Soup
$0.71per plate
Prep
10 min
Soup · Potato Soup
Creamy Potato Soup
A five-pound bag of potatoes buys a lot of dinners, and few are as comforting as a pot of creamy potato soup. The potatoes simmer until tender, then get partly mashed right in the pot so the soup thickens itself, no cream required. Finished with cheese and a scatter of bacon, it eats like a loaded baked potato in a bowl. 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.
$0.73per plate
Estimated recipe total
$4.40 · serves 6
Cook
30 min
Total
40 min
Serves
6
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.
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.
How do you figure the cost per bowl?
The estimated $4.40 total divided across 6 bowls is about $0.73 each. Potatoes are the cheap backbone, so your price barely moves with the season.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
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- 7-quart slow cooker. A large slow cooker batch-cooks cheap cuts, beans, and soups hands-off, so leftovers stretch across the week. Best for pot roast, chili, bean soups, and set-it-and-forget-it dinners.
- 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.
- Measuring cups and spoons set. A basic set of measuring cups and spoons keeps amounts consistent, which keeps budget recipes reliable. Best for rice, liquids, and any recipe where the ratio matters.
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