Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

My Grandmother’s Potato Soup Recipe makes an old-fashioned, easy, comforting soup recipe. Made with 5 ingredients and no heavy cream! Instant Pot instructions included.

Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (1)

Soup always makes one of my favorite meals. Like our favorite vegetable soupand chicken and dumplings, this is one of the soups that I grew up loving the most. Before there was such a thing as loading a potato soup with bacon, cheese, and onions, my Grandmother Verdie made her potato soup very simply – with potatoes, milk, butter, and salt and pepper. If my sister Wendy and I knew that Grandmother made this soup for supper, we’d beg to be able to eat supper with her. With one bite, it is so easy to understand why!

The Best Potato Soup Recipe

Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (2)

You could add all sorts of things to this soup if you’d like, but I recommend starting with this simple, basic recipe and go from there. Most times, we would rather stick with this version than add a lot of other ingredients, like leeks, onions, and whatnot.

Simple really is best most of the time, isn’t it?

How to Make The Best Potato Soup Recipe

To make Grandmother’s easy potato soup recipe, you’ll only need a few ingredients and to follow a few steps.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

  • Potatoes – I prefer to use russets. You’ll need 2 pounds, about six medium. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes.
  • Water – You will need enough fresh, clean water to cover the potatoes.
  • Milk – I use whole milk in my potato soup. You can also use your favorite dairy-free milk substitute.
  • Butter – the butter adds so much flavor to this soup.
  • Salt and Pepper – add salt and pepper to taste for seasoning.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prep potatoes. begin by scrubbing your potatoes clean, peeling, and then cutting them into about 2-inch chunks. Place the potatoes into a large soup pot (I use my Dutch oven), cover it with clean water, and stir.
  2. Cook. Cook over medium heat until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain away the water from the potatoes. Add your whole milk and butter to the potatoes and place back on medium heat. Allow the milk to bubble slightly around the edges of the soup pot, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Season. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (3)

Creamy Potato Soup Recipe Without Adding Flour

To customize the consistency and texture of this soup recipe, you can serve it as shown with tender chunks of potatoes or you can make a smooth and creamy soup by using an immersion blender in your soup pot until it reaches the consistency you prefer. No need to add flour or make a slurry with this simple trick! Naturally gluten-free! But really, the chunkiness is simply perfect and I definitely recommend that you give it a try!

If you like a smoother textured soup with all the trimmings (think sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions), you may want to check out my creamy Loaded Potato Soup Recipe as well.

Dairy-Free Potato Soup

To make this soup dairy-free, replace the milk and butter called for in the recipe with dairy-free substitutes. A delicious option for dairy-free milk for this soup is coconut milk. I prefer to use the canned version for the added creamy texture. For the butter, there is plant-based butter readily available. Use your favorites!

Can You Make Potato Soup Ahead?

Allow your soup to cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve.

Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (4)

How to Make Potato Soup Recipe in the Instant Pot

This easy soup recipe is so easy to make in the Instant Pot.

  1. Rather than cooking in the Dutch oven, add the water, potatoes, butter, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and turn the vent to seal it. Cook on the manual setting at high pressure for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release feature.
  2. Remove the lid to the Instant Pot and set the cook setting to saute. Stir in the milk and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and serve. If you prefer a smooth and loaded potato soup, use an immersion blender to blend the soup and serve it with your favorite toppings.

Other Favorite Soup Recipes:

  • Vegetable Soup
  • Chicken and Dumplings
  • Minestrone
  • Zuppa Toscana

Here’s Grandmother’s Potato Soup Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (5)

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Potato Soup Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 275 votes

Potato Soup Recipe – My Grandmother Verdie’s Potato Soup recipe makes an old-fashioned, easy, comforting soup recipe. Made with 5 ingredients and no heavy cream!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (about 6 medium) Russet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled, and chopped
  • water
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Cover potatoes with water in a large soup pot.

  • Cook over medium heat until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

  • Add milk and butter to the potatoes. Place back on medium heat and allow milk to bubble slightly around the edges of the soup pot, about 5 to 10 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and ladle into soup bowls.

  • Serve with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Storage Tips

To store leftovers and make ahead. Allow your soup to cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve.

Recipe Variations

Dairy-Free Potato Soup: Replace the butter with plant-based butter and use your favorite milk substitute.

Vegetarian Potato Soup: This recipe is vegetarian as written.

Vegan Potato Soup: Use the replacements for dairy-free soup.

Loaded Potato Soup: See my full recipe for Loaded Potato Soup for ingredient measurements and instructions.

How to Make Potato Soup in the Instant Pot

Rather than cooking in the Dutch oven, add the water, potatoes, butter, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and turn the vent to seal it. Cook on the manual setting at high pressure for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release feature.

Remove the lid to the Instant Pot and set the cook setting to saute. Drain any water remaining in the Instant Pot. Stir in the milk and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and serve. If you prefer a smooth and loaded potato soup, use an immersion blender to blend the soup and serve it with your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 589mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 3.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (6)

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Orignally published 2011.

Categorized as:All Recipes, Featured, Lighter Fare, Lunch, , Soup and Stew Recipes, Southern Favorites

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Grandmother's Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good thickener for potato soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

How do you make potato soup not bland? ›

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

Does cream cheese thicken up potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

Do you cook potatoes before adding to soup? ›

Add Potatoes to Your Soup Base

Now that your potatoes are perfectly boiled, it's time to add them to your soup base. Whether you have a creamy or chunky potato soup recipe, gently stir the boiled potatoes into your prepared soup mixture and simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together.

Does sour cream make potato soup thicker? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

Why does my potato soup taste bland? ›

Not Adding Acid. If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How to add more flavor to potato soup? ›

There's some salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning, too, for flavor. To serve it, you sprinkle on some crispy bacon bits and shredded cheese! Why does my potato soup have no flavor?

Are russet potatoes good for potato soup? ›

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

What if I put too much garlic in my potato soup? ›

All you need to do is add more of the neutral liquid you started with--in this case, I'd use veg or chicken stock, but you could use water as well. Add maybe a cup at a time, stir well and give it a few minutes for the flavors to equalize, then taste.

Why did Panera stop selling potato soup? ›

Although the dish was scrapped due to declining popularity, its biggest fans have not stopped talking about it online. One disappointed fan wrote one on Twitter this week: “I was today years old when I found out Panera discontinued their potato soup.

Can I use sour cream instead of cream in soup? ›

Sour cream is an easy replacement for heavy cream. It can be easily stirred into a dish and offers another flavor profile to soups, stews and sauces. Plus, using it as a heavy cream substitute is a great way to use up that lingering tub in the fridge.

Why won't my cream cheese melt in my potato soup? ›

Cheese is a particularly tricky addition to soups because if the temperature of the soup is too hot or too cold, the cheese won't melt properly and will start to clump. Temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the cheese to release liquid too fast as a result of broken protein bonds.

Which type of potato is best for soup? ›

ANSWER: Waxy potatoes or those called boiling potatoes stand up well in soups and stews. These have thin skin and are high in moisture and low in starch.

Should I boil potatoes in broth? ›

The most common way to boil potatoes is on the stove in a pot of water. However, if you want more flavorful potatoes, consider boiling them in broth or a mixture of broth and water.

Should you leave skin on potatoes for soup? ›

The skins contain the best flavours and nutrients in potatoes. So I would suggest you leave skins on. If you don't like that idea, you can cook potatoes whole in the soup, then pick them out and rub the skins off. Cut up the potatoes, and put them back.

What is the best ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

How do you thicken potato soup without cornstarch? ›

Add a roux to add the most thickness to your soup. A roux is made by heating up equal parts flour and fat to add body and flavor to a dish. To thicken about 1 qt (0.95 L), melt 2 tbsp (28 g) of butter in a skillet, then whisk in 2 tbsp (30 g) of flour.

How to make potato soup thicker without flour or cornstarch? ›

How To Thicken Soup Without Flour Or Cornstarch
  1. Vegetable Purees. One of the easiest and healthiest ways to thicken your soup is by adding vegetable purees. ...
  2. Mashed Potatoes. Another tried and tested method to thicken soups is by incorporating mashed potatoes. ...
  3. Beans and Legumes. ...
  4. Coconut Milk. ...
  5. Roux Substitute.
Feb 17, 2024

Will cornstarch thicken potato soup? ›

Combine cornstarch and a little bit of water—or the chicken stock from the soup—in a small bowl. With the soup simmering over medium-low heat, whisk in the slurry. The soup should start to thicken almost immediately. Incorporate potatoes.

References

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