Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup

This rich and creamy Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup is a comforting and hearty dish. It has a chowder-like texture and is also gluten-free! Perfect for a chilly evening or even when you're just craving some comfort food. On the table in about 30 minutes!

Reader Comments That Say It All

"This recipe gave me something I hadn't had for so long—the taste of my mother's potato soup." -Wanda

"It was a hit with all my kids, which you never know when you try a new recipe. Easy-to-follow instructions made for a foolproof first time." -Kimberly

"OMG, I had a craving for potato soup (I can't have gluten). I made this, and it was so good that my husband and I ate the entire batch in one day!" -Nicola

What's special about this recipe?

There are a few things that I'd say set this pressure cooker potato soup apart from most. First and foremost, it's gluten-free, which means my wife can actually eat it! One of my main goals is to come up with tasty gluten-free recipes so she can eat the same food we all love. Secondly, this soup is very hearty and has a chowder-like texture with noticeable chunks of potato. I'm not the biggest fan of puréed potato soups.

Why This Recipe Works

1. The Instant Pot's sauté and pressure cooking functions make it easy and quick to make.
2. The bacon, onions, and garlic flavors blend perfectly in this rich and creamy potato soup to make it taste just right.
3. It's a comforting and hearty dish that's great for cold weather or when you're craving some comfort food.

How to Make Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients You'll Need to Prep (15 Minutes)

Cube the Potatoes

• Peel the russet potatoes to remove the skin.
• Cut them into small cubes, about half an inch on each side. This will help them cook at the same rate and give your soup a creamy texture.
• As soon as the potatoes are cut, let them soak in a large bowl of cold water until you're ready to use them.
• Note: Soaking potatoes in cold water for a while helps get rid of extra starch. Too much starch can make it hard for the potatoes to cook properly and give the outside of the potatoes a gummy or sticky texture. Cold water is used because hot water activates the starch, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Chop the Bacon

• Finely chop the strips of bacon into small pieces. This will ensure they get crispy and give your soup a smoky flavor.

Dice the Onions

• Cut the yellow onions into small pieces with a knife. This gives your soup a sweet and savory base that adds a great depth of flavor.

Dice the Celery

• Cut the celery into small pieces that are easy to eat. Celery gives your soup a refreshing flavor and a slightly crunchy texture that go well with the creamy potatoes.

Cooking Directions

• Set the Instant Pot to high sauté to get it going. Add the chopped bacon and cook for about 10 minutes, or until it gets crispy.

• Once the bacon is done, take it out and put it on a paper towel to drain the fat. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot and save the rest for another time. Do not clean or wipe out the pot. (There is so much flavor in the fond, and you don't want to waste it.)

• Add the diced onions, celery, and a half teaspoon of salt to the bacon fat in the Instant Pot. Sauté for about 3 minutes, or until the onions become soft and translucent.
• Add the apple cider vinegar and minced garlic, stir, and cook for another minute.
• Be sure to scrape up all of the fond from the bottom of the pot. Pressure cookers will often give burn notices when anything is stuck to the bottom surface.

• Now, add the potatoes, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the chicken broth to the pot. Mix everything together well.
• Lock the Instant Pot's lid and set it to cook for 4 minutes at high pressure. Once the cooking time is up, use the quick-release method to let the pressure out of the pot.
• While the pressure drops, make the cornstarch slurry. Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until they are fully combined.
• Once the pressure has gone down, remove the lid, change the Instant Pot back to the sauté setting, and add the cornstarch slurry. Stir constantly for about a minute until the soup thickens.
• Set the Instant Pot to "keep warm" and carefully pour in the heavy cream. Mix gently until all of the cream has been fully incorporated into the soup.
• Finally, mash the potatoes with a potato masher until the soup reaches your preferred consistency. Do not use a hand mixer; the soup will become overly starchy.

• Ladle into bowls and serve topped with cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Tips For Making Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup

1. Choose the Right Potatoes: For this dish, use russet potatoes because they are starchy and help thicken the soup and give it a smooth consistency.
2. Perfect Bacon Bits: Chop the bacon into small pieces so it cooks faster and more evenly. Taking most of the bacon fat out of the pot after it has been browned helps control how rich it is.
3. Cornstarch Trick: Mixing cornstarch with water before adding it to the soup keeps lumps from forming and makes sure that the soup thickens smoothly.
4. Creamy goodness: If you want a richer taste, use heavy cream. If you want a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead.
5. Vegetarian Option: You can leave out the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Then substitute olive oil for the bacon fat.
6. Customize the Toppings: Chopped chives, sour cream, or even a sprinkle of hot sauce can add extra dimensions of flavor.

FAQs

Can I change the kind of potato I use?
Because of their texture, russet potatoes work best in this dish, but you can also use gold potatoes. However, I would stay away from red potatoes, as they are too waxy. Remember that the consistency may change a little bit.

Can I make this soup in advance?
Absolutely! This soup heats up well and can be kept in the fridge for up to three days in a sealed container.

Can the soup be frozen?
Yes, the soup can be frozen without the toppings. You can thaw it and heat it up on the stovetop, then add the toppings just before serving.

More Delicious Instant Pot Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot Vegan Potato Soup
• Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
• Instant Pot Chicken Pho

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