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This lightened-up version of potato soup is one creamy, delicious bowl of comfort food that won’t leave you feeling guilty. Made from scratch and flavored with yellow onion sautéed in butter, my tasty easy potato soup recipe only takes 30 minutes, start to finish!

a bowl of potato soup on a white plate with a blue striped napkin to the side.

Most homemade potato soup recipes call for using whole milk or heavy cream which contributes to more calories. My version only uses one cup of milk, yet it’s still flavorful and creamy without a ton of calories.

To compare, this lightened up potato soup is just 192 calories per bowl while loaded potato soup averages 335 calories per serving. What’s even better? It tastes delicious! Go grab a spoon!

If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories of your grandma’s potato soup. Laden with plenty of butter and cream, potato soup was equally comforting AND filling on a chilly day.

Consuming all those calories to head out to play in the snow was just fine, but now not so much. The problem is I don’t burn calories at the same rate as I did back then! That’s why I set out to trim a few calories and make my potato soup recipe a little healthier.

Why you’ll love my Old-Fashioned Potato Soup recipe!

  • Lower-Calorie Creaminess. Enjoy a rich, creamy broth with just 1 cup of milk, reducing calories while keeping the best flavor.
  • Guilt-Free Indulgence. Only 192 calories per bowl, compared to 335 in traditional loaded baked potato soup.
  • Healthy Nostalgia. Recreate grandma’s comfort with fewer calories for a modern, satisfying meal.
  • Simple Ingredients. This simple yet satisfying soup doesn’t require any special ingredients — in fact, you probably already have everything you need on hand!

Ingredient notes

  • Potatoes — I think Yukon Gold potatoes are the best potatoes for this soup because their texture is naturally creamy. However, you may use any other white potato or russet potatoes in this recipe.
  • Butter — Yes, I use butter for flavor, but less of it!
  • Onion — Every savory dish starts with onion! Feel free to use frozen chopped onions to save time if you like.
  • Chicken broth — Instead of all milk, use chicken broth or chicken stock for most of the liquid to trim calories without sacrificing flavor.

How to make my easy Potato Soup recipe (stovetop)

It really is possible to make delicious, thick and creamy potato soup with less cream!

old fashioned potato soup in a soup pot with a potato masher

STEP 1 | Saute onions

Start by melting butter and olive oil over medium heat in either a large pot or a large Dutch oven.

Cook diced yellow onions until tender and then stir in chopped garlic and fresh thyme leaves and cook another minute or so until the mixture is fragrant.

This starts building a base of delicious flavor — that’s why this is the best potato soup recipe!

STEP 3 | Cook the potatoes

Pour in the chicken broth and add the potatoes and bring it all to a boil over medium-high heat, cooking for about 10 minutes. You want to cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender so that they will mash up easily.

Reduce the heat to a low simmer and use a potato masher or an immersion blender to cream up the cooked potatoes, leaving some small chunks. You may even ladle some of the potatoes into a food processor to blend, then add it back to the pot.

tip

  • I like to prep potatoes ahead of time and let them soak in water in the refrigerator until I’m ready to put this soup together. Sometimes, I’ll even peel and dice potatoes the day before. The potatoes will not turn brown as long as they are completely covered with water and refrigerated. When ready to cook, drain off the starchy water and give them a quick rinse.

STEP 3 | Thicken the soup & serve

Whisk a tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup of 2% milk and pour it into the simmering soup. Cook for another few minutes until the hot soup becomes thick and creamy.

At this point, season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. To serve, garnish with more fresh thyme leaves and freshly cracked black pepper.

a bowl of potato soup on a white plate with crackers and a spoon to the side and fresh thyme leaves sprinkled on top.

What our readers have to say…

The TASTIEST potato soup recipe — delicious flavor, perfect texture, and not too heavy. My whole family loves it!

– Eliza

Lighten it up!

Grandma’s basic recipe included a whole stick of butter and a mixture of whole milk and cream. Yes, it was delicious, but it was rich and heavy in calories, too. Here’s how I trim calories and make my potato soup recipe a little healthier:

  • Use a mixture of butter and extra-virgin olive oil for the fat (just two tablespoons each).
  • Peel and cut the potatoes and let them soak in cool water to remove some of the starch. This helps eliminate a few carbs.
  • Drain and rinse the potatoes, then cook them in low-sodium chicken broth to add flavor.
  • Only use 1 cup of 2% milk.
a bowl of potato soup with a spoon nestled into the soup and a blue striped napkin to the side.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of potatoes make the best soup?

Yukon Gold are the potatoes I prefer for this recipe because of their waxy, creamy texture. Idaho potatoes are also a good choice for plain potato soup with their neutral potato flavor and fluffy texture.

What’s the best way to thicken this soup?

Traditional potato soup recipes use whole milk, enriched evaporated milk, or heavy cream to thicken the soup. This lightened up version is thickened by whisking a tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup of milk, then adding it to the simmering pot of soup. Continue cooking another five minutes or until the soup is thick and creamy.

Can I make this creamy potato soup recipe in an instant pot?

Absolutely! Use the saute function of the instant pot to melt the butter and oil, then saute the onion. Then stir in the garlic and thyme leaves and cancel the saute function. Add the potatoes and chicken broth, lock the lid, and pressure cook on high for 8 minutes, then quick release the pressure. Remove the lid and stir in the milk. Set to the saute function again. Make the cornstarch slurry and whisk into the soup, cooking until the desired thickness is achieved.

Storage and reheating tips

  • Refrigerate any leftovers stored in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.
  • To reheat, add a splash of milk and warm in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes until hot and steamy.

Serving suggestions

This soup is delicious served with a piece of crusty bread for soaking up all the yummy potato broth.

You can also serve Old-Fashioned Potato Soup topped with your favorite toppings, like a dollop of light sour cream, bacon crumbles, chopped green onions, and sharp cheddar cheese for a lighter baked potato soup.

Looking for more homemade soup recipes?

For more of my favorite soup recipes to warm your soul, check out my Chicken Florentine Soup, Pork Meatball and Wild Rice Soup, and Potato Broccoli Cheese Soup. All delicious and so yum!

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!
a bowl of potato soup on a white plate with crackers to the side and fresh thyme leaves sprinkled on top.

BEST Potato Soup

Made from scratch and flavored with fresh thyme and yellow onions sautéed in butter, this easy potato soup recipe only takes 30 minutes start to finish!
4.24 from 141 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Soups & Stews
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 192 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 1 garlic clove chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 ½ lbs. peeled and diced Yukon Gold potatoes about 5 cups
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • fresh thyme leaves for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or soup pot until the butter is foamy.
  • Add diced onions and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender and translucent. Stir in the chopped garlic and fresh thyme leaves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add the chicken broth and diced potatoes to the pot. After the mixture begins to boil, cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  • Turn down the heat and use a potato masher to coarsely mash the potatoes, leaving some bigger chunks.
  • Whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch into the cup of milk with a fork, then add it to the pot of soup. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until the soup is thickened and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve with more fresh thyme, if desired.

Notes

  • Yukon Gold are the potatoes I prefer for this recipe because they have a creamy texture when they are cooked. However, this recipe will also work with other varieties of potatoes.
  • Serve this potato soup topped with a dollop of lite sour cream, bacon crumbles and cheese for a lighter version of baked potato soup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 754mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword comfort food, soup, vegetarian, Yukon gold potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.
Sheila Thigpen, blogger

About Sheila Thigpen

Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer

Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.

14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Tried your recipe and it was delicious. I tweeked it a bit by adding carrots and basil. Very very yummy. No leftovers.

  2. 5 stars
    Such a good potato soup recipe! Creamy, flavorful and so tasty. I didn’t have fresh thyme so I used dried thyme, but I bet fresh would be even better. Highly recommend this recipe!

    1. Pat, I would not recommend freezing the leftovers since this soup contains dairy. Often, soups with dairy after frozen lose their creaminess.

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