Soup
$0.71per plate
Prep
10 min
Soup · Potato Soup
Creamy Potato Soup
This homemade potato soup recipe turns a cheap bag of potatoes into a thick, creamy pot of comfort food. The potatoes simmer until tender, then get partly mashed right in the pot so the soup thickens itself, no heavy cream required. Finished with cheese and a scatter of bacon, it eats like a loaded baked potato in a bowl, and six servings come to well under a dollar each. It is warming, filling, and made almost entirely from things that keep for weeks in the pantry. Browse the rest of our soup recipes, all priced per serving.
The easiest way to make potato soup is to simmer diced potatoes and onion in broth until soft, whisk in a quick butter-and-flour roux with a splash of milk to thicken, then mash some of the potatoes right in the pot for body. Stir in the cheese off the heat so it stays smooth, top with bacon, and you have a creamy soup without a drop of heavy cream.
$0.75per plate
Estimated recipe total
$4.51 · serves 6
Cook
30 min
Total
40 min
Serves
6
Recipe from Budget Plates · https://www.budgetplates.com/potato-soup-recipes
Equipment
- Large pot
Variations
- Leave out the bacon for a meatless, cheaper pot; a little smoked paprika adds a similar savory note.
- Stir in a diced carrot or a handful of corn for color and to stretch the pot.
- Cook the potatoes, onion, and broth on low in a slow cooker for 6 hours, then stir in the milk, cheese, and thickener at the end.
- Add a cup of diced ham or browned sausage for a heartier, meatier meal.
1 How to make it
1
Simmer the potatoes
Cook the onion in the butter until soft, then add the potatoes, garlic, and broth and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
2
Thicken with a roux
Whisk the flour into the milk and stir it into the pot. Cooking it a few minutes thickens the soup into something creamy without any heavy cream.
3
Mash for body
Mash some of the potatoes right in the pot, or blend a couple of ladlefuls and stir them back in. This is what makes the soup thick and creamy while leaving some chunks for texture.
4
Finish with cheese
Off the heat, stir in the cheese until melted and season well. Serve topped with bacon and chives, like a baked potato in a bowl.
2 Cheaper ingredient swaps
- Leave out the bacon. Skip it for a meatless, cheaper pot; a little smoked paprika adds a similar savory note.
- Add other vegetables. A diced carrot or a handful of corn stirred in adds color and stretches the pot.
- Make it in the slow cooker. Cook the potatoes, onion, and broth on low for 6 hours, then stir in the milk, cheese, and thickener at the end.
- Ham or sausage. A cup of diced ham or browned sausage turns it into a heartier, meatier meal.
3 Budget tips
- Potatoes are one of the cheapest foods you can buy by the bag, and two pounds make a full pot of soup.
- Mashing some of the potatoes thickens the soup for free, so there is no need for cream or a store-bought thickener.
- Use the last of a cheese block and a few slices of bacon; a little of each flavors the whole pot.
- Skip the bacon for an even cheaper meatless bowl without losing the comfort.
- See more recipes priced per serving in the Budget Plates Index.
4 Storage, freezing & reheating
Fridge
Potato soup keeps for 4 days in a sealed container; it thickens in the fridge, so plan to loosen it when you reheat.
Freezer
Dairy-based soups can turn grainy when frozen, so this is best fresh. If you must freeze it, do so before adding the milk and cheese, then finish it after thawing.
Reheating
Warm it gently over low heat, stirring, and thin with a splash of milk or broth. Avoid a hard boil, which can cause the dairy to separate.
5 Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
260
Protein
9g
Fat
12g
Carbs
30g
Per-serving figures are estimated from standard ingredient data and are not medical or dietary advice.
6 Frequently asked questions
How do I thicken potato soup without cream?
Mash some of the cooked potatoes right in the pot to release their starch, and stir in a little flour whisked into the milk. Between the two, the soup turns thick and creamy with no heavy cream needed.
Can I freeze potato soup?
Dairy-based soups can go grainy after freezing. For the best result, freeze the soup before you add the milk and cheese, then thaw and stir those in when you reheat. Otherwise, it keeps several days in the fridge.
Should I peel the potatoes?
It is up to you. Peeled potatoes give a smoother, more classic soup; leaving the skins on saves time and adds a little texture and fiber. Scrub them well either way.
What are the best potatoes for potato soup?
Starchy russets break down as they cook and thicken the soup naturally, giving the creamiest result. Yukon Golds hold their shape a bit more and add a buttery flavor. Either works, so use whatever is cheapest; a mix of the two is great too.
Can I make potato soup in a slow cooker?
Yes. Add the potatoes, onion, broth, and seasoning and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, until the potatoes are tender. Mash some of them for body, then stir in the milk, the butter-flour thickener, and the cheese in the last 20 minutes so the dairy stays smooth.
How do you figure the cost per bowl?
The estimated $4.51 total divided across 6 bowls is about $0.75 each. Potatoes are the cheap backbone, so your price barely moves with the season.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
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- 12-inch nonstick skillet. A wide nonstick skillet browns ground meat, fries rice, and builds a one-pan sauce with less oil and easier cleanup. Best for everyday stovetop dinners like skillet meals, fried rice, pasta sauces, and patties.
- Cast iron skillet. Cast iron holds heat for a deep sear and moves from stovetop to oven, and it lasts for decades with basic care. Best for searing chops and chicken, and recipes that start on the stove and finish in the oven.
- Chef's knife. One sharp chef's knife handles almost all the chopping, from onions to chicken, and replaces a drawer of gadgets. Best for all-purpose prep in essentially every recipe on the site.
- Cutting board. A large, stable cutting board makes prep faster and safer, which matters when you cook most nights. Best for everyday chopping of onion, garlic, and vegetables across nearly every recipe.
This one is also part of our Easy Family Dinner Recipes collection, our potato recipes collection, and our recipes under $1 per serving collection.
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