Easy Potato Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry | Healthy Soup Recipes (2024)

ByTiffany McCauley

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This easy potato soup recipe is delicious for a chilly evening at home.

I have to thank my Mom for this delicious bowl of soup! You see, Mom and I were a lot alike. We both loved to cook (and bake) and we both tended to cook our meals without using a recipe. I believe they call it, “instinctual cooking”. A pinch of this, a dash of that, and before you know it, you’ve got a bowl of something truly yummy to eat!

Easy Potato Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry | Healthy Soup Recipes (1)

Mom has been gone now for a few years, but her style of instinctual cooking has stayed with me. This is how I cook every day. I keep adding things until I get a tasty result. Then I simply write down what I’ve done and pass it on to you! It might not be the most scientific method, but so far, it seems to be working out okay.

I remember the day she put this pot of potato soup under my nose. She just quietly set it down in front of me at the table without saying a word. I scarfed down a whole bowl, and really had to fight myself to avoid having a second helping.

Mom’s version was slightly different then this one. How could it not be? She never measured much of anything. But I got as close as I could to what she did and I have to say it turned out pretty much exactly like what she made.

HOW TO MAKE POTATO SOUP

Making potato soup is pretty easy stuff. There are two approaches you can take. This recipe uses the second method.

Cook the potatoes first.

In one method, the main thing is to get your potatoes cooked well. It doesn’t really matter how you get them cooked. You can cook them in an instant pot, bake them in the oven or boil them on the stove. Anything that gets the job done in a manner that easiest for you. Once you have that done, it’s just a matter of mashing them up while they are still hot and stirring in other ingredients. In fact, you can make it super easy by using a potato masher. I would avoid using a stick blender because the potatoes seem to get really fibrous and it makes your soup much thicker than you’d like. If you do choose to use a stick blender, just be aware you’ll need extra liquid and seasonings to adjust the recipe.

Cut the potatoes first.

In the case of this soup, I chose to cut the potatoes into small pieces first which makes them cook much faster. With this second method, you can cook other ingredients along with potatoes and “get two birds with one stone”, as they say. This also allows the flavors to meld more during cooking.

MORE HEALTHY SOUP RECIPES

  • Clean Eating Chicken And Rice Soup (Can also be Chicken Noodle!)
  • Clean Eating Minestrone

Enjoy!

EASY POTATO SOUP RECIPE:

Easy Potato Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry | Healthy Soup Recipes (3)

Easy Potato Soup

A delicious, tummy-warming soup for a chilly evening.

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 221kcal

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Ingredients

  • 8 medium russet potatoes (cut into small pieces)
  • 2 medium leeks (cleaned and chopped)
  • 8 cups chicken broth (low sodium is best)
  • 1 cube vegetable bouillon (Optional - I used the Rapunzel brand)
  • 2 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. herbs de provence (found in the spice aisle)
  • 1 tsp. dried marjoram
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Saute' the leeks in the olive oil until they become very soft and a little translucent.

  • In a large soup pot, combine the cooked leeks, chopped potatoes, chicken broth, bouillon cube, onion powder, garlic powder, herbs de provence and marjoram.

  • Bring to a rolling boil and reduce heat to medium. Stir frequently.

  • Cook until the potatoes are completely soft and mushy. (As if you were making mashed potatoes)

  • Remove the pot from heat.

  • Blend the entire thing until smooth, using a hand blender (this is the cleanest and easiest method), or by transferring everything from the pot to a blender.

  • NOTE: This is a thick soup. If you want a thinner soup, simply add more chicken stock.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 960mg | Potassium: 1154mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 30.4mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 4.6mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 2/24/11.

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Easy Potato Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry | Healthy Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why does my potato soup have no flavor? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How do I make potato soup thicker? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way. Add cornstarch to a small amount of cold water or other liquid (wine or stock) and whisk into a thick slurry. Then the slurry can be stirred into a simmering soup, a bit at a time to set the final consistency.

Will whipping cream thicken potato soup? ›

Adding dairy products such as heavy cream or milk to your potato soup can not only enhance the flavor but also contribute to a lusciously thick consistency. The natural creaminess of dairy products gives your soup a velvety texture that will make it irresistibly indulgent.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

How to make can potato soup taste better? ›

A pinch of seasoning can make all the difference to freshen up the flavors in a ho-hum soup. Most canned soups have plenty of sodium, so skip the salt and stick with spices like cumin or curry powder or try dried herbs like basil or rosemary.

What can I add to bland potato soup? ›

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

What can I add to canned potato soup to make it taste better? ›

How To Make Canned Soup Taste Like Homemade
  1. Sauté some onions and/or garlic: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
  2. Add protein: Leftover chicken or steak, some cooked diced ham or bacon or sausage (just a little — that soup is already salty). ...
  3. More vegetables: This is a great place for leftover cooked veggies.
Apr 25, 2023

Can you use instant potatoes to thicken potato soup? ›

Yes. Incredibly effective? You bet. This trick works because the instant mashed potatoes are naturally starchy and therefore are similar in form to other commonly used thickeners, such as cornstarch, only without the clumps.

What does whipping cream do to soup? ›

Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

What do I do if my potato soup is too thin? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

Will cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup. Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

What are three qualities of a good soup? ›

A soup's quality is determined by its flavor, appearance and texture. A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

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