The Best Cheddar Potato Soup – Ultra Creamy Potato Cheese Soup & Vegetarian-Friendly!

Potato Soups: How to Choose the Right Potatoes

What can be better than a homemade bowl of potato soup? It will warm you up in winter, on a chilly day, or when you’re not feeling your best!

Loaded potato soup is the best option if you want something extra filling. Nothing beats a bowl of creamy, cheesy potato soup with your favorite toppings when craving comfort food. It’s rich, packed with melted cheese and tender potatoes—delicious!

You can use potatoes in many soups, but did you know you need the right potatoes depending on the soup? Choose the right potatoes, and your soup will taste better and have the texture you want.

How do you choose the right potatoes for your soup? It’s simple:

• For pureed soups and vegetable soups, use potatoes high in starch. They break down well and make the soup thick and creamy.
• For soups with pasta, dumplings, rice, or grains, use potatoes lower in starch. This way, cut or diced potatoes hold their shape.

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe: Which One Is Your Favorite?

There are so many cheesy potato soup recipes. They all have potatoes and cheese as the main ingredients. But everything else can be different! You can get creative and try a new version every time. Here are some of our favorites, and you can easily adjust them to your taste:

Potato Cheese Soup with Vegetables

This soup is easy to make. Use the vegetables you already have in your fridge! A popular choice is cheesy potato vegetable soup with broccoli. But you can also use cauliflower, kohlrabi, celery, cabbage, or carrots to create a new twist.

Want to change the flavor? Try greens and herbs.

• Add green onions for a slightly sharp taste.
• Use dill for a fresh, herby flavor.
• Try parsley for a mild, earthy touch.

See? Simple veggies and a few greens can help you create a new potato cheese soup recipe every time!

Cheddar Potato Soup

What comes to mind when you hear potatoes and cheddar in the same sentence? Of course—soup! Cheddar cheese soup with potatoes is a classic. Cheddar cheese has a nutty, slightly sharp flavor with a hint of tang. When you add it to cooked potatoes, it creates an extra creamy texture.

Since we’re making vegetarian cheesy potato soup, cheddar is perfect. It adds protein without meat or fish. And pairs well with vegetables because it melts beautifully. Want to make sure your cheddar cheese potato soup is extra smooth and creamy? Choose a high-quality cheddar cheese that melts well. Plus, check our tips below to learn how to add cheddar to the soup so the cheese doesn’t clump.

Vegetarian Potato Soup

A vegetarian potato soup with cheese is so delicious. But to make sure it’s truly vegetarian, choose the right cheese. Cheddar, for example, is perfect for a vegetarian diet. Why? Because many cheddar cheese options today are not rennet-based. That means that they don’t contain enzymes from calf stomachs. Instead, they’re made from whole milk and microbial or plant-based rennet.

Is Your Cheese Vegetarian? Here’s How to Check

✅ Your cheese is vegetarian if it contains:

• Microbial rennet
• Plant-based enzymes
• Fungal rennet
• Non-animal enzymes

🚫 Your cheese is not vegetarian if it contains:

• Rennet (if it only says “rennet” without details, assume it’s animal-based)
• Animal enzymes

You can use this checklist for cheddar and other cheeses if you want to check whether they are vegetarian or not.

Every vegetarian loves soups loaded with veggies, right? In our recipe for cheesy potato soup, we use simple vegetables—potatoes, carrots, and onions. You probably already have them in your fridge, so no extra grocery trip is needed!

Use vegetable stock to make the soup extra quick. And don’t forget the spices! The secret to our cheddar and potato soup is the combination of oregano, cumin, and nutmeg. Simple spices for an extra creamy and delicious soup!

Step-by-Step Recipe for Potato Cheese Soup

You can make cheddar potato soup or choose another cheese that melts well. Both will work with this recipe. If you’re not using cheddar, check our tips on how to pick the best cheese for potato cheese soup.

Prefer cheddar potato soup? See our tips on how to choose cheddar that melts beautifully in the soup.

Equipment

Before you start, gather these kitchen tools:

• Pot with a thick bottom
• Grater
• Knife
• Spatula

Ingredients

You need simple, flavorful ingredients to make the best potato soup. Here’s the ingredients list:

• Potatoes – Peel and chop them.
• Neutral vegetable oil
• Butter – Unsalted butter is the best choice because cheese, stock, or dry vegetable bouillon add a lot of salt to the soup.
• Yellow onion – Chop it finely.
• Carrot – Grate it coarsely.
• Vegetable stock – You can use homemade broth, stock or just water with dry vegetable bouillon. We use water and dry vegetable bouillon.

Spices:

• Ground cumin
• Oregano
• White pepper
• Nutmeg
• Bay leaves

Creamy Mixture:

• Heavy cream
• Flour
• Cheddar cheese – Or another type of cheese that melts well.

You can cook potato and cheddar soup with homemade broth, vegetable stock, or a mix of water and dry vegetable bouillon. If you want an extra easy potato cheese soup, use dry vegetable bouillon or ready-made stock. It’s the quickest option.

Be careful with salt! Broth, stock, or bouillon already contains salt, so it’s best to season at the end. That way, you won’t oversalt your soup.

And of course, the cheese! Cheddar cheese is a great choice, but you can also use Gouda or another cheese that melts well. Coarsely grate the cheese for the soup. We don’t recommend store-bought shredded cheddar cheese—it doesn’t melt smoothly.

That’s everything you need for our simple cheesy potato soup recipe. Now, let’s start prepping and cooking!

Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe: The Method

How to make cheddar potato soup? It’s easy!

First, prepare the ingredients. Wash and chop them. Then, make a creamy base with heavy cream and flour.

Next, cook the potatoes and vegetables in butter and oil, then add the spices. And of course, add the cheese! Add it step by step to make the soup extra creamy.

And the best part? This easy cheddar potato soup comes together in just one pot. Yes, that simple!

So, let’s cook!

Prep Your Potato Soup Ingredients

For cheesy potato soup, you’ll need onion, carrot, and potatoes.

• Chop the onion finely.
• Grate the carrot on a coarse grater.
• Cut the potatoes into small pieces—this helps them cook faster! Since this is vegetarian potato soup, we need a lot of potatoes and veggies!

For seasoning, grab oregano, ground cumin, white pepper, and nutmeg. Also, use vegetable stock or water with dry boullion. If you watch your salt intake, choose low-sodium stock.

And don’t forget 1–2 bay leaves!

Make the Creamy Base

Before cooking potato soup with cheese, prep the base to make it creamy. You need cream and flour.

To keep the base smooth, add ⅓ of the cream to the flour. Whisk well until there are no lumps! Then, pour in the rest of the cream and whisk again. No lumps? Then, your base for an extra creamy cheddar potato soup is ready. It keeps the soup creamy and smooth, and you won’t taste the flour. Set it aside.

And of course, the main ingredient—cheddar cheese! For cheddar potato soup, coarsely grate it now so it’s ready to go.

Everything cooks in one pot with butter and a little oil. Avoid olive oil—its strong flavor can overpower the soup. Use neutral oil instead.

Cook the Soup

How to make cheesy potato soup? It’s easy! Let’s dive in.

• Melt butter in a thick-bottomed soup pot, then pour in oil. Use a large pot since you’ll add a lot of veggies and need space. 
• Sauté the onion over medium heat (level 6/9) for 2–3 minutes until soft and translucent.
• Add the carrot and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
• Pour in a little water and stir—about 50g (¼ cup) is enough.
• Add the potatoes and enough water to cover them by about ½ inch (1 cm). You can add water, vegetable stock, or broth, depending on what you have. If you add water, add dry vegetable bouillon together with other spices. Bring to a boil.
• The secret to a flavorful vegetarian potato soup is the right seasoning. So let’s get into it. Add the spice mix, bay leaves, and dry vegetable boullion. If your vegetable stock is salty, skip extra salt—cheese will add more! Adjust salt at the end if needed.
• Cover and cook for 15–20 minutes until the potatoes are super soft. Remove bay leaves. Want a thicker soup? Mash the potatoes slightly with a potato masher. 

Time to Thicken!

• Stir cream and flour mixture.
• Slowly pour it into the soup and keep stirring all the time.
• Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes—this will make your soup nice and creamy.

Add the Cheese!

Now for the best part of potato cheddar soup—adding cheese! But don’t add it all at once. This is really important. Cheddar is the best cheese for potato soup, but if you add it too quickly, it can clump.

• Add a little cheese and stir.
• Wait until it melts, then add more.
• Repeat 4–5 times. If you add all the cheese at once, it might clump!

Look! The cheese is melting, and the soup is turning extra creamy. That’s exactly what you want!

As soon as you see the first bubbles, remove the pot from the heat. Your potato cheddar soup recipe is ready!

How to Store

Store your creamy cheesy potato soup in the refrigerator for up to five days. For the best storage, use an airtight container to keep the flavors fresh.

How to Reheat

How do you reheat homemade cheesy potato soup? When the soup cools, the cheese settles to the bottom. That’s why, before you reheat, stir the soup thoroughly.

• Stovetop: Take out the amount you need and warm it over medium heat. Stir constantly.
• Microwave: Reheat in short intervals and stir in between.

How to Make the Soup Thicker

You can easily thicken your cheese and potato soup. Here’s how:

• Mash the potatoes before you add the cheese. Use a potato masher, but don’t use a regular or immersion blender. Potatoes have a lot of starch, and if you blend them too much, they can turn your soup into a sticky, glue-like texture.
• Add a creamy mixture of cream and flour, like in our recipe. The more flour you add, the thicker the soup gets. Mix it in before you add the cheese.
• Cheese naturally thickens the soup, so once you add it, your soup will become even thicker and creamier.

How to Make the Soup Thinner

• If the soup is too thick, add a little water and stir well.
• Keep stirring and bring your soup to a boil to make sure everything blends smoothly.

How to Choose the Best Cheese for Soup or Pasta Sauce

Soups and pasta sauces are easy to make, but a few key things matter for the perfect dish. The biggest issue? Cheese. Choose the wrong one, and it can curdle. Follow these tips to keep your soup or sauce smooth and creamy:

Choose the Right Cheese

• Pick cheese that melts well in hot liquid, such as cheddar, gouda, or similar types.
• Processed cheeses like American cheese, cheese spreads, and cheese slices melt easily in soup or pasta sauce. Their moisture and smooth texture make them melt perfectly.
• But cheddar is so delicious with potatoes! In vegetarian potato soup, it adds incredible flavor. It also melts perfectly in pasta sauces—if you choose the right type and add it correctly. Do it right, and it melts beautifully—so keep reading!

Avoid Pre-Shredded or Sliced Cheese

• Store-bought shredded or sliced cheese can curdle in soup and pasta. Why? Because it contains anti-caking agents.
• What are anti-caking agents? Simply put, they are potato starch or cellulose. These coat the cheese pieces so they don’t stick together. But because of them, the cheese doesn’t melt smoothly in soups or pasta sauces. They can also make your soup or sauce grainy.
• Instead, buy a block of cheese and grate it at home.

Select a Good Quality Cheese

• Choose a brand you trust with few ingredients.

How to Choose the Best Cheddar for Cheddar Potato Soup or Pasta Sauce

Did you decide to make cheddar potato soup or pasta sauce and need to pick the right cheddar? Follow the tips above for choosing cheese for soup and pasta. But when it comes to cheddar, there are a few extra things to consider. Here’s what to look for:

• Go for a younger, mild, or medium cheddar – Aged cheddar is drier and doesn’t melt smoothly.
• Check for high-fat content – The higher the fat, the better it melts.
• Avoid pre-shredded or grated cheddar. Just like other cheeses, it’s better to buy a block and grate it at home.

How to Test if Cheese Melts Well

There’s a simple trick to check if cheese melts well in soup or sauce. Use it to see if your cheddar will melt properly in cheddar potato soup, or try it with another cheese for potato cheese soup. You can also use this test for any pasta sauce.

• Do a melt test – Grate your cheese, add a little to boiling water, and stir constantly. If it melts smoothly, it’s perfect for cheese soup or sauce.

This trick saves you time so you can make the best cheesy potato soup or pasta sauce—and you won’t waste your ingredients!

How to Add Cheese for a Creamy, Lump-Free Soup

So, if you picked the right cheese and know it melts well in soup (with our melt test or without), it’s important to add it correctly. Here’s how to add cheese to your potato cheese soup to make it creamy and lump-free:

• Grate the cheese. It will dissolve faster.
• Add cheese in small amounts and stir constantly. Once it melts, add the next batch.
• Don’t add all the cheese at once. It can clump. Add around 1.5–1.75 oz (40–50g) at a time, and wait until it melts before adding more. Stir constantly.
• Take an extra five minutes to add your cheese correctly, and you’ll get a delicious, creamy cheese potato soup!

How to Add More Flavor

Want to boost the flavor of your soup? In our cheddar potato soup recipe, we use ground cumin, oregano, and nutmeg to make the soup rich and aromatic. Need more ideas? These spices and herbs work great in cheese potato soup:

• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Smoked paprika
• Marjoram

For a spicy kick, sprinkle in red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce.

Toppings and Garnishes

So now you know how to make a cheese potato soup recipe. But what about the toppings? That’s the easiest way to customize your soup every time, so you don’t always eat it the same way. Here are some ideas:

Classic Toppings

• Crunchy vegetarian or vegan bacon bits. Or fry vegetarian bacon for a few minutes in a pan to get a smoky, crispy bacon topping.
• Green onions or chives – Add a fresh, mild onion flavor.
• Shredded cheese – More cheese is always a good idea!
• A dollop of sour cream – Adds extra creaminess and a slight tang.

Vegetarian Toppings

• Toasted nuts or seeds – Walnuts, almonds, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds add crunch and nuttiness.
• Croutons – A classic crispy topping that adds extra texture, especially in vegetarian potato soup.

Spicy Additions

• Jalapeños or your favorite hot sauce – For an extra kick of heat!

Umami & Flavor Boosters

• Fried mushrooms – They add deep, earthy flavor. Want super aromatic mushrooms? Check our tip in the Ukrainian mushroom soup recipe to learn how to fry mushrooms perfectly so they don’t get soggy!

What Goes With Cheesy Potato Soup?

The best side for cheesy potato soup is something crispy. Serve it with crunchy croutons, garlic bread, or a piece of fresh crusty bread.

Quick & Easy Garlic Bread

We have a garlic bread recipe using sliced bread. So you can quickly make one or two pieces every time you warm up the soup. And what can be better with cheesy potato soup than fresh, crispy garlic bread?

Need Something More Cheesy?

Then try our cheesy muffins! You can make them with cheddar cheese. They are soft inside with a crispy crust.

Craving Something Fresh and Crisp?

Go for a fresh salad, like one with napa cabbage and seasonal veggies. We have a salad with napa, bell pepper, and udon noodles, tossed in a delicious dressing.

If noodles feel too filling with potato soup, just leave them out. But keep the dressing—it’s so refreshing!

Want More Cheese and Potatoes?

How about crispy hashbrowns? Check out our recipe for thin, extra crispy hashbrowns that you can make in the oven. It’s super convenient—you can bake them while you cook the soup!

Looking for More Comfort Food Recipes?

If you love potatoes, try a baked potato! We have a base recipe for a loaded baked potato, and you can make it with different toppings every time.Check out our simple and delicious topping ideas that you can throw together in minutes. Creamy, cheesy potato—so delicious! And the best part? You can make a big batch and freeze it! Check our blog post on how to freeze baked potatoes so they are crispy and creamy after you defrost and reheat them.