Whenever I get the chance, I like to go to a local diner for a bowl of their loaded baked potato soup.  Occasionally, I even make my own, which I think comes in pretty close to the diner’s recipe. Some people use flour or cornstarch to thicken their potato soup, but I like to sprinkle in some instant mashed potato flakes for thickening it up when needed.

This is a very rich soup, so….uh make it when you’re not dieting.  Everybody has to splurge once in awhile, right?

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 2/3 cup butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 4 cups cubed, baked potatoes, peeled
• 8 cups milk
• 1/2 cup thin sliced green onions
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of sour cream
• Several slices of bacon, cooked, drained, coarsely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, then little by little stir in flour until smooth.  Gradually add milk and stir over low to medium heat until thickened.  When mixture has thickened, add potatoes and green onions, and continue to cook until soup just reaches a very gentle boil.  Add remaining ingredients and serve hot!

There are a million ways to make this soup.  Here are lots more potato soup recipes.

Dutch ovens are a good way to bring out lots of flavor in your favorite stew recipes, or savory dishes like pot roast or chicken cacciatore. I’ve even used mine for desserts like baked apples. I have a cast iron Dutch oven, but they are available in other materials like stoneware and Calphalon.  If you’ve never tried cooking with a Dutch oven, you should!  It’s practically impossible to mess up, as they hold-in lots of moisture during the slow cooking process.

The Dutch oven above is made from enamel-covered cast iron, and it is part of the Mario Batali cookware collection.  It is oven-safe up to 500 degrees F, and it has a self-basting lid. Enameled cast iron is known for providing even and slow distribution of heat.  I found the Mario Batali Dutch oven at Sur la table, and it is available in 4 and 6 quart sizes.

I think the best thing about Dutch ovens is that you can take them straight from the oven to the table.   Here’s a long list of Dutch oven recipes you might enjoy.