If the term 'Comfort Food' were in the dictionary, a picture of this Mashed Potato Soup Recipe would surely be the definition! Easy to make and loaded with garlicky mashed potatoes, this will certainly be a family fave!

Wikipedia describes 'Comfort food' as food which provides a nostalgic or sentimental feeling, and is often characterized by a high carbohydrate level and easy preparation. Yep! That about sums up this soup in a nutshell! And while we're talking comfort food, my Fresh Corn and Chicken Chowder is a quick and easy recipe too!

Nostalgia? Check! Mashed potatoes were a much anticipated side dish when I was growing up and bring back good memories of home cooked meals around our family table. My mom can do mashed potatoes, y'all! She always made them using fresh potatoes, lots of butter, and creamy milk too! When it comes to mashed potatoes, I've never tasted anything other than freshly made, and I plan to keep it that way!

Carbs? Check! It's true, potatoes are high in carbs, but the good complex carbohydrates that come with fiber, vitamins, and minerals too. In fact, potatoes are a good source of vitamins B6 and C, as well as potassium and magnesium! Potatoes are naturally gluten free and delicious too! What's not to love?!

Easy Recipe? Check! This soup is easy to make, and we love to enjoy it with a BLT Sandwich. It's a quick dinner any night of the week. If you have leftover mashed potatoes (what's that?), you can use those in place of making the mashed potatoes, which makes it even quicker and easier! Speaking of potato soup, you'll want to check out my Potato Leek and Bacon Soup. It will bring out the Irish in you!

As you can see, this garlicky mashed potato soup recipe with bacon & cheese checks all the comfort food boxes for me. It has nostalgia, carbs, and is an easy recipe to prepare, not to mention it is out-of-this-world good and warms you up from your head right down to your toes!! What's your favorite comfort food recipe?

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Mashed Potato Soup Recipe

By Life Tastes Good
Published 03/10/2016

Ingredients

• 4 russet potatoes, cubed (I used Idaho potatoes)
• 3 gloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 tablespoon of kosher salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/2 tablespoon freshly minced garlic
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoon chicken base
• 2 cups milk
• Chives, chopped
• Bacon, crumbled
• Cheese, shredded
• Parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Don't bother peeling the potatoes. The skin is good for you, so go ahead and keep it on the potatoes! Place cubed potatoes into a stock pot and add enough water to cover. Add 3 cloves garlic and 1/2 tablespoon salt to the water. Bring to a boil over mid-high heat. Reduce the heat just enough to maintain boil, but not boil over. Boil until potatoes are fork tender, about 10 minutes. This time will vary depending on the size of your potato cubes.
2. Drain the potatoes. Place the potatoes into a mixing bowl with 1/4 cup unsalted butter and mash the potatoes with the beater or paddle attachment of your mixer until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mashed potatoes to another bowl and set aside until ready to use.
3. In the same pot, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter over medium heat. Saute 1/2 cup finely chopped onion with 1/2 tablespoon freshly minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
4. Add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour to the vegetables in the pot and stir to coat. Stir in 3 cups water with 1 tablespoon chicken base and bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve the flour. Reduce the heat to mid-low and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. NOTE: You can substitute 3 cups chicken broth in place of the water/chicken base combo. I prefer chicken base over the broth. For me is has better flavor, and I also like how much easier it is to store and keep in the fridge.
5. Add the reserved mashed potatoes and 2 cups milk to the liquid in the pot. Stir to combine and give it a taste. Add more salt & pepper to your liking and cook over medium heat until thickened. This should take about 5-10 minutes. Garnish with chives, bacon, cheese, and some parsley if you like. Enjoy!

Yield: 4-6 Servings
Prep Time: 10 mins.

Cook time: 30 mins.
Total time: 40 mins.

Tags: Mashed Potato Soup Recipe, Comfort Food, Fresh Ingredients, Easy Recipe, Mashed Potatoes, Garlic, Soup, Bacon, Cheese, Homemade

Another tasty use for leftover mashed potatoes is my Chicken and Waffles Poutine recipe