Hearty Mashed Baked Potato Soup

Unlike other recipes, this one uses already made mashed potatoes — either leftovers, store bought, or freshly made. This is a hearty soup that’s become a family favorite, especially as mustgoes after a family holiday dinner.

While many think potatoes are as American as apple pie, no country embraces them more than Ireland. The mashed potato has long been a popular dish for Irish people, which is why most think that’s where the dish originated. However, centuries-old history tells of a Frenchman who created this beloved dish.

Mashed potatoes are an international comfort food that pairs well with all kinds of meals. Everyone in my family will dig deep into a bowl of this side dish — yum! That’s why I make heaps of them, especially when preparing large family meals or for holiday gatherings. For Thanksgiving, I usually mash up between 10 to 15 pounds of potatoes. I make so much you’d think I was feeding all the passengers and crew of the Mayflower (that was 132 people in case you were wondering).

Leftovers are fine by me because it’s the perfect base for this soup recipe. And there are so many variations and substitutions you can try — each is as tastier as the other.

I can never have enough of this rich, hearty baked mashed potato soup. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Worry-Free Cooking

• Instead of buying a separate pot for your soups, I recommend using the same stock pot used to mash your potatoes in the first place. I use a stock pot with a strainer insert, removing the strainer when making soup, of course.

• If you aren’t already saving your bacon grease, I highly recommend you start. It’s an incredibly effortless way to add smoky, savory flavors to future dishes. This stainless grease strainer and container does a remarkable job. Add more to the container every time you cook and store up to five cups of your drippings indefinitely in the fridge. Now you’re cooking!

Menu Planning

• Serve with a small, crispy side salad to complete your meal.

• You can’t go wrong with a side of bread, and either rolls, crusty French bread, or biscuits work great. Don’t forget the butter.

• Add a side of delicious Cheesy Ranch Bread Bites.

• Small sandwich bites like Hawaiian Spam Sliders complement this soup well.

Helping Hand

• Store bought mashed potatoes will work just as well as leftovers, such as the Bob Evans brand. No need to warm or pre-cook.

• If you’re in a hurry or don’t have sliced bacon handy, real bacon bits make a good substitute. These hickory smoked bits work great. Use a cup of the bits in the soup, saving the rest for garnish.

• I often use heavy cream when cooking because it’s creamier and doesn’t curdle. It’s especially good in this recipe; however, you can easily substitute it with half-and-half, whole milk, or evaporated milk. If substituting with one of these, you’ll want to add two tablespoons of butter, as well.

• For thinner soup, you can add more chicken broth or reduce the amount broth for thicker soup.

• If you have whole potatoes on hand instead, follow these steps.
  • Peel and cube potatoes, then boil directly in the chicken broth.
  • When potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork, use a wand mixer to mash the potatoes right in the pot with the broth. I use a Cuisinart Smart Stick, which has proven to be a terrific and invaluable tool in the kitchen.
  • Fry your onions and bacon in separate pan, and then add to this creamy potato mixture.
  • Add the remaining ingredients as directed in the original recipe.

Hearty Mashed Baked Potato Soup

Recipe by Annette (•‿•)

Leftover mashed potatoes make the perfect base for this soup recipe. This is a quick and easy meal with variations and substitutions to make it even easier. Everyone is sure to gobble this up and ask for more.

Course: SoupsCuisine: American

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Servings

8

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Total time

25

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon

• 1 large onion, diced

• 2 pounds mashed potatoes

• 32 ounces chicken broth

• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons onion powder

• ¼ cup green onions, chopped

• 3 tablespoons sour cream

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Chop bacon into ½ inch pieces and add to your soup pot. Cook on medium heat until golden brown. Spoon out about 3 tablespoons of bacon and set aside on a paper towel covered plate.
• Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pot, removing the rest using a spoon or grease strainer.
• Add onions to the pot and continue cooking, stirring frequently.
• When onions are tender and translucent, add the chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Stir in the potatoes and reduce heat to simmer.
• Add cheese, cream, garlic, onion powder. Stir, and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Let simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Scoop into a bowl and garnish with green onions, bacon, and sour cream, as desired.
• Serve and enjoy!

Grocery & Gourmet

• Hickory smoked bits are a wonderful substitute for homemade bacon bits.

Worry-Free Cooking

• Stock Pot with StrainerView Details
• Stainless Steel Bacon Strainer-KeepersView Details
• Cuisinart Smart StickView Details

Have you tried this recipe? Tag @annettes.cooking on Instagram and hashtag it #annettescooking

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a comment and star rating below. It’s always refreshing to hear how others like a recipe, find success with it, or tweak to suit. I’d love to hear from you!