St Patricks Day Loaded Baked (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy potato soup with loaded baked potato flavors, perfect for cozy St Patricks Day celebrations or any chilly day.

# What You'll Need:

→ Potatoes

01 - 1.5 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 stalks celery, diced

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup low-fat milk
07 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or nonfat)

→ Cheeses

08 - 1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese

→ Toppings

09 - 4 slices turkey bacon or center-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Seasonings

11 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
12 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/4 tsp dried thyme

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove, crumble, and set aside. Discard most bacon fat, leaving about 1 teaspoon in the pot. Add onion and celery, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
02 - Stir in diced potatoes, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme. Pour in vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender.
03 - Using an immersion blender, partially blend the soup directly in the pot, leaving some chunks for texture. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, blend until smooth, then return to the pot.
04 - Stir in milk, Greek yogurt, and cheddar cheese. Heat gently until cheese is melted and soup is creamy—do not boil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, and an extra sprinkle of cheddar if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It delivers all the loaded baked potato goodness without making you feel sluggish afterward.
  • The soup comes together in under an hour, perfect for a weeknight craving or surprise dinner guests.
  • Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cheese keep it creamy while letting the potato flavor actually shine through.
02 -
  • Do not skip the step of leaving only a teaspoon of bacon fat—it's the difference between a light soup and one that feels greasy on your palate.
  • Add the dairy slowly and off high heat; if you're impatient and turn up the temperature, the yogurt and milk will separate and the texture suffers.
03 -
  • Taste as you go—potatoes vary in starch content, so you may need a bit more salt or broth to balance the soup exactly how you like it.
  • Those green onions are not optional; they're the contrast that makes every bite interesting and prevent the soup from feeling heavy.
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