Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 7-8 baking potatoes peeled, cut into ½-inch cubes
  
• 2 medium onions chopped
  
• 3 cloves garlic minced
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
  
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 6 cups chicken broth
  
• 2 cups half and half
  
• salt and ground pepper to taste
  
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 1 pound bacon cooked crispy, crumbled
  
• shredded cheese, variety of your choice
  
• full-fat sour cream
  
• green onion thinly sliced
  
  

Instructions

Dutch oven:

• Brown the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium to high heat. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon. Set on a few paper towels to drain the fat.
  
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon or so of the bacon fat. Saute the onions and garlic in the fat, just until translucent. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the butter and let melt. Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until it's lightly browned. Stir with a wooden spoon so it does not stick to the pan.
  
• Add the chicken stock and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer the potatoes for 20-30 minutes, or until tender. Mash with a potato masher. Season with salt and ground pepper to taste.
  
• Gently stir in the half and half, a little at a time. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, and ground mustard. Add more ground pepper if necessary. Stir with a spoon occasionally. Let simmer over medium to low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the soup is thickened slightly.
  
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream, green onion, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon.
  

Slow cooker:

• Place the baking potatoes, chicken broth, onion, garlic, butter, salt, ground pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until the potatoes are tender.
  
• Mash the potatoes. Sprinkle with the flour and half and half. Stir everything together with a spoon. Continue to cook another 1-2 hours, or until the soup has thickened slightly.
  
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream, green onion, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon.
  

Nutrition