Potato Cheese Soup

This lusciously creamy Potato Cheese Soup is here to feed your body, comfort your soul, and please the part of you that secretly wishes we could eat cheese for dinner every night.

With their flexible ingredients, ease of prep, leftover prowess, and all-around comfort factor, soups are one of the most important genres in my healthy dinner collection.

From creative Curried Carrot Soup, to Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup or Chicken Gnocchi Soup, to fancy-feeling Mushroom Soup, there is a soup for any mood and occassion.

When it comes to ultimate comfort, however, cheese and potatoes have magical powers (I love you Cream of Asparagus Soup, but it’s just not the same.)

Even within the potato soup family, we have options:

• Crockpot Potato Soup Recipe. For when you are going hands-free and can prep ahead.
• Instant Pot Potato Soup. Another hands-free option in less time.
• Vegan Potato Soup. For when you want to skip the cheese and dairy.
• Potato Leek Soup. For a burst of spring.

But when you want a soup recipe that will envelop you in a warm hug, make your tummy happy, and your cheeks glow?

This potato cheese soup recipe is the one you choose.

This thick and creamy potato cheddar cheese soup is everything a soul-soothing soup should be.

• It’s creamy. Buttery Yukon gold potatoes are blended perfectly smooth to a velvet-like consistency.
• It’s cheesy. Made with plenty of sharp cheddar cheese (like this Slow Cooker Broccoli and Cheese Soup) that melts smoothly and contributes not only color but richness and flavor too.
• And it’s healthy. Unlike other cheesy potato soups, this recipe contains ZERO heavy cream (neither does this Cauliflower Chowder). Instead, a simple flour-based rue and nonfat milk thicken the soup fabulously without adding excess fat or calories.

How to Make Potato Cheese Soup

Healthy, comforting, and cheesy. Need I say more?

This easy potato cheese soup topped with bacon and chives is the perfect soup recipe for a cozy night, and you’ll feel good about its ingredient line-up too.

The Ingredients

• Potatoes. Yukon golds are my favorite type of potato for this soup (and Crockpot Mashed Potatoes). Their buttery flavor gives the soup inherent richness, and they puree velvety smooth while still adding plenty of thickness and body to the soup.
• Broth. Chicken broth enriches with more flavor and taste than water can.

• Nonfat Milk. Keeps this cheesy soup lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories (I also use nonfat milk for this creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Soup).
• All-Purpose Flour. Creates a roux when stirred into the butter used to saute the vegetables. It thickens the soup without needing to use heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk.
• Cheddar Cheese. The classic! Use sharp cheddar for max flavor; you can get away with adding less without sacrificing flavor.
• Onions + Garlic. Like many fantastic soup recipes, this potato cheese soup begins with a traditional base of onions sautéed with butter and cloves garlic.
• Carrots. For hidden veggies, a lovely “cheesy” color, and a subtle sweetness. (If you enjoy carrots in your soup, give this Roasted Carrot Soup a try.)

• Cayenne. For just a little kick that adds the right amount of spice.
• Jalapeno. An optional addition for those who like extra heat.
• Toppings. Crisp crumbled bacon, diced green onions or fresh chives and extra cheddar cheese take this soup to next-level delicious.

The Directions

1. Saute the vegetables and spices in melted butter in large saucepan or dutch oven.

2. Add the flour, cook until golden, then slowly stir in the milk.

3. Once the mixture has thickened, stir in the broth, add the potatoes, and bring to a boil on medium heat. Simmer until the vegetables are tender.

4. Blend the soup until smooth.

5. Stir in the cheese until melted then garnish with chives, bacon, and additional cheddar cheese. Ladle into bowls and ENJOY!

Storage Tips

• To Store. Leftover potato cheese soup may be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
• To Reheat. Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave (at a reduced power level) until steaming. Do not warm too quickly or the soup may separate.
• To Freeze. Potato cheese soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. For best results, allow the soup to cool completely before putting it in the freezer and defrost overnight in the fridge before warming. Note that dairy-based soups and potato soups do tend to curdle and separate when frozen and thawed. If this bothers you, then I would not recommend freezing this soup.

What to Serve with Potato Cheese Soup

Quick Breads

Beer Bread

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Baking

Rosemary Olive Oil Bread

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Breakfast & Brunch

Baked Bacon in the Oven

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Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

• Dutch Oven. A soup lover’s perfect partner for stovetop soup recipes like this one.
• Blender. A high-powered blender is the secret to getting pureed soups perfectly silky smooth.
• Immersion Blender. A great option for pureeing soups without having to make a messy transfer to a blender or food processor.

The Best Dutch Oven

Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron delivers superior heat distribution and retention. Plus there are so many fun colors!

Get on AMazon

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought!

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.

Leave a Rating

Thanks for the hug, potato cheese soup. I’m always happy to have one.

Review Save Recipe SavedPrint

Potato Cheese Soup

5 from 11 votes

A healthy and easy potato cheese soup with cheddar, nonfat milk, and no heavy cream. This creamy LOADED potato soup is the best comfort food.

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Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 5 hrs

Total: 5 hrs 20 mins

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Servings: 6 servings

Review Save Recipe SavedPrint

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 medium jalapeño seeded and diced, optional for a little heat
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup nonfat milk
• 4 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes peeled and chopped
• 1 3/4 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese plus additional for serving
• Chopped fresh chives or green onions for serving
• Cooked and crumbled bacon for serving (use Oven Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon for easy cooking methods)

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Instructions

 

• Melt the butter in a large, deep stockpot or Dutch over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and sauté until just beginning to soften; about 5 minutes. Add the jalapeno, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper and cook the garlic is fragrant; about 30 seconds.
  
• Sprinkle the flour over the top of the vegetables, then cook for an additional minute until lightly golden and no white bits remain. Slowly stir in the milk and cook until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  
• Stir in the broth, then add the chopped potato. Bring to boil, then partially cover and let simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir from time to time and adjust the heat as needed so that you maintain a steady simmer (but not a full-on boil).
  
• Transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and puree in batches until smooth (alternatively, you can use an immersion blender directly in the pot).
  
• Stir in the cheese a half-cup at a time, allowing it to melt completely before stirring in the next half cup. Serve garnished with chives, bacon, and additional cheddar cheese.
  

Notes

• TO MAKE IN A SLOW COOKER: After Step 2, transfer the vegetable mixture to a 5-quart or larger crockpot. Add the chicken stock and potato. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 to 6 hours on low. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
• TO STORE: Leftover potato cheese soup may be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
• TO REHEAT: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave (at a reduced power level) until steaming. Do not warm too quickly or the soup may separate.
• TO FREEZE: Potato cheese soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. For best results, allow the soup to cool completely before putting it in the freezer and defrost overnight in the fridge before warming. Note that dairy-based soups do tend to curdle and separate when frozen and thawed. If this bothers you, then I would not recommend freezing this soup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6)Calories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 16gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 45mgPotassium: 706mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3972IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 320mgIron: 2mg

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