A silky, rich, and smoky healthier baked potato soup that loves you right back! Forget the butter, sour cream, and heavy cream that fattens you up. We replace the bad ingredients with the good in this Healthier Loaded Baked Potato Soup! You won’t want Panera’s fatty Rustic Baked Potato Soup after you try this one! Your body will thank you for using healthier options that maintain the same creaminess, and rich, smoky bacon flavor!

Silky, Rich, Smoky Soup that Loves You Back!

Forget the butter! Forget the heavy cream! Forget the sour cream! Forget the flour!

At Soup Queen, we are royalty, and it is time to start making the flavorful soup that our bodies deserve!

I’ll be honest, there are times I crave that southern savory loaded baked potato with cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream. Over the years, I grew tired of the sluggishness and regret from eating something so unhealthy, but so delicious. A few months ago, I devised a plan to satisfy my cravings without the guilt, and while it is not exactly “healthy” because of the bacon content, it is certainly one of the healthier baked potato soups out there with only 215 calories per serving!

With healthier options like olive oil, greek yogurt, chicken bone broth, and 1% milk, you get the same satisfying creaminess with added probiotics, protein, potassium and vitamin C, without compromising the smoky bacon flavor! You won’t be able to tell the difference from the traditional unhealthy loaded baked potato soup. This soup allows you to honor your cravings and body at the same time.

Who will love it?

If you're like me and love baked potato soup but hate how bloated and heavy you feel after eating the traditional butter-and-heavy-cream versions, this recipe is for you. Athletes will love getting protein from Greek yogurt and milk without feeling weighed down before their next workout. Anyone trying to eat healthier but missing their favorite comfort foods will finally have a way to enjoy that rich, smoky flavor without all the excess fat that usually comes with it. It's perfect for people who are tired of having to choose between satisfying their cravings and sticking to their health goals.

This soup is: high in protein, reduced in fat, gut friendly with probiotics, high in potassium, and high in vitamin C.

What are the health benefits?

This soup combines high-quality protein from bacon, Greek yogurt, and milk with the heart-healthy potassium and sustained energy from gold potatoes, creating a nutritious comfort food that delivers probiotics, B vitamins, and bone-building calcium without the heavy cream and excess fat of traditional recipes.

Nutrition facts per 1 cup serving:

Gold Potatoes

These golden beauties are way more nutritious than people think - they've got more potassium than bananas, which is great for your heart and blood pressure. They're also packed with vitamin C for your immune system and B6 for brain health, all while giving you steady energy that won't crash later. Here's the thing about gold potatoes versus those big russet baking potatoes - golds have a naturally creamier texture and don't fall apart as much when you cook them, which is exactly what you want in a soup.

Bacon

Look, I know bacon gets a bad rap, but it's actually packed with high-quality protein that gives you all the essential amino acids your muscles need. Plus, it's loaded with B vitamins that help your body turn food into energy and keep your nervous system running smoothly. Yeah, it's got fat and sodium, but when you use it smartly in a recipe like this, you get all that smoky flavor and nutrition without going overboard.

Greek Yogurt

This stuff is basically a protein bomb in creamy form - it has double the protein of regular yogurt, so it keeps you full way longer. The probiotics are doing good things for your gut health and immune system, plus you're getting a solid dose of calcium for your bones. What makes Greek yogurt so thick and rich is that they strain out all the watery whey, leaving you with concentrated goodness.

1% Milk

Using milk gives you all the good stuff - quality protein, calcium, and B vitamins - without drowning in fat like heavy cream would. The protein helps keep you satisfied, and if you buy fortified milk, you're getting vitamin D too, which most of us don't get enough of. It's got natural sugars that give you quick energy, but nothing that'll make you feel heavy or sluggish afterward.

What you will need

6-7.5 quart pot
Measuring Spoons
Large Capacity Blender (around 8 cups)
Two 48 oz Storage Containers

How to Make it Step by Step

1. Gather Ingredients

Grab your potatoes and bacon, Soup Queens! I recommend Yukon Gold Potatoes because they are creamier and offer a silky texture compared to traditional baked potatoes. 10 strips of bacon gives a light but present flavor with minimal chunks, but feel free to add more or less bacon. You make the rules, Queen!

2. Cook the Bacon

First, cook the bacon in your soup pot on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. For a smokier flavor, cook the bacon longer. Remove the bacon and tear into pieces and set them aside to save for later. Leave the bacon fat in the pot! I know, it’s unhealthy and gross, but this is how to flavor the soup with minimal bacon.

3. Cook the Onions and Garlic

Add the diced onions, garlic, and spices to the bacon fat with a little bit of olive oil and cook until the onions are soft, around 5 minutes. This soup has a nice kick to it, so if you are sensitive to spiciness, reduce the red and black pepper.

4. Put it Together: Potatoes, Chicken Bone Broth, Green Onions, and Chives

You are almost there! Add the diced potatoes, chicken bone broth, green onions and chives, and bring the pot to boil, and then simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes. I like to keep the pot simmering for a few hours to let the onions really flavor the broth and potatoes.

Remember: Don’t add the dairy here! This will cause curdling and will change the texture of the soup.

5. Add the Dairy

Add milk and greek yogurt. Stir well, but do not worry about any chunks that will be blended next. Let soup cool for 10-15 minutes.

6. Transfer to the Blender

Transfer to a blender in batches and blend until smooth, or use an immersion blender. Once blended, return the mixture to the pot and finally…

7. Add the Bacon Pieces and Serve!

Add the bacon pieces and stir into your silky soup. Dish out 1-cup servings with shredded cheddar cheese, chives, plain greek yogurt or sour cream, and bacon to top it off!

Storage (Because You’ll Want Leftovers)

This soup stores well, which makes it practical for meal prep. After cooling completely, it keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors develop and improve overnight.

For longer storage, it freezes well for up to 3 months. I portion it into individual containers so I can thaw single servings as needed. Just thaw overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat on the stovetop with a stir to restore the smooth texture. It reheats nicely and maintains its quality.

Healthier Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Silky, Rich, Smoky Soup that Loves You Back!

Forget the butter! Forget the heavy cream! Forget the sour cream! Forget the flour!

Who will love it?