Simple Old Fashioned Potato Soup
Old fashioned potato soup is a simple recipe that adds comfort in the winter months. This recipe is a creamy, hearty soup that has endless options for toppings that your entire family will love.
This is a pantry friendly recipe that you can whip up on a cold day to make the ultimate comfort food.
Not only is this recipe a great vessel for toppings, you can also make this soup alongside a fresh loaf of homemade sourdough bread and a beautiful green salad with homemade Italian croutons to really round out the meal.
This easy potato soup recipe is the best way to use up the remaining potatoes you have on hand before they go bad.
If you’re looking for other cozy soup recipes, be sure to check out my Stovetop Beef Stew and Cheeseburger soup!
What is Potato Soup?
Old fashioned potato soup is a creamy, easy potato soup recipe that combines hearty russet potatoes, creamy whole milk with delicious herbs and vegetables that gives this recipe a simple but delicious soup to satisfy you in those cold winter months.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This recipe is a classic and easy recipe that your entire family will love . With simple ingredients you already have in your pantry, this is a great recipe to use when you don’t have time to go to the grocery store.
- Having a simple soup recipe like this one, will make meal planning easy. This dish can be served with so many different sides that you will never tire of this meal.
- Even picky eaters will love the flavors of this delicious dish.
- With simple instructions and minimal steps this is a quick and easy meal to serve to your family when you don’t have a lot of time but want a comforting creamy soup.
- This is one of my favorite soup recipes because it can be adapted to fit our needs. Use whatever potatoes you have on hand- yukon gold potatoes, red potatoes, or any diced potatoes available!
Tell me about Old Fashioned Potato Soup
- Taste– This recipe has all the traditional ingredients you would find in a potato soup. The potatoes and milk really are the star of the show for this meal, adding a flavor that reminds you of the soup your grandmother used to make. Put a dollop of sour cream on top to add that subtle acidic flavor you need to cut through the rich, creamy soup.
- Texture– With the tender potatoes, creamy whole milk, cooked celery and onions you have the base that makes a creamy filling soup that is so warm and silky you will want to make this recipe over and over again.
- Ease– With simple ingredients found in your pantry and minimal preparation, this meal comes together quickly on any night of the week. Toss it in a large pot and supper is ready!
- Time– This old-fashioned potato soup recipe comes together in about 30-40 minutes. Prepping the ingredients can be done ahead of time to make this even quicker when you are running short on time.
Ingredients for Old Fashioned Potato Soup Recipe
- Potatoes – This recipe uses russet potatoes, but you can use any potatoes you have on hand.
- Celery – Make sure you chop the celery into small bite sized pieces so that the cook evenly and at the same time as the rest of the ingredients.
- Onion – Use whatever onion you have on hand to create a sweet flavor that balances out the richness of the potatoes.
- Chicken Bouillon Granules – If you do not have chicken bouillon granules you can substitute with bouillon cubes, poultry seasoning or even some chicken broth.
- Butter – Adding butter to this recipe really adds a smooth silky texture to this soup that really makes this soup incredibly creamy.
- Flour – Using flour in this recipe makes the soup thicken to a perfect creamy consistency.
- Whole Milk – This recipe calls for whole milk however you can use coconut milk if you are dairy free, or any milk you have on hand. Heavy cream would add a richness to this broth. You may want to adjust the amount of flour you use in case your soup is a bit thinner than you like.
Make Old Fashioned Potato Soup in 3 Easy Steps
- Prep and prepare all ingredients.
- Add ingredients to a stock pot or dutch oven and sauté.
- Create a rue to thicken the soup and cook until potatoes and vegetables are cooked through. Enjoy!
Suggestions for Add Ins for Potato Soup
This creamy potato soup is the perfect vessel to add any additional ingredients you like to suit your family’s tastes.
This homemade soup would be great if you added some shredded cheddar cheese, bacon pieces and green onions to the top to give the soup a baked potato flavor.
You could add diced ham, crunchy croutons, or your favorite cheese on top.
This recipe could even be made with some cooked hamburger meat or some sliced sausage stirred in to add some extra protein to this meal.
This soup would be great served alongside a grilled cheese sandwich, nice green salad, crisp green beans, roasted broccoli or any other vegetables you have on hand.
Tips for Making the Best Old Fashioned Potato Soup
- This recipe is so simple that even the most timid home cook can tackle this recipe. Having only a handful of ingredients makes this a great meal to try during the cold winter months.
- Make sure that you chop all of the ingredients to roughly the same size so that everything cooks for the same amount of time.
- Prep the ingredients ahead of time to make this soup even quicker. You can even make this soup in a slow cooker for the days when you need something ready now.
- You can use an immersion blender to make the soup even more smooth and creamy.
How do you store leftover Potato Soup?
This classic potato soup recipe can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
It can also be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Follow the recipe and make sure the soup cools completely before you transfer to a freezer safe container or ziploc bag.
The best option to reheat this homemade potato soup recipe is to warm it on the stove on medium-high heat or medium-low heat, depending upon your particular stove.
How to reheat leftover Old Fashioned Potato Soup
- Stovetop– Put leftover soup in a large soup pot over medium-low heat until warmed through, stirring frequently.
- Microwave– Put leftover soup in a microwave safe dish and cover with a microwave safe lid. Cook in 30 second intervals until the soup is warmed all the way through.
- Oven– Cover with aluminum foil and heat until warmed through for approximately 20 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. This is a great make ahead meal for those busy weeknights. You can also cook the soup ahead of time and put it into the freezer. Just thaw the soup and heat on the stovetop until warmed through for approximately 20 minutes.
If you have soup that is too thin you can add more flour to make a thicker rue. Once the soup is fully cooked you can use an immersion blender to make the soup less chunky and to add a thickness to the soup. If you are making this soup after the soup has been frozen you can add some chicken broth to thin out the soup as well.
It is important to peel the potatoes for this recipe as the skin will add a mealy texture to the soup and take away from the smooth creamy texture of the soup.
Make sure you taste the soup as you are cooking to make sure that the flavor is well rounded and suits your taste. If you find that the seasonings in this recipe are not to your liking you can always add more, create your own flavor profile with spices that you and your family love. The toppings and add-ins you use for this soup will also create another layer of delicious flavor to this soup.
Old Fashioned Potato Soup Recipe
Old Fashioned Potato Soup Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large stock pot
Ingredients
- 3½ cups peeled, diced potatoes
- ⅓ cup diced celery
- ⅓ cup finely diced onion
- 3¼ cups water
- 2 tablespoons chicken boullion granules
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black ground pepper
- 5 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, combine the potatoes, celery, onion, and water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and cook over medium until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
- Make a roux in a small saucepan by melting the butter. Add in the flour and whisk until the butter and flour are combined. Slowly whisk in the milk and whisk until the roux begins to thicken.
- Add the roux to the stock pot and stir to combine. Heat the soup and serve.
Notes
- Make sure that you chop all of the ingredients to roughly the same size so that everything cooks for the same amount of time.
- Prep the ingredients ahead of time to make this soup even quicker. You can even make this soup in a slow cooker for the days when you need something ready now.
- You can use an immersion blender to make the soup even more smooth and creamy.
