Hash Brown Potato Soup

By Becky Hardin

Updated May 26, 2025

This HASH BROWN POTATO CHEESE SOUP is an absolute Winter MUST MAKE! The ultimate comfort food soup made in minutes. So cheesy and delicious. Topped with sauteed carrots and bacon for extra flavor! - 4

Hash Brown Potato Soup is an absolute must-make for winter! This creamy, cheesy soup comes together in minutes by using frozen hash browns. It’s the best comfort food soup for busy weeknights. Rich, hearty, and delicious, top the soup with sautéed carrots and bacon for extra flavor and texture.

Overhead view of a bowl of hash brown potato soup loaded with toppings. - 5

Pin this recipe for later!

5-Star Review

“I have made this soup probably 10 times! It is amazing! Thank you for this awesome recipe.” -Brooke

Easy Hash Brown Potato Cheese Soup

Making potato soup with hash browns is so easy, you’ll never go back to using fresh potatoes. This recipe can be made in less than an hour, with minimal prep work. Just be sure to thaw the hash brown before you make the soup.

Whether you want to serve this cheesy hash brown soup simply as is or load it up with toppings (what’s better than loaded potato soup?) there are plenty of delicious ingredients to add. Top each bowl of soup with more bacon crumbles , sour cream, sliced jalapeños, caramelized onions , or crumbled crackers.

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 6-8 slices bacon slices cut into 1/8 inch slices
▢ 4 carrots peeled and shredded
▢ 1 yellow onion diced
▢ 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
▢ 30 ounce frozen shredded bash browns thawed
▢ 6 cups unsalted chicken broth
▢ 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt start with 1 teaspoon and add more if needed after adding the cheese
▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢ ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
▢ 1 teaspoon fines herbes a mixture of chervil, parsley, tarragon & chives or parsley.
▢ 1 cup heavy cream
▢ 1 cup milk
▢ 2 cups grated cheese a mixture of cheddar and Gruyere tastes great.

Optional Garnishes

▢ chopped chives
▢ crispy bacon
▢ sautéed shredded carrots

Video

Instructions

In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set bacon aside and add immediately before serving. 6-8 slices bacon slices
Remove all but 2 tablespoons bacon grease from pan.
Return pan to heat and sauté shredded carrots and diced onions until onions are translucent and carrots soften and begin to caramelize. (If desired, set aside 3 tablespoons of the sautéed vegetables to use as garnish.) 4 carrots, 1 yellow onion
Sprinkle flour over sautéed onions and carrots, mix well and cook 30 seconds. 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Add chicken stock and seasonings.* 6 cups unsalted chicken broth, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon fines herbes, 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt
Add hash browns and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender.** 30 ounce frozen shredded bash browns
Add cream and milk and cook 5-10 minutes, stirring often. Watch closely so soup doesn’t scald. 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup milk
Add cheese and stir until cheese melts. 2 cups grated cheese
Taste the soup, and if needed, add more salt and other seasonings.
Garnishes: chopped fresh parsley, chives, sautéed carrot/onion mixture. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Becky’s Tips

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Hash Brown Potato Soup Step by Step

Cook the bacon: In a Dutch oven, cook 6-8 slices of bacon over medium-high heat until crisp, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add just before serving.

Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease from the pan.

Cook the carrots and onions: Return pan to heat and sauté 4 shredded carrots and 1 diced onion until onion is translucent and carrots soften and begin to caramelize. If desired, set aside 3 tablespoons of the sautéed vegetables to use as garnish.

Adding flour to carrot and onion mixture. - 8

Add flour: Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of flour over sautéed onions and carrots, mix well, and cook 30 seconds.

Adding broth and spices to the soup. - 9

Add broth and seasoning : Add 6 cups of chicken stoc k, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon fines herbes, and 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt.

Adding shredded hash browns to the soup pot. - 10

Add hash browns: Add 30 ounces of frozen shredded hash browns and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender.

Adding cream and milk to pureed soup. - 11

Puree and add cream and milk : If you want a smooth soup, puree the soup with an immersion blender and then add 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of milk and cook 5-10 minutes, stirring often. Watch closely so the soup doesn’t scald.

Mix in the cheese : Add 2 cups of grated cheese and stir until the cheese melts.

Two bowls of potato cheese soup on a table. - 13

Taste, garnish, and serve: Taste the soup, and if needed, add more salt and other seasonings. Garnishes with chopped fresh parsley, chives, bacon, or sautéed carrot/onion mixture. Serve immediately.

How to Store

Store leftover hash brown potato soup in an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop for best results, gently heating and stirring until warmed through.

To freeze this soup , pour it into freezer-safe bags (if you’d like to freeze it flat) or containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge then reheat on the stove.

Because this soup contains potatoes, cheese, and heavy cream, the texture might change when it’s frozen and reheated, so keep that in mind.

Serving Suggestions

A bowl of this cheesy hash brown potato soup doesn’t need much, but it pairs well with homemade cornbread and our favorite Parker House rolls for dipping and soaking up the cheesy potato goodness. Or make these roasted mushrooms to serve on the side, or on top. To add some greens, try a chopped salad .

Two bowls of potato soup made with hash browns. - 14

more potato soups to try!

Cheesy Potato Soup

overhead image of creamy potato soup in a white bowl topped with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon with a spoon - 17

overhead image of creamy potato soup in a white bowl topped with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon with a spoon - 18

Instant Pot Potato Soup

Two bowls of chowder with cheese and bacon. - 19

Two bowls of chowder with cheese and bacon. - 20

Crockpot Potato Soup

A bowl of soup with potatoes, carrots and ham. - 21

A bowl of soup with potatoes, carrots and ham. - 22

Ham and Potato Soup

Hash Brown Potato Soup (Potato Cheese Soup)