Grandmother’s Potato Soup Recipe
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My Grandmother’s Potato Soup Recipe makes an old-fashioned, easy, comforting soup recipe. Made with 5 ingredients and no heavy cream! Instant Pot instructions included.
Soup always makes one of my favorite meals. Like our favorite vegetable soup and chicken and dumplings, this is one of the soups that I grew up loving the most. Before there was such a thing as loading a potato soup with bacon, cheese, and onions, my Grandmother Verdie made her potato soup very simply – with potatoes, milk, butter, and salt and pepper. If my sister Wendy and I knew that Grandmother made this soup for supper, we’d beg to be able to eat supper with her. With one bite, it is so easy to understand why!
The Best Potato Soup Recipe
You could add all sorts of things to this soup if you’d like, but I recommend starting with this simple, basic recipe and go from there. Most times, we would rather stick with this version than add a lot of other ingredients, like leeks, onions, and whatnot.
Simple really is best most of the time, isn’t it?
How to Make The Best Potato Soup Recipe
To make Grandmother’s easy potato soup recipe, you’ll only need a few ingredients and to follow a few steps.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Potatoes – I prefer to use russets. You’ll need 2 pounds, about six medium. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes.
- Water – You will need enough fresh, clean water to cover the potatoes.
- Milk – I use whole milk in my potato soup. You can also use your favorite dairy-free milk substitute.
- Butter – the butter adds so much flavor to this soup.
- Salt and Pepper – add salt and pepper to taste for seasoning.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep potatoes. begin by scrubbing your potatoes clean, peeling, and then cutting them into about 2-inch chunks. Place the potatoes into a large soup pot (I use my Dutch oven), cover it with clean water, and stir.
- Cook. Cook over medium heat until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain away the water from the potatoes. Add your whole milk and butter to the potatoes and place back on medium heat. Allow the milk to bubble slightly around the edges of the soup pot, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Season. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Creamy Potato Soup Recipe Without Adding Flour
To customize the consistency and texture of this soup recipe, you can serve it as shown with tender chunks of potatoes or you can make a smooth and creamy soup by using an immersion blender in your soup pot until it reaches the consistency you prefer. No need to add flour or make a slurry with this simple trick! Naturally gluten-free! But really, the chunkiness is simply perfect and I definitely recommend that you give it a try!
If you like a smoother textured soup with all the trimmings (think sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions), you may want to check out my creamy Loaded Potato Soup Recipe as well.
Dairy-Free Potato Soup
To make this soup dairy-free, replace the milk and butter called for in the recipe with dairy-free substitutes. A delicious option for dairy-free milk for this soup is coconut milk. I prefer to use the canned version for the added creamy texture. For the butter, there is plant-based butter readily available. Use your favorites!
Can You Make Potato Soup Ahead?
Allow your soup to cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve.
How to Make Potato Soup Recipe in the Instant Pot
This easy soup recipe is so easy to make in the Instant Pot.
- Rather than cooking in the Dutch oven, add the water, potatoes, butter, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and turn the vent to seal it. Cook on the manual setting at high pressure for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release feature.
- Remove the lid to the Instant Pot and set the cook setting to saute. Stir in the milk and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and serve. If you prefer a smooth and loaded potato soup, use an immersion blender to blend the soup and serve it with your favorite toppings.
Other Favorite Soup Recipes:
Here’s Grandmother’s Potato Soup Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Potato Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (about 6 medium) Russet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled, and chopped
- water
- 3 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cover potatoes with water in a large soup pot.
- Cook over medium heat until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
- Add milk and butter to the potatoes. Place back on medium heat and allow milk to bubble slightly around the edges of the soup pot, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and ladle into soup bowls.
- Serve with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Storage Tips
To store leftovers and make ahead. Allow your soup to cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve.Recipe Variations
Dairy-Free Potato Soup: Replace the butter with plant-based butter and use your favorite milk substitute. Vegetarian Potato Soup: This recipe is vegetarian as written. Vegan Potato Soup: Use the replacements for dairy-free soup. Loaded Potato Soup: See my full recipe for Loaded Potato Soup for ingredient measurements and instructions.How to Make Potato Soup in the Instant Pot
Rather than cooking in the Dutch oven, add the water, potatoes, butter, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and turn the vent to seal it. Cook on the manual setting at high pressure for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release feature. Remove the lid to the Instant Pot and set the cook setting to saute. Drain any water remaining in the Instant Pot. Stir in the milk and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot and serve. If you prefer a smooth and loaded potato soup, use an immersion blender to blend the soup and serve it with your favorite toppings.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Orignally published 2011.
My mother always made this soup, except she always cooked onion in it. So good and so many memories! I love this simple soup!
Love the potato soup recipe. Reminds me of my mother’s which I love, love. I have big boys who can eat some serious amounts of food. My boys couldn’t get over how I just or their words exactly…”MOM, JUST PotatoeSoup and nothing else? So my questions is should’ve I made some type of bread or another side with your delicious Potatoe Soup? Thank you hungry boys love to eat.
Holly, glad everyone loved the soup. Next time, you can serve rolls or other bread and/or salad with this soup. Or you could add any other similar side dish that your boys love with soup. Thanks.
It was so easy and it was delicious I will make it again and again
Thank you
I’ve looked at many recipes that looked like my Gma used to make. As soon as I looked at the pic, I knew this was the one. I’ve made it twice this week, taking it to friends. They loved it too. It’s exactly as I remember from my childhood. Thank you!
Isn’t it amazing that so many of our grandmothers made similar recipes? I’m so glad you found this one. Thanks
Many years ago, I found a similar recipe in a Fannie Farmer Junior cookbook from either the 1940’s or 50’s. Your grandmother’s soup recipe is very similar and equally wonderful. I like it best simple and “unloaded” and it’s healthier too.
This is a really simple soup. You can add other ingredients to this soup if you like but I always liked it simple just as Grandmother made it. Thanks.
My grandmother made this soup, but without the milk. She also added a dash of sugar. I really enjoy eating cornbread with it. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
I was undecided of which kind of soup to have for dinner. I made the right choice. It was the delicious and it was a big hit with the family.
I’m so happy you liked this soup, Jacquelin. It has always been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl.
My mom made this same soup with the addition of onions. I saw her make it many times, but she failed to pass on the actual recipe for family members. Its nice to have actual measurements to pass along. Thanks sooo much for sharing!!!
Teena
I’m so glad I had my grandmother’s recipe to pass along. Hope you enjoy the soup and it brings back sweet memories of your mother.
It doesn’t seem that this recipe makes much. What would you do to have a larger portion? Double recipe exactly?
I’ve used this recipe three times now and it is awesome. Sometimes simple is better and in this case, it definitely is. I add cheese and chives to each serving and my roommate, who is very picky, loves it!
Thanks, Sandy. I have always loved this simple soup my Grandmother made.
I was skeptical at first, but now I am a believer. To add my own personal touch to it, I added a little bit of onion powder and, of course, bacon pieces.
“Add bacon”…
words to live by
I’m glad you liked the soup, Andrew.
😁😁😁😁
What about adding onions. If i wanted to add onions how could i incorporate it? This looks exactly like what i remember my GMA would make.
If you wanted to add onions to this soup, cook them with the potatoes, Court. Hope you enjoy!
What about using fat free milk instead?
I have not used fat free milk in this recipe, Jessica.
I was looking for something like my grandma’s recipe too! I made this absolute bowl of perfection potato soup today!
Thank you! Our grandma’s had great taste!
They certainly did, Renee. I’m so glad this soup was like your grandmother made for you, too.
This is how my momma made it except she did add some finely chopped celery and a little dried onion. ( Small amount). She would sometimes thicken with Instant mashed potatoes if she added too much milk by accident!! This is my favorite kind