Ultimate Potato Soup + Instant Pot Option (Step-by-Step)

Potato Soup Ingredients

Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's what I used to make this soup in little more details.

Potatoes – For the Soups, always go for a starchy variety of Potatoes. I have mentioned below which varieties can be used to make this Soup.

Flavoring Agents – For homestyle soup flavor add garlic and onion. You can also add celery and carrots if easily available. I use low sodium vegetable broth. It adds wonderful flavor to the soup since potatoes are cooked in it.

Milk and Flour– These ingredients make the soup rich, filling and creamy. I am using almond milk and gluten-free all purpose flour. Regular kinds also work.

Other Ingredients – You will need some oil to get the cooking started. Salt and ground black pepper are used for flavoring. I like to add red pepper flakes for a hint of spice. Fresh chives or green onions are perfect for that loaded potato soup feel.

Cheese : Optional but highly recommended. My favorite kind of cheese to use in this soup is Monterey Jack. You can also use cheddar. Choose plant based cheese or nutritional yeast for the vegan version. 

How to Make Potato Soup in Instant Pot?

Add oil to the Instant Pot and turn on the sauté button. Once it displays HOT, add in the onions, sprinkle some salt and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute until fragrant, stirring constantly.

Add the broth, ground black pepper, seasoning and potatoes to the pot, and stir well. Deglaze the pot.  Cancel SAUTE.

Close the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the vent valve to "sealing." Cook over manual high pressure for 6 minutes. After it's done cooking, a quick release the pressure after 5 minutes.

Whisk the flour and milk together and make a slurry.

Once the cooking is done, open the lid and stir in the milk and flour slurry. Turn the pot to sauté and cook the soup for 4-5 minutes, until thickened.

Using the back of your spatula, roughly mash some of the potatoes. You can also use potato masher. Creamy potato soup is ready. Ladle the soup in serving bowls. Serve garnished with chopped chives or green onions, cheese, red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

Pro Tips

1. For even cooking, make sure to chop your potatoes into roughly the same size. I prefer to make about 1 inch cubes.
2. I also like to peel the skin of the potatoes for this soup. It's personal preference so you can choose accordingly.
3. If you prefer a smooth texture, need less chunky pieces,  use an immersion blender to smooth out your soup at the end of cooking.
4. This soup thickens further substantially. So you will need water or broth to thin it out when reheating.
5. Similar to most potato dishes, I do NOT recommend freezing this soup. Texture won't be the same and it won't heat properly.
6. It is very important not to over cook the potatoes. You want tender pieces that still have some bite to them. Otherwise it will become liquid mashed potatoes which won't be fun.
7. No need to use heavy cream to thicken the soup. Starchy potatoes cooked with milk are enormously creamy and velvety.

Serving Suggestions

This soup gives filling and satisfying feel by itself. You can serve it with munchies like Crispy Kale Chips, Roasted Chickpeas or Grilled Shishito Peppers.

A crusty bread topped with bruschetta or olive tapenade will make it café style meal. Pair it with Air Fryer Naan Pizza for better than take out meal at home. You can also serve it with simple salad, lentil salad or quinoa tabbouleh to add more vibrant feel.

Creamy Potato Soup will stay in refrigerator for 4 days in glass containers. To reheat, add more broth or water since soup will be very thick.

Best Soups to Make in Your Instant Pot

• Vegan Split Pea Soup
• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Vegan Stuffed Pepper Soup
• Creamy Gnocchi Soup
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Curried Butternut Squash Soup
• Asparagus Broccoli Soup

Some additional Tips

• I also like to peel the potatoes before using. Since it's a soup, the skin doesn't blend in that well. 
• It is easy to veganize vegetable soup recipes. Use certified gluten free flour and products to ensure gluten free recipe.
• For a vegan and dairy free alternative, use plant based butter or just the cooking oil. Also use plant based milk like almond milk, soy milk or rice milk. And for cheese, choose nutritional yeast or vegan cheese alternative which is plant based cheese.
• Make this Loaded Potato Soup gluten free by using certified gluten free all purpose flour. You can also substitute regular flour with rice flour, chickpea flour, or oat flour.