Instant Pot Bacon Potato Soup
Delight in the simplicity of Instant Pot Bacon Potato Soup. This easy recipe combines the savory goodness of crispy bacon with tender potatoes in a creamy base, creating a comforting and flavorful soup. Let your Instant Pot do the cooking and enjoy the rich and hearty taste of bacon and potatoes with every spoonful!
Contents
Why You’ll Love Bacon And Potato Soup
- Comfort Food Fast: Get the cozy warmth of potato soup in record time.
- Creamy and Satisfying: This soup offers a rich, hearty taste that fills you up.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with everyday kitchen staples, no fancy ingredients are required.
If you love Potato Bacon Soup then be sure to check out our Instant Pot Split Pea Soup and Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter or Cooking Spray: Used for sautéing, it helps bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Large Onion: Adds a sweet, slightly sharp flavor that forms part of the soup’s base.
- Garlic: Provides a warm, savory depth of flavor.
- Potatoes: The main ingredient, providing a starchy, filling base for the soup and contributing to its creamy texture.
- Dried Thyme: Infuses the soup with a subtle, earthy, slightly minty flavor.
- Ground Nutmeg: Adds a hint of warm, sweet spice.
- Chicken Broth: Provides a savory richness and forms the liquid base of the soup.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of the soup.
- Milk: Adds creaminess to the soup, enhancing its texture and flavor.
- Cornstarch: A thickener that helps achieve the soup’s desired consistency.
- Sour Cream: Enhances the flavor and creaminess of the soup.
- Shredded Cheddar: Optional garnish that adds a rich, cheesy flavor.
- Cooked Bacon: Optional garnish that provides a smoky, savory crunch.
- Green Onions: Optional garnish that adds a fresh, mildly spicy flavor and color to the soup.
How To Make Instant Pot Potato And Bacon Soup?
Step One: Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Once hot add in your butter. Add your onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until it begins to soften. Once your onion has softened, add garlic. Sauté for one minute to release the flavors of the garlic. Press cancel on your Instant Pot.
Step Two: Add the potatoes, thyme, nutmeg, broth, salt and pepper. Press cancel on your Instant Pot, then sauté mode. Close and seal the lid on your Instant Pot. Close the valve. Select pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Once the time is done cooking, naturally release 45 minutes, then do a manual release by opening the valve
Step Three: In a separate bowl mix together your milk and corn starch. Once completely mixed together, add to your instant pot. Carefully stir the corn starch mixture making sure not to Mash Any Potatoes to keep it chunky. Allow it to sauté for about three minutes to thicken up.
Step Four: Mix your sour cream. Once fully incorporated, press cancel on your Instant Pot. Serve your potato soup with fun toppings such as chopped bacon, cheese, and green onions! Enjoy!
Cooking Tips For Nailing This Recipe
- Select the Right Potatoes: Choose Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes for your soup. They have a creamy texture that works well in this dish.
- Don’t Overfill Your Instant Pot: Ensure you don’t fill the Instant Pot beyond two-thirds of its capacity to allow for proper pressure buildup and even cooking.
- Use Quality Stock: Opt for high-quality chicken or vegetable broth to enhance the flavor of your soup. If using store-bought stock, choose low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels.
- Add Bacon Last: To maintain the crunchiness of the bacon, add it as a topping after the soup is cooked.
Potato Bacon Soup Variations
- Bacon and Cheddar Potato Soup: A cheesy potato soup featuring potatoes, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot.
- Add Leek: A creamy soup that combines the comforting flavors of potatoes, bacon, and leek, made easily in the Instant Pot. Check out our Instant Pot Leek and Potato Soup here!
- Add Spice: This version adds a kick with some jalapenos or hot sauce, perfect for those who like a touch of heat in their soup.
- Add Sweet Potato: A sweet twist on the classic, this soup uses sweet potatoes and is garnished with crispy bacon and green onions.
- Make Loaded Baked Bacon Potato Soup: A classic variation that captures everything you love about baked potatoes in soup form with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions.
How To Keep Leftover Soup Fresh
- Cool Down: Allow your bacon and potato soup to cool down to room temperature before placing in airtight containers.
- Refrigerator Storage: If you plan on consuming the leftover bacon potato soup within the next 3-4 days, store it in the refrigerator.
- Freezer Storage: For longer-term storage, freeze the soup. Remember to leave about an inch of space at the top of each container to account for the soup expanding as it freezes.
- Thaw and Reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover bacon potato soup, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it’s hot throughout.
What to Serve With Bacon Potato Soup?
- Grilled Steak Skewers: Marinated and grilled to perfection, these skewers add a smoky protein element to your meal.
- Homemade Dinner Rolls: These fluffy, warm rolls are a comforting accompaniment to the rich bacon potato soup.
- Avocado Caprese Salad: This refreshing salad with ripe avocados and fresh mozzarella offers a light contrast to the hearty soup.
- Crisp Caesar Salad: A classic Caesar salad brings a tangy, crisp counterpoint to the creamy soup.
- Garlic Bread: Perfect for dipping, garlic bread adds a savory crunch to your bacon potato soup meal.
FAQ’S
What Type of Potatoes Are Best for Soup?
The best potatoes for this soup are those that will fall apart easily when cooked. This includes Russet, White, and Red Potatoes. You can also use sweet potatoes as well if you fancy.
Can You Peel and Cut Potatoes Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can peel and cut your potatoes ahead of time, however it is best not to cut up the potatoes until right before you plan on adding them. Either way be sure to keep them fully submerged in water to prevent browning.
How To Thicken The Soup?
This recipe has cornstarch and should not come out too thin, however if you find your soup too thin then you can add in another spoon of cornstarch just to thicken the potato soup up a little more to your liking.
Can I Cook This Potato Soup in the Slow Cooker?
Yes you sure can. Simply add the ingredients you would pressure cook into the slow cooker instead and switch on for 6 hours. You can then add the starch, milk and sour cream at the end!
Can I Use A Potato Masher To Make My Soup Creamy?
Yes, using a potato masher can help break down the potatoes and give your soup a creamier texture. This is especially helpful if you like your soup with a thicker consistency.
How Can I Give My Instant Pot Bacon Potato Soup A Creamy Potato Soup Flavor?
You can achieve a creamy potato soup flavor by using Yukon Gold potatoes and blending some of the cooked potatoes before adding them back into the soup. You can also add traditional loaded baked potato toppings like cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onions to your soup after it’s cooked for an extra layer of flavor.
Instant Pot Bacon Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter or cooking spray
- 1/2 large onion chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 lbs. potatoes peeled and diced (into about 1/2-inch cubes)
- 3 sprigs dried thyme remove leaves from stem
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 28 oz chicken broth
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Shredded cheddar for garnish, optional
- Cooked bacon chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Green onions chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Set your instant pot to sauté mode. Once hot add in your butter (for healthier alternative, cooking spray will suffice.). Add your onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until it begins to soften.
- Once your onion has softened, add in your garlic. Sauté for about a minute to release the flavors of the garlic.
- Press cancel on your instant pot. Add in your potatoes, thyme, nutmeg, broth, salt and pepper.
- Clothes and seal the lid on your instant pot. Close the valve. Select pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Once the time is done cooking, naturally release 45 minutes, then do a manual release by opening the valve.
- Press cancel on your instant pot, then sauté mode. In a separate bowl mix together your milk and corn starch. Once completely mixed together, add to your instant pot. Carefully stir the corn starch mixture making sure not to mash any potatoes to keep it second chunky. Allow it to sauté for about three minutes to thicken up.
- Mix your sour cream. Once fully incorporated, press cancel on your instant pot.
- Serve your potato soup with fun toppings such as chopped bacon, cheese, and green onions! Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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