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    Home » Recipes » Chunky Dairy Free Potato Bacon Soup

    Chunky Dairy Free Potato Bacon Soup

    January 7, 2023 by Melinda

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for an amazing chunky potato bacon soup recipe that is thick, hearty, and tasty? This is the ultimate comfort food. Have it traditional, loaded, or put a unique spin on it with the addition of nontraditional toppings (see below for ideas).

    I probably should have called this recipe Double Bacon Potato Soup as it has a bacon infused soup base AND a crunchy bacon bit topping.

    a bowl of thick, creamy, chunky potato bacon soup with bacon, shredded cheese, green onions, and bacon.

    So what makes this potato soup different from the others? The texture. Thick and creamy with hearty chunks of potatoes. Perfect!

    Jump to:
    • Tips for success
    • Dairy free version
    • Traditional toppings
    • Unique toppings
    • The Steps
    • Chunky Dairy Free Potato Bacon Soup

    There are many different ways to thicken potato soup, but I developed a unique method (at least I haven’t seen it before) using… mashed potatoes.

    Traditionally, flour is added to the soup base for a thicker consistency. This recipe does use flour as a thickener but it also uses mashed potatoes to get a thicker, creamier soup. Once the potatoes are cooked, add half of the potatoes and half of the chicken broth to a large food processor and pulse until creamy mashed potatoes are formed. These mashed potatoes are then added to the rest of the soup creating the ultimate comfort food.

    Tips for success

    1. Cook your potatoes separately in water before adding it to your soup base.
    2. Make mashed potatoes to add as a thickening agent.
    3. Salt, salt, and more salt.
    4. Puree those onions for loads of flavor, but still maintain a creamy texture.
    5. Don’t forget to make it creamy. Add milk or cashew milk for a creamy consistency
    6. . Oh, and don’t forget the bacon!

    Dairy free version

    This recipe can be dairy free by using cashew milk instead of regular milk. I have made it with both cow’s milk and with cashew milk. I was pleasantly surprised to find the two recipes were virtually identical with the same texture, thickness, and flavor. The picture below has two bowls of potato soup, one regular and one dairy free. Can you tell which one is the dairy free version?

    the lower left soup bowl is a regular potato soup while the bowl in the upper right corner is a dairy free potato soup.  This picture shows that the two are identical in appearance and texture.

    The bowl in the top right is the dairy free version. I’m telling you, it’s AMAZING!

    Traditional toppings

    You can add whatever toppings you want to potato soup as it works very well as a base to many different flavor profiles. Here are the traditional toppings which is often referred to as Loaded Potato Soup.

    • cheese (cheddar is my favorite)
    • sour cream
    • bacon
    • green onions

    Unique toppings

    Potato soup is the perfect base for a variety of flavors. Want to take your soup to the next level? Try adding any of the following toppings for a unique twist:

    BBQ Pulled Pork Potato Bacon Soup

    Plan your weeknight dinners carefully and you can use that left over crock pot bbq pulled pork as a yummy topping.

    Beef and Cheddar

    Add in a few cups of shredded cheddar cheese to the soup base and then top with shredded beef brisket and additional cheddar cheese.

    Philly Cheesesteak

    Take your favorite Philly cheesesteak recipe and dump that steak (or chicken), peppers, and onions right on top.

    Broccoli and Cheddar

    This is the perfect way to sneak a few extra veggies in. Add some precooked broccoli and 2 cups of cheese into the soup base about 5 minutes before serving.

    Pot Roast

    What goes well with pot roast? Mashed potatoes! This thick potato soup base is perfect for your favorite beef and gravy recipe.

    The Steps

    Prepare your potatoes

    Peel and dice the potatoes then add to a large stockpot. Fill the pot with water until the potatoes are covered and bring to a boil. Boil the potatoes until they are tender and you can easily stick a fork into the potato. While the potatoes boil, you can save time and complete the following 4 steps.

    Make the bacon

    While the potatoes are boiling, chop the bacon into bite sized pieces and add to a frying pan. Fry the bacon until crispy, stirring occasionally. Save ¼ cup of the bacon grease (careful as it will be very HOT). Set the bacon aside to cool on a paper towel.

    bacon grease being poured into a measuring cup

    Prepare the onions

    While the bacon cooks, dice one large onion and add to a fry pan with olive oil. Cook over medium heat until lightly browned and tender. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes.

    sauteed onions and garlic in a fry pain

    Puree the onions

    Add the onion mixture above to a small food processor and puree until a smooth paste is formed (careful as the onions will be HOT). If you have difficulty with the onions sticking to the sides of the food processor, just add a little more olive oil.

    Add the flour to thicken

    Return the onion puree to the pan and add the flour. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and cook until thick and bubbly, stirring slowly. Then slowly add in about ½ of the chicken broth and stir well. Bring to a simmer.

    Make the mashed potatoes

    While the soup base is simmering, drain the potatoes and add about ½ of the cooked potatoes to a large food processor or blender. Add the rest of the chicken broth and pulse until mashed potatoes are formed.

    mashed potatoes in a food processor that is used to thicken potato bacon soup

    Add the mashed potatoes to the soup base and stir well.

    mashed potatoes added to potato soup base to create perfectly thick potato bacon soup

    Finishing Touches

    Add the soup base to the remaining potatoes in the large stock pot and place over medium heat. Cook for an additional 5 minutes and then serve with your favorite toppings.

    Looking for additional hearty and comforting food? Try this Crockpot Ranch White Chicken Chili.

    A bowl of thick and chunky bacon potato soup with topping of bacon, cheese, green onions, and sour cream. Crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions surrounding the bowl of soup.

    Chunky Dairy Free Potato Bacon Soup

    Melinda | Missouri Girl
    This chunky potato bacon soup has a thick and chunky potato soup base loaded with bacon flavor that can be made dairy-free with cashew milk.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6

    Equipment

    • large food processor or blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 lbs potatoes (I measured 3 lbs after peeling), diced
    • 7 slices thick cut apple smoked bacon (¼ cup bacon grease reserved)
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large onion diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 5 tablespoon all purpose flour
    • 4 cups whole milk or cashew milk if dairy free
    • 1 quart chicken bone broth
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    optional toppings:

    • crumbled bacon
    • shredded cheddar cheese dairy free if desired
    • sour cream
    • green onions

    Instructions
     

    • Peel and dice the potatoes until you have 3 lbs and add to a large stock pot.
    • Cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
    • Boil the potatoes until tender and easily pierced with a fork.
    • While the potatoes are boiling, make the bacon.
    • Heat a large fry pan over medium heat.
    • Chopped the uncooked bacon into small pieces and add to pan.
    • Fry the bacon, stirring occasionally until crisp.
    • Reserve ¼ cup bacon grease and then set the bacon crumbled on a paper towel.
    • Add the olive oil to the ¼ cup bacon grease.
    • Add the diced onions and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until translucent and soft.
    • Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning the garlic.
    • Pour the onions, garlic, and liquid into a food processor or blender and puree (be careful as the onions will be very hot).
    • Add the onion puree back to the pan and add 5 tablespoon flour. Stir until a paste is formed.
    • Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
    • Slowly add the milk (or cashew milk if dairy free), stirring constantly.
    • Bring to a simmer until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
    • Add HALF of the chicken bone broth, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
    • Drain the potatoes and then add HALF of the potatoes and the remaining chicken bone broth to a large food processor (if it doesn't all fit just add what you can and add the rest to the soup base).
    • Puree the potatoes and chicken bone broth until mashed potatoes are formed.
    • Add the mashed potatoes to the soup base and stir well.
    • Pour the soup into the large stock pot with the remaining potatoes.
    • Simmer for 5 minutes then serve with desired toppings.
    Keyword chunky potato bacon soup, dairy free potato soup, potato bacon soup, thick and creamy potato soup
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy says

      March 22, 2021 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I love potato soup! Your photos are beautiful. Soups like this are always so comforting!

      Reply
    2. Inga says

      March 22, 2021 at 11:35 am

      This soup looks absolutely amazing! I love potato soups 🙂

      Reply
    3. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      March 22, 2021 at 7:44 pm

      5 stars
      Potato Bacon soup is absolutely one of my most favourite soups every! Yours looks so creamy and I love the caramelized onions!!

      Reply

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    Melinda at countertop of MissouriGirl.com I’m Melinda. I’m a wife, mother, physical therapist, runner, and a born and bred Missouri Girl. I love creating a cozy home on a budget and created Missouri Girl Home to bring inspiring, beautiful, and budget-friendly ideas to your home. Read more about Mel.

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