recipe so much easier. So all you have to do is pour all the bits into a pot and stir. 

Step 2. Cook bacon in dutch oven.

We love using thick slices of bacon for the bacon bits. That way, they cook to a chewier consistency rather than into super crispy bits. Start by slicing each bacon strip in half, lengthwise. Then, chop the strips into small pieces.

Cook the bacon bits in a Dutch oven over medium heat until they have browned. It should take about 8-10 minutes to cook. Remove the bacon bits and place them in a paper towel-lined bowl to soak up extra grease. 

Keep the grease in the pot. You’ll cook your veggies in the grease and it will add so much flavor to the soup.

Step 3. Cook vegetables, make a roux to thicken, and add in broth to simmer.

Using the same Dutch oven, add chopped onions, celery, and garlic to cook until soft. Once the veggies are soft, sprinkle some flour into the pot and stir to coat the vegetables. Add in 4 tablespoons of butter and stir to create a roux. 

The mixture of the flour and the butter will help to thicken the soup. After the butter has melted and the roux is formed, add in potato cubes and broth. Stir to mix the veggies together and cover to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Step 4. Blend soup, stir in milk and cheese until melted.

Once the potatoes are soft, you’re ready to cream the soup using an immersion blender or a high-powered blender.

When using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth, then blend in cottage cheese and milk until smooth.

If using a high-powered blender, pour the soup into the blender and blend until smooth. Blend in cottage cheese and milk until smooth. Add soup back to the pot and heat on low for a couple more minutes. Stir in smoked cheddar cheese and bacon bits.

Step 5. Mix in bacon bits, season with salt and pepper and serve!

Lastly, stir in bacon bits and season with salt and pepper before serving. This soup makes a large batch, so it will serve at least 10 servings. See tips on storing leftovers below.

Tips for Making Smoked Cheddar Potato Bacon Soup

• Chop and measure everything ahead of time. Before you even turn on the stove top, make sure you have all your ingredients ready to toss into the pot. It does take some time, but it will make the recipe so much easier and enjoyable as you are cooking it.
• Cook veggies in bacon grease for added flavor. It may not be the healthiest option, but it adds so much flavor to this soup.
• Blend cottage cheese and milk together before stirring them into the soup for a smooth texture. The last thing you’d want is a lumpy texture from the cottage cheese. So we recommend either using an immersion blender to blend into the soup or blending the milk and cottage cheese separately and stirring them into the soup.
• Use a cheese with a sharp flavor. Sharp cheddar cheese, smoked cheddar or even gouda have strong flavors that add a lot of dimension to this soup recipe.

How to Store Potato Soup

Give the soup time to cool completely before storing. Store soup in airtight containers in the fridge for several days. 

We do not recommend freezing potato soup because after it’s reheated, it can have a grainy texture. 

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