Potato Cheddar Soup is cheesy, creamy, savory, and satisfying. It’s easy to make and calls for just a few inexpensive ingredients.
Craving a simple soup recipe perfect for a cozy night at home? Here are a few more of our very favorites – Chicken Pot Pie Soup, Crock Pot Taco Soup, and Tomato Basil Soup.
I got the recipe for this Potato Cheese Soup from my cousin who said this soup won an award at a church party the year before. That was over TEN YEARS AGO, and I’ve been making it every winter since!
I always look forward to making this soup when the weather turns chilly. This potato cheddar soup heats you up from the inside, just like a hot bowl of chowder should do. Here’s how to make it –
How To Make Potato Cheddar Soup
The recipe is simple and I usually have the ingredients on hand. It’s perfect for those random Thursday nights when I’m out of recipe ideas, and it’s another great way to use up leftover ham after Thanksgiving or Christmas.
YOU WILL NEED –
- WATER – you can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth
- VEGETABLES – red or russet potatoes, carrot, celery, and onion
- SEASONINGS – salt and black pepper
- ROUX – corn starch* and water
- BASE – butter, milk, and cheddar cheese
- PROTEIN – I like using leftover slices of ham (cut up), but you could add turkey, cooked bacon, chicken, etc.
* My husband can’t eat gluten, so I make this with cornstarch instead of the usual flour roux, but you can use all purpose flour if you prefer it.
TIP – The saltiness of hams will vary, so you may want to add more salt and pepper to taste at the end, as needed.
INSTRUCTIONS –
BOIL THE VEGGIES – Boil the water in a large saucepan, then add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with the lid and simmer on medium heat for 15-20 mins or until the vegetables are very tender.
MAKE A ROUX – In a small bowl stir the cornstarch together with 3 tablespoons of water. Add the cornstarch mixture to the simmering pot and stir until the soup has thickened.
MELT BUTTER + CHEESE – In a separate pot heat the milk, cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup butter and stir until the cheese has melted. Pour the cheese mixture into the pot with the vegetables.
Add the ham. Stir until combined and warm until the soup is heated through.
ENJOY YOUR POTATO SOUP!
Here’s a printable potato soup recipe card so you can save it with your favorite soup recipes!
Potato Cheddar Soup
Ingredients
- 2 cups + 3 tablespoons water, separated
- 2 cups of potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 2 russets or 3-4 red potatoes)
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup diced celery, about 1 large stalk
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, 8 ounces
- 1 cup cubed ham
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water in a large pot, then add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with the lid and simmer on medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are very soft.
- In a small bowl stir the cornstarch together with 3 tablespoons of water. Add the cornstarch mixture to the simmering pot and stir until the soup has thickened.
- In a separate saucepan heat the milk, cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup butter until the cheese has melted. Pour the cheese mixture into the pot with the vegetables.
- Add the ham. Stir until combined and warm until the soup is heated through.
This is the ultimate comfort soup! It was perfect for a chilly day and the whole family went back for seconds. Thank you!
This soup was a perfect! It was hearty and so satisfying, just what I was craving. Great recipe!
My perfect comfort food! We loved this soup!