Loaded Potato Soup

This was really comforting and tasty. I was also fast and easy which will make it on the weeknight dinner rotation. The only thing I did differently was cook the bacon in the same dutch oven I made the soup from. Then I sauteed the onions in a little of bacon grease... which was excellent. I also recommend putting some smoked cheese on it as a garnish - it's fantastic!

Ok for something quick. If you've got a little more time, recommend instead CL's baked potato soup, much better.

Made it just as written. So fast, so good! Will make this one again and again.

Double for leftovers....

I too added some minced garlic with the onions, this soup was great! I had all the ingredients on hand and it came together quickly, I even had time to make a salad while the potatoes cooked. Served with fresh snipped chives.

This is so easy and really tasty, especially for leftovers. It's thick, so we may try to thin it down a bit next time.

Very good soup for the ease in preparation. I peeled and boiled the potatoes and fried the bacon on the stove since I'm not a fan of microwave prep. Still was a quick recipe. Need the toppings to add flavor to the soup.

I love this soup! I followed one reviewers advice and added a little cornstarch to thicken the soup since I used skim milk and it worked like a charm. Great recipe!

This was so easy, so fast and so GOOD. My husband & I loved this recipe. I made it exactly as directed including the toppings. This is a keeper.

I followed this recipe exactly, was very pleased and will make it again. But it made me want to consider turning this into a clam chowder by adding a can or two of clams next time. I am sure it will be fantastic. This is a great recipe for families looking for weeknight dinners with little prep time. Garlic bread and a salad is perfect. In addition, to save some time, I purchase jars of real bacon pieces (in the salad aisle next to the croutons) so I don't need to purchase a whole pound of bacon just to have a few pieces for topping this soup And if you are a vegetarian, you can purchase bacon flavored soy bits.

I followed the recipe except for substituting pancetta for the bacon. Cooking the potatoes in the microwave worked well. I diced them instead of mashing them. The soup tastes rich and creamy, and is very filling. I will be making this again and again.

Easy & yummy. A real keeper. I thought the potatoes were easy to peel since they were halved. I just used a spoon to scoop out the potato from the skin. This is a definite keeper.

I'm a vegetarian, so I subbed vegetable broth and veggie bacon. The soup was delicious and along with a salad made a filling meal. I'll be making this all winter.

This was such an easy & healthy recipe and it passed the Irish husband test! He gave it 5 stars!!

All I can say is WOW this soup is really good, very thick after being in the frig overnite, so I thinned it out with more chicken broth. Still tasted great and such an easy recipe to make.

On a cold rainy day this works great! Quick, easy and yummy. Should have doubled the receipe though! Went well with sourdough bread.

I found this soup lacking in the basic flavor of most potato soups I've made in the past. I love the texture however so I'm going to saute more onion and add celery to the mix. I know you don't find celery in baked potatoes but I didn't think the soup had the richness of a baked potato as made by the recipe.

Loved this soup... have been planning on making it and finally did this week. It was so easy and tasty. Next time I'll probably dice the potatoes instead of mashing them. When I made this I was unsure of how much mashing should of been done. I served a buffallo style chicken sandwich with this... just quick cooked some chicken breasts shredded them and made a sauce of butter and tabascco, not the lightest dish to serve but oh well.

I added a half stick of unsalted butter and some Tabasco to kick it up a bit. A good recipe and will definitely make again - the men in the family gave it a thumbs up !!

I love this recipe. Will for sure be making again.

Delicious! Used russet potatoes but otherwise followed exactly. My husband couldn't stop himself from seconds! Very easy and will make again for sure.

Quick, warm and yummy. Great fall recipe. I only had skim milk, so I thickened the soup with some added corn starch and water. Other than that, I followed the recipe to at T. Love it!

'A meal' is an understatement.

This soup is delicious and great for when you feel like something cozy and comforting that won't pack on the winter pounds we all try to avoid. We had to make alterations based on what we had on hand. We thought we had onion, but it turns out we were wrong. We added onion powder in place but it wasn't the same. I'm about to make it again WITH onion this time. Also, my sister only had 2% milk on hand so ours was a little higher calorie and fat. We left off the green onions and bacon (we don't eat meat). It was very delicious regardless. I'm going to make it again today with onion. I might try to add some other veggies to it to mix it up a little but I'm not sure. I'd like to find something to pair with it but I've yet to find anything that sounds really good. I only gave it 4 stars because I thought it was just a bit on the bland side. That could be from the lack of onion (and toppings), though and not the recipe itself.

This was pretty much flavorless to me. I had to add so much bacon, cheese, and green onion on top to give it flavor, that it was no longer a light recipe.

My small group at church was hosting folks from a group home. We decided to serve soup. Potato soup was my assignment and I like trying new recipes. It was a hit. One of the ladies said "This is the best potato soup I have ever had in my whole entire life" as she finished her second bowl. I added a tablespoon of what's called "Chicken Soup Base". It comes in a jar and has much more flavor than plain chicken boullion. My none-soup-eating husband ate it and said he might eat it again. Will definately make again.

Delicious and very easy! The fixings are a must. Everything tasted deliciously like a baked potato. Will make this again for a filling and satisfying meal.

So good...

This soup is delicious -- thick, cheesy and filling, just how I like it. Definitely leave it a little chunky. I thought peeling the potatoes after they cooled was kind of a pain, esp. considering how quick-and-easy this recipe is supposed to be. Next time I'll probably peel them before microwaving. Otherwise, perfect weeknight meal paired with salad!

Great recipe! I did bake the potatoes in the oven first, I think they taste better that way. But this recipe is easy, and really good.

I can't imagine making potato soup without adding some celery. I saute a stalk of celery with onions or add a can of cream of celery soup..Great with ham sandwich or chopped ham in soup..

love, Love, LOVED this soup! Really does take 20 minutes or less and was SO delicious - how can it be "light"?! I substituted vegetable broth and skipped the bacon (I'm vegetarian) and it still had great flavor!

I thought this soup was great. The recipe came in an email, and I had the ingredients so went for it. Used regular potatoes and regular sour cream and broth though. Delicious! Will definitely make again! Very easy dinner, served with bread. Also cooked bacon in oven, not microwave.

Absolutely the best potato soup I've had! Made this last night and the family just gobbled it up. My kids said "it tastes like baked potatoes with all the fixings", that says it all for me. Easy to make comfort food at it's best. No changes were made at this time , but may add corn to it just to change it up and keep it interesting. This has made it in to my all time favorite recipes file. We will defiantly be having this again.

I also thought it was great, I used almond milk and no bacon and I couldn't believe how delicious it was, and so easy!

This was fantastic. I used turkey bacon and this way you can have more bacon without the added calories.

My husband and I LOVED this soup. So easy to make and absolutely delicious! I added a little garlic in with the onion and used nonfat milk instead of lowfat. This will be a new staple in our house for sure!

This soup is indeed amazing! Really easy and really delicious. It seems simple but it is really very flavorful. I will be making this often for sure.

By far the best potato soup I've ever made - maybe the best I've ever had! So fast, so good. I added 1 clove of garlic with the onion. Also a vegetarian, I used veggie broth and faux bacon. Didn't have sour cream and it was still really rich tasting. I'm going to make this weekly its that good.

I really like this recipe. This is one of my favorite soups but usually do not want all of the calories that come with it! This was a little bland at first but I read another review where she added garlic and I tried that and it was very good. I think it would also be good to add corn and make it like a corn and potato chowder! Overall good but tweak the seasonings just a little so its a little more flavorful!

WOW! I made this tonight - everyone loved it! I doubled the recipe - substituted crumbled bacon with 1 lb of double smoked ham off the bone and set it on low for 1 hour to let everything come together! Delish...

I've made this soup twice since getting the October issue of CL, the second time for dinner guests. No one believed that this was a lo-cal, lo-fat recipe! It is delicious and extraordinarily satisfying, particularly during these (soon-to-be) chilly evenings. Thanks so much for this great recipe!

I liked this a lot. tasty, filling and easy.Using this recipe as a template, I made adjustments,like Almond milk, low sodium fat free broth, and only PAM spray for sauteeing the onions. I added the flour to 1/2 cup of broth and shook to blend before adding to the pot. Also used turky bacon and reduced fat shredded cheese and sour cream. Yummy!! and reduced to a point value to suit my eating plan. I will make it again!

I love this recipe! I'm a bit new to cooking, and I was able to accomplish this with no programs. I used bacon bits actually, and it still came out great. I put a bit more light sour cream in than the recipe called for.

Warm, hearty, filling, and a wonderfully light flavor. Perfect comfort food to relax and warm up with on a chilly evening.

The search for the perfect potato soup is now over! The added bonus is that it is so fast and easy! I love that I can cook the potatoes in the microwave, very quick! Instead of peeling the potatoes, I leave the skins on and coarsely mash. The chunks make it even better. I've made this for family and a work potluck where it received rave reviews!

Great soup,once you make it you will be making it alot!!!

Delicious is the best word for it! And filling! Had a salad with it and that was enough! We used a few more potatoes and didn't mash all of them - left some big chunks! Used a little more low-sodium bacon & was surprised how crisp it got in the Micro! Use extra cheese, too! Yum Yum!My husband cooks a lot and he is overly enthusiastic over this recipe! GREAT!!!

I added fresh garlic and corn to the mix, left the skins on the potatoes, and it was excellent. Even better as leftovers. Will definitely make it again.

This is a family favorite and I always have to make a double batch. I make this lighter by using skim milk, fat free sour cream, 2% chedder cheese. I do add a lot more potatoes which will make the soup thicker and creamier without having to add an extra thickner. I will corsely mash the potatoes to keep the soup chunky. Freezes well.

A great way to cut calorie corners, reduce fat, and reduce sodium and still enjoy one of the world's best comfort foods. To reduce even further, substitute turkey bacon for the regular pork bacon. Outstanding!

Delish!! I used another reviewers suggestion and fried the bacon in the pan and reserved some of the grease for sauteing the onions and I threw in some garlic too. I also tried the suggestion in the video with peeling the potatoes prior to cooking them in the microwave but I wasn't happy with the consistency so I will try leaving the skins on next time and scooping them out. The soup passed the test with my husband and 15 month old!!

So easy & quick! Best potato soup I've ever had.

Very simple, delicious and hearty soup! I doubled the recipe to have leftovers. I also used leeks instead of onion.

This is an easy recipe to make for a cold day. It is hearty and liked by most people. I also used russets and left the skins on for a more 'baked potato' feel. I used more bacon (because my package had 6 pieces). But I would argue that the recipe yields 6 servings instead of 4, so the 6 pieces of bacon seemed appropriate.

This was wonderful and my company loved it! Definitely something we will eat again

This recipe was very easy to make and quite tasty. It was a little bland for my liking so I added more cheese and salt.

This soup was absolutely AMAZING. I can't believe how low fat it is considering how creamy and delicious it tastes. The recipe was simple and easy to follow and the results were fabulous. Definitely will be making this soup again and again and again.....

This was so thick and filling! I doubled the recipe for leftovers and I also pureed the soup, which really helped make it more thick. I also added chopped green onion on top with the cheese and bacon to give it more flavor.

Great, easy weeknight recipe. I used Yukon gold potatoes because that is what I had on hand and it was delicious. I doubled it so there would be leftovers as well.

SO quick and so easy to make.....and what I like is it is a good go to soup because it uses staples that you have in your kitchen...for variation I often add jalapeno peppers or red bell pepper with the onions or even garlic...if my chives are up I also use them instead of the green onions

Very fast, very easy. I used yukon golds, skim milk, and vegetable broth because that's what I had and to make it vegetarian-friendly. I also added broccoli and 1 tbsp chopped garlic (during the second step after onions before broth) and I liked the added chunkiness. Even though microwaving the potatoes leaves them drier, it doesn't matter once they are in the soup.

This was a decent soup, and it was really fast to make. I added a bit more salt, but I'm a salt fiend. The best part of this was the speed, and I was able to use ingredients I already had laying around from the week.

Easy to make. I used bacon bits instead of messing up an entire pan for a few strips of bacon. Leftovers were very thick and had to be thinned with milk. Would make again.

My mom makes a soup very similar to this and it's wonderful. We add corn and chopped ham to it instead of bacon and cheese on top. It like combining a corn chowder with potato soup. It's perfect on a cold night with some crusty french bread!

I have been holding onto this recipe for over a year and finally got around to making it. It does not disappoint. Very easy and very flavorful. I will definitely make again.

This is THE BEST potato soup and maybe soup ever! I've made it at least 5 times since the recipe came out- it's easy to make (especially if you get all the ingredients weighed out before hand) and it's pretty much full proof! A go to recipe for the weeknight and even for special occasions. And it's DELICIOUS.

Loved this soup!!!

This is a wonderful, quick dinner served on chilly fall evenings or Sunday afternoon sports time. I add a large stalk of celery to the mix. Adds that special 'something' to kick up the taste. Adding a bit of garlic is good, too. Open your spice cabinet and add a pinch of your favorite 'spicey' spice. You'd be surprised what this does. Remember, Potato Soup is going to be on the bland side if you don't give it a little 'kick'. My hubby likes its a bit thinner and my motto " Thicker the Better" !

This is a go-to recipe for me! I have made this many times and all 3 of my boys love it!

Delicious! Per the suggestion of other reviewers, I also added a few cloves of garlic and plenty of salt and pepper. Instead of red potatoes I used yukon golds and I suspect that many types of potato (or cheese) would substitute just fine. I also sauteed some broccoli florets and stems along with some extra olive oil for about 5-7 mins before adding the onion and garlic. I love how chunky the finished product turned out. Smooth pureed soups remind me of baby food but this is grown up and awesome! Also love the microwaving trick for the bacon. It makes clean up a piece of cake and turns out really crunchy. Perfect for holding it's texture in the hot soup.

Very tasty! Just enough sour cream to add flavor!

I, like some of the other reviewers, found this recipe to be extremely bland and added in a TON of extra salt for flavor (was on vacation with limited other options). However, after reading some of the suggestions for improvements, I definitely think it would be worth another try as the basic concept is really simple and easy to make.

I made some modifications: Rather then cook the onion in olive oil and the bacon in the micro, I cooked the bacon in the saucepan then set the bacon aside and kept some of the grease in the pan to cook the onions. Also, I was out of chicken broth so I used beef - excellent choice. Lastly, I left the skins on - too much work.

Quick and crazy easy!!! However I boiled the potatoes and I fried the bacon.... Sautéed the onions in olive oil..... I made sure to add salt during the cooking of the potatoes and after all ingredients were added (usually eyeball it).... However I feel like something was missing though, just can't pin point what... But totally worth making again and "messing" with it.... Perhaps trying the garlic like others have suggested.

This was a good recipe but I had to make some enhancements to it, otherwise it would have been too bland. I sauted the onion in the bacon drippings, plus I added 2 cloves of chopped garlic. It needed more salt and pepper than called for and I added the bacon and cheese to the soup to give it a truly "loaded" flavor. I also tossed in some chopped parsley and the green onions for color. Turned out great! Thick and hearty.

I made this with the following modifications: 1. Boiled five potatoes in salted water 2. In with the half cup of onion, I added a handful of green onions diced and three garlic cloves minced. 3. Instead of simmering in straight olive oil, I added a little pat of butter and olive oil 4. Instead of mixing the flour into the milk, I mixed it straight into the veggies to cook it off a little. 5. I only had skim milk on hand 6. I mixed the cheese (Low-fat sharp cheddar) and bacon into the soup at the end. What I loved: bacon in the microwave- less mess, more crunchy The chunkiness of the soup was really good. Made it feel more hearty.

Very very good. I made some changes: omitted the bacon and shredded cheese, sub'd some gorgonzola; added more salt; left the skins on. Delish!

This soup was outstanding, particularly considering the ease of preparation and it's speediness. Only modifications I made were using beef broth instead of chicken broth (as I realized immediately before dinner that I was out of chicken broth!) and using a hand blender to slightly puree. Turned out delicious, after seasoning to taste.

Very good and quick prep/cook time. Added a bit more pepper to balance out the salty bacon. Next time I will use one of the other reviewers suggestions of using a bit of Chicken Soup Base.

Pretty tasty and very easy. I made a few small modifications based on what I had in the house - skim milk instead of 1%, aged Gouda instead of cheddar, I added a little extra reduced fat sour cream because I was short on milk and used two extra slices of bacon. A good weeknight meal when you're craving something hearty.

This soup was quick to make, which is perfect for weeknights after work. It was very tasty too! Loved it!

My kids loved it! It was such a breeze to make. I used brown potatoes because thats all I had on hand. Only thing I would do differently next time is double the recipe!!

not sure what all the hype is about with this soup. I followed the recipe exactly and found it to be very bland. Definitely will not make again.

It was pretty bland.

I enjoyed this soup. I made it for a crowd after my daughters softball game. Everyone wanted the recipe! I quadrupled it and it made about 4.5 quarts. I baked my potatoes only because I had the time. I added butter (1 stick) and garlic (about 1.5 tsps) with the onion. I made it the night before so the flavors had time to bloom. You can't go wrong with this recipe ... heavy or on the light side! ENJOY!

MY KIDS ASKED FOR SECONDS!! Unfortunately the recipe, as is, doesn't make very much so I will tweak it next time- add more broth and more potato! Very good though.

So good! Used chopped lean low sodium ham instead of bacon

I made this soup for a church function and everyone loved it!! It IS delicious!!!

Delicious, easy rainy night meal. Prep work was so easy. I subbed the bacon drippings for the oil, added a couple cloves of garlic and used my immersion blender to puree the soup. It was a bit too thick at first, but I added a bit more stock. In addition to the called for toppings I added a bit of roasted fennel (just because I'm on a major fennel kick right now) The added flavor was a great addition. Next time I'd like to try it with the skins on, just for a little added nutrition.

Very good. Easy to make. Used Canadian Bacon because I didn't have any other bacon on hand. Didn't miss a beat!

It was fast and easy to make. It was a good recipe. Would I make it again? Yes.

Simple and delicious; my whole family loved it. I used more garlic and onions, and I think a pinch of chicken granules (or chicken base) for a little flavor boost. If not that, then may need more seasoning (salt/pepper).

Not tasty at all.

I made this last night and we thought it was good. I used baking potatoes, skim milk, regular sour cream and 3 or 4 large cloves of garlic minced. As other reviews noted it was quick and appropriate for a midweek meal, but we typically prefer things that pack more of a flavor punch and this was on the bland side. If I decide to make this again I will definatley not omit the garlic, sauting garlic with the onions really helped add some flavor to the dish.

Yummy! I followed some of the other suggestions, adding tsp. of chopped garlic to the onion saute in the bacon drippings rather than the olive oil. The 1 tsp. chicken bouillon base addition to the chicken broth was a must. At the end I stirred an additional 1/4 cup of grated cheese and 3/4 cup frozen corn into the finished soup and heated through. Used all of the garnishes, increasing the bacon. Delicious!

I made this last night and my husband and I both loved it! I stirred a little extra cheddar into the soup at the end and served it with crusty bread and a salad. It was a quick easy recipe for a weeknight meal. Will definatly make this again.

You can't beat a soup that's ready in 20 minutes (and this one really is). I think it does lack a little as far as depth of flavor, but there again, 20 minutes doesn't give it much chance to develop any. We still polished off the pot and will make it again. You can read my full review at Taking On Magazines: http://bit.ly/Y9Bygf

I substituted fat free greek yogurt for the sour cream and was very pleased with the out come. However, the soup still tasted a little bland to me. I added about twice the pepper and a teaspoon of chopped garlic to help. Next time, I'm also going to put the bacon straight into the soup so the whole pot can develop that rich smoky flavor.