High in flavor, hearty and comforting, this potato bacon soup makes use of only a few and inexpensive ingredients, ideal for the busy modern lifestyle. Adapted from Great-Tasting 99¢ Money-Saving Meals, potato bacon soup is a one-pot meal that fills the tummy and warms the heart, and best served with toasted bread or a side salad.

Beginner home cooks will have no trouble making this recipe, as it is quite a simple dish to prepare. It begins with cooking bacon until it is nice and crispy. One can do this in the microwave or the skillet. When cooking bacon, use a nonstick skillet. Additional oil is no longer needed when cooking bacon since it cooks in its own grease. Set the fire at medium temperature and place the bacon strips on the pan when it is hot enough but not sizzling. Some like bacon that is really crispy and dark, while others like it crunchy but with some softness, while others like it a bit pink and soft. Cook the bacon according to the doneness that you prefer. The cooked bacon will be added to the potato soup at the end of the recipe, and then will be simmered for a couple more minutes so keep in mind that it will go through additional cooking so it is not necessary to cook it too well the first time.

If you want a pureed and creamy potato bacon soup recipe, you can use an immersion blender or regular blender to achieve a smooth and thick consistency. When using a regular blender, it is best to wait for the soup until it reaches lukewarm temperature since the pressure of boiling hot soup will blow the top off the blender and create a mess. Reheat the soup after pureeing to serve it hot or warm. If you want texture and chunky soup then there is no need to blend the contents.

Ingredients

5 strips bacon
28 oz. chicken stock
1 ¾ lbs. potatoes (peeled and cut into ½ in. cubes)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Sea salt
Pepper (freshly ground)
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Cook the bacon in the microwave or in a skillet. Crumble.

In a Dutch oven, pour the stock, potatoes, onion, and thyme. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium high and boil for 10 minutes.

Add the bacon; simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese.