Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

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This soup recipe tastes so rich and creamy, you'd never know it's low in calories and fat. Well, relatively low when you compare it to other cream-based soup recipes. We're having soup weather in St. Louis now, so it was time to make a pot of this deliciousness. The recipe calls for 2% milk and light sour cream. If you prefer to use full-fat dairy, go for it!

Bracken and Rachel made this for us when we visited them in Boston, and we loved it. They found the recipe in Cooking Lightand it has become a favorite of theirs. The original recipe uses baked potatoes, but I sometimes substitute some of my leftover slow cooker mashed potatoes. It was a great way to use up leftovers, and it made this soup really fast to make. However, if you want a chunkier soup, the roughly mashed baked potatoes work better.

Update: I recently started making a sour cream substitute out of cottage cheese (tastes like the real thing!) that can be used in this recipe to lower the calories & fat, and boost the protein. You can't tell the difference in taste, although it does add an extra step.

sour cream substitute (using cottage cheese)

Nutritional Information

For a 1-1/2 cup serving without garnishes:

  • using light sour cream: 264 calories, 8.2g fat, 35.3g carbs, 10.7g sugars, 3g fiber, 12.5g protein.Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 7
  • using sour cream substitute (made from cottage cheese): 249 calories, 5.1g fat, 35g carbs, 10.7g sugar, 3g fiber, 15.5g protein; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6 (see my recipe for sour cream substitute link above)
  • If you garnish your bowl of soup with one crumbled slice of crispy bacon, it adds 31 calories, 2.4g fat,.1g carbs, 0g fiber, 2.1g protein; and 1 Weight Watchers PointsPlus

Here's all you need to make this creamy delight.

Ingredients: potatoes (either baked or leftover mashed), flour, 2% milk, low fat sharp cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, low fat sour cream (or sour cream substitute), and green onions.

Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (2)

And you'll need 6 strips of cooked bacon to crumble for a garnish. This is optional, but I sure as heck wouldn't leave it out. An excuse to eat bacon? I'm all over it. I bake bacon in the oven for a tidier, easy method. Here's how.

Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (3)Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (4)

The rest is just so simple. You combine the ingredients in the order described in the recipe below, heat them up, sprinkle on cheese, green onions, and bacon for garnish. Done! Two thumbs up from King-Man and T-Man.

Try serving this with my Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread. A perfect combo.

Make ahead tip:Bake the potatoes the day before. That makes it very quick to throw this soup together the next day. Or, if you're having baked potatoes for a meal, bake some extra potatoes while you're at it. Then you'll be ready to make soup without heating the oven up twice.

This reheats well. That means a quick lunch the next day. Yum!

Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (5)

Here are some possible variations to try:

  • Stir in a favorite fresh herb like dill or thyme.
  • Add 1-2 cups of chopped ham (omit the bacon garnish).
  • Add clams to turn it into a quick clam chowder.

This is one of our favorite soups. I love that it's easy and tastes so rich, but I don't have to feel guilty about eating it! What's your favorite soup when the weather turns cold?

Make it a Yummy day!
Monica

Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup

By Monica Servings: 8 1-1/2 cup servings

Ingredients

  • 4 baking potatoes--approx 2-1/2 lbs; OR 4 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 6 cups 2% milk
  • 1 cup low-fat shredded extrasharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt (if using mashed potatoes that have been seasonal already, reduce amount of salt added)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup low-fat sour cream (or sour cream substitute made from cottage cheese*)
  • 3/4 cup chopped green onions, divided
  • 6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Directions

--If baking the potatoes, pierce them with a fork and bake at 400 degree for approx. 1 hour, until tender. Let them cool enough to peel, then roughly mash them. OR, use leftover mashed potatoes.
--Add flour to large pot or Dutch oven. Slowly whisk milk into the flour--keep stirring until it's blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it starts to thicken (8-10 minutes). Add the mashed potatoes, 3/4 cup cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cheese is completely melted.
--Stir in the sour cream and 1/2 cup green onions.
--Garnish bowls of soup with sprinkles of green onions, shredded cheese, and bacon.
VARIATIONS:
--Stir in a favorite fresh herb like dill or thyme.
--Add 1-2 cups of chopped ham (omit the bacon garnish).
--Add clams to turn it into a quick clam chowder.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION for a 1-1/2 cup serving without garnishes:
--using light sour cream: 264 calories, 8.2g fat, 35.3g carbs, 10.7g sugars, 3g fiber, 12.5g protein. Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 7
--using sour cream substitute (made from cottage cheese): 249 calories, 5.1g fat, 35g carbs, 10.7g sugar, 3g fiber, 15.5g protein; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 6
--If you garnish your bowl of soup with one crumbled slice of crispy bacon, it adds 31 calories, 2.4g fat,.1g carbs, 0g fiber, 2.1g protein; and 1 Weight Watchers PointsPlus

*recipe for sour cream substitute made from cottage cheese at: www.theyummylife.com/Healthy_Sour_Cream_Substitute

Adapted from Cooking Light.

This post was updated 2/22/13.

Baked (or Mashed) Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's better for you mashed or baked potatoes? ›

Obviously, baking is one of the healthiest ways to cook a potato (boiling is fine too), especially if you are going to eat the skins, which are a good source of fiber.

Are mashed potatoes better boiled or baked? ›

Is it better to make mashed potatoes with boiled or baked potatoes? Boiled. Boiled because you want to keep the water already in in them. Baked is too dry (the heat evaporates all the water out — that's why it is so common to add butter or sour cream).

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way.

What is the healthiest substitute for mashed potatoes? ›

Add these sides to your table, and no one will ever miss boring, stodgy ol' potatoes:
  1. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. For a low-carb alternative, cauliflower mashed potatoes are the way to go. ...
  2. Parsnip Puree. ...
  3. Mashed Butternut Squash. ...
  4. Purple Sweet Potato Mash.
Nov 16, 2021

Is it healthier to bake or boil potatoes? ›

Plus, the way you prepare your potatoes may lead to micronutrient losses. For example, potatoes pack a significant amount of vitamin C. However, baked or microwaved potatoes have about twice the amount as boiled or fried potatoes ( 1 ).

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

What do professional chefs use to mash potatoes? ›

The secret weapon, a good potato ricer (affiliate). This pushes the potatoes into strings, which helps them soak up every bit of the cream and achieve maximum fluffliness.

Why add butter before milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Overworking the potatoes will cause them to get gummy, potatoes should still be light and fluffy. 6. Add the butter first. Adding the butter first helps to coat the starch in the potato, resulting in a creamier potato.

Does sour cream make potato soup thicker? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

What potato is best for soup? ›

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

Why does my potato soup taste bland? ›

If you find that your potato soup is lacking in taste, the easiest solution may be just to let it continue cooking. In the best soup recipes, you'll discover that there are always stages of cooking that allow the flavors to develop.

Will cream cheese thicken soup? ›

Cream cheese is an excellent addition to soups that you want to be exceedingly thick (thicker than what a glug of heavy cream or half-and-half will get you). Just be careful to add it in the proper way with a good whirl in the blender.

Can I use heavy whipping cream to thicken potato soup? ›

Mix cold water and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Stir 1/2 of the cornstarch mixture, heavy cream, and evaporated milk into the soup and cook for 1 more hour until thickened, adding more of the cornstarch mixture if desired for consistency. Top with chives before serving.

What is the trick to thicken mashed potatoes? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

What's healthier, mashed or roasted potatoes? ›

Oven taters triumph!

Oven fries are lower in saturated fat and sodium, which should be minimised with heart health in mind. Mashed potato can send your intake of saturated fat soaring, but you can make better-for-you mash by skipping the butter or using good-for-you extra virgin olive oil instead.

Are mashed potatoes healthy or unhealthy? ›

With popular diets like Ketogenic, carbs and starchy foods like potatoes have been deemed unhealthy. However, just like most food groups, mashed potatoes can be healthy if eaten in moderation, and depending on how they are cooked.

Are baked potatoes good for a diet? ›

Baked potatoes are very nutritious. They contain fiber and vitamins and minerals including potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate. How will potatoes impact weight loss goals? Potatoes will not impact your weight loss goal negatively unless you eat them in access of your calorie limit needed to lose weight.

Are baked potatoes good for your stomach? ›

Like soluble fiber, the resistant starch in potatoes acts as a prebiotic, compounds that are helpful to the bacteria in your gut. Like insoluble fiber, it can prevent or treat constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

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