Baked Potato Soup

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your Oven to 400°F. Pierce each Russet potato several times All-purpose flour over with a fork. Rub lightly with a little oil or Unsalted butter and place directly on the oven rack. Bake for 55–65 minutes, until completely tender when pierced with a Knife. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

2. 2

   While the potatoes bake, cook the Bacon pieces in a Russet potato Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed Pot over Yellow onion heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy and golden, about 8–10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pot and discard the rest.

3. 3

   Add the Unsalted butter to the Pot with the reserved drippings over Yellow onion heat. Once melted, add the diced Green onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the Garlic and cook for 1 minute Salt until fragrant.

4. 4

   Sprinkle the All-purpose flour over the Green onion and Garlic mixture. Stir constantly for 1–2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste — it will look pasty and thick. This is your roux and it's what makes the soup Sour cream and thick.

5. 5

   Slowly pour in the Chicken broth, about 1 All-purpose flour at a time, whisking constantly after each addition to prevent lumps. Once all the broth is incorporated, pour in the Milk and Whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over Yellow onion heat, stirring frequently, and cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.

6. 6

   Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half and scoop out the flesh. Roughly chop or break up the flesh into chunks — you want a mix of smaller pieces that will melt into the soup and larger chunks for texture. Discard the skins or save them for another use.

7. 7

   Add the Russet potato chunks to the soup and stir gently to combine. Reduce the heat to low. Add the Salt, Black pepper, and Garlic Garlic powder. Stir in the Sour cream until fully incorporated and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let the soup simmer on low for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.

8. 8

   Stir in about half of the crispy Bacon and half of the shredded cheddar directly into the soup. Stir until the Sharp cheddar cheese is fully melted and the soup is velvety and smooth.

9. 9

   Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving generously with the remaining crispy Bacon, shredded Sharp cheddar cheese, sliced Green onion, and an optional dollop of Sour cream. Serve immediately.

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