Description: This rich, comforting soup is the ultimate bowl of comfort food. It features a velvety, cheese-infused broth loaded with tender chunks of potatoes, savory ground sausage, sweet carrots, and a generous topping of crispy bacon. It’s hearty, warming, and perfect for cozy nights in.
Ingredients
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Bacon: 6 slices, chopped and cooked crisp (reserve grease)
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Sausage: 1 lb ground Italian sausage or breakfast sausage
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Potatoes: 4 medium russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
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Vegetables: 1 medium onion (diced) and 2 carrots (peeled and diced)
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Broth: 4 cups chicken broth
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Dairy: 1 cup heavy cream and 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
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Thickener: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
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Seasoning: 1 tsp dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to taste
Instructions
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Cook the Bacon & Sausage: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same pot, add the ground sausage, breaking it apart until browned and fully cooked. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
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Sauté Veggies: Leave a couple of tablespoons of drippings in the pot. Add the diced onion and carrots, cooking until softened (about 5 minutes).
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Build the Base: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir continuously for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
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Simmer Potatoes: Add the diced potatoes and dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
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Make it Creamy: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
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Combine & Serve: Stir half of the cooked sausage and crispy bacon back into the soup. Ladle into bowls and top with the remaining bacon, sausage, and an extra sprinkle of cheese.
