Food Recipes Soup Loaded Potato Soup Be the first to rate & review! Bring this rich and luscious potato soup to the table and let kids and guests build their own delicious bowls with crispy potato peels, cheddar cheese, scallions, and more for a comforting meal. Double up and make an extra batch to keep in the freezer for rainy nights or to nourish a sick friend. Leftovers hold up well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently over medium heat. By Robby Melvin Robby Melvin Robby Melvin is the test kitchen director at Southern Living magazine and senior recipe developer/tester for Time, Inc. Food Studios in Birmingham, Alabama. A professional chef, he can be seen demonstrating his culinary know-how on Southern Living’s YouTube cooking videos. Melvin has been responsible for developing and testing recipes at the iconic Southern publication for nearly a decade. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 2, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Rate Print Share Photo: Greg DuPree Active Time: 40 mins Total Time: 1 hr Yield: 6 (serving size: about 1 1/4 cups) Ingredients 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes) 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 6 bacon slices 1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts thinly sliced (about 1 cup) and darker green parts thinly sliced (about 1 cup) 4 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoons) 5 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving 3 ounces mild cheddar cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup), plus more for serving Directions Peel potatoes, reserving about 1 cup large potato peels; discard remaining peels. Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes, and set cubes aside. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Working in batches if needed, add potato peels to Dutch oven in a single layer, and cook until crispy, about 1 minute and 30 seconds per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels; sprinkle with pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and set aside. Add bacon slices to Dutch oven, and cook over medium until crispy, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, reserving 3 tablespoons drippings in Dutch oven. Set bacon aside. Add light green and white scallion slices and garlic to hot drippings, and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in potato cubes, milk, cream, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a low boil. (Be careful not to let mixture curdle.) Reduce to heat to low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Process potato mixture with an immersion blender until smooth. (Or, working in batches, pour potato mixture into a blender. Secure lid on blender, and remove center piece to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over opening. Process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Return mixture to Dutch oven.) Stir in sour cream and Cheddar cheese until blended. Crumble bacon. Serve soup topped with crumbled bacon, sour cream, cheese, crispy potato skins, and darker green scallion slices. Rate It Print