The Ultimate Creamy Potato, Green Bean, and Bacon Soup: A Timeless Comfort Food Recipe
Indulge in a bowl of this incredibly flavorful, creamy soup, packed with tender fresh green beans, hearty potatoes, and savory bacon. It’s a delightful meal any time of year, but truly shines when garden-fresh green beans are in season!
Since its initial publication in July 2015, this Potato, Green Bean & Bacon Soup recipe has become an absolute sensation! It has been incredibly well-received, shared countless times, and consistently earns rave reviews from readers. I’ve received so many messages from delighted home cooks expressing their love for this hearty, comforting dish.
“Yes! This was delicious! Thank you for sharing – it’s a keeper =)” – Kelly P.
There’s something truly magical about cooking with ingredients picked fresh from your own garden. When you can gather green beans right off the vine, this soup transcends deliciousness, becoming an extra special culinary experience. While I may live in the Midwest where garden harvests are seasonal, the good news is that fresh green beans from the grocery store’s produce section have been consistently excellent lately. This allows us to enjoy this delightful creamy potato green bean bacon soup year-round, much to the happiness of my youngest son!
Today, as I’m updating this beloved post, I’m thrilled to also include a brand new recipe video. Now, you can easily follow along and watch exactly how this scrumptious soup comes together, ensuring perfect results every time.
^LOVE IT? Pin it!^
The Unexpected Joy of Summer Soup
Some of you might be wondering, “A soup recipe in July? In this heat?” And I completely understand the thought! However, in our home, soup isn’t reserved just for chilly autumn or frosty winter evenings. We embrace the joy of a warm, comforting bowl of soup throughout the entire year. It’s simply one of our family’s most cherished meals. The beauty of this particular potato green bean bacon soup recipe is that it truly shines when made with vibrant, fresh green beans, whether they come straight from your backyard garden or a bustling local farmer’s market. The crisp texture and bright flavor of fresh beans elevate this dish to another level.
A Recipe Passed Down Through Generations
This heartwarming soup recipe comes directly from my mother-in-law, and it was, without a doubt, my husband’s absolute favorite meal growing up. Surprisingly, it took me a full 24 years of marriage to finally make it for him. The reason? Well, it might sound a little odd, but it wasn’t until recent years that I developed a genuine love for fresh green beans. As a child, I distinctly remember telling my mom I didn’t like them because they were “fuzzy”!
Oh, how times change! I am now completely head over heels in love with them, and honestly, I regret missing out on so many years of enjoying such a wonderfully versatile and delicious vegetable. Discovering this recipe and embracing the fresh green bean has truly opened up a world of culinary delight in my kitchen. It’s a testament to how tastes evolve and how some of the best recipes are often those with a rich family history.
Why This Creamy Potato Green Bean Bacon Soup is a Must-Try
Beyond its family origins, there are many reasons why this creamy potato green bean bacon soup has captured so many hearts (and taste buds!). It’s the perfect blend of savory bacon, earthy potatoes, and the fresh bite of green beans, all enveloped in a rich, velvety broth. It’s a complete meal in a bowl, satisfying and deeply comforting without being overly heavy.
- Versatility: Delicious in any season.
- Flavor Profile: A harmonious blend of salty, creamy, and fresh.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses common, accessible ingredients you likely already have.
- Crowd-Pleaser: A hit with both kids and adults, making it perfect for family dinners.
- Customizable: Easily adapted to fit dietary preferences or ingredient availability.
More Fresh Green Bean Recipe Favorites:
- Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner with Potatoes & Green Beans
- Soy Balsamic Glazed Green Beans
- Green Beans with Tomato and Bacon
- Green Bean Salad with Quinoa
- Southern Style Green Beans with Tomatoes and Bacon
- Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner with Green Beans
Decoding a Family Secret: From “Throw This In” to a Perfect Recipe
When my mother-in-law or sister-in-law describe this recipe, it’s less of a precise guide and more of an intuitive culinary dance. Their instructions usually involve phrases like, “Throw this in, throw that in, sometimes I add this, sometimes I use that.” There aren’t exact measurements or rigid steps, just generations of delicious experience. So, for my very first attempt at recreating my husband’s cherished childhood favorite, I decided to meticulously measure each ingredient as I cooked. The goal was to transform their intuitive wisdom into a clear, replicable recipe.
The moment he walked through the door, I waved him over to the stove, brimming with anticipation. I lifted the lid, revealing the steaming, fragrant soup, and proudly declared, “I finally made your favorite soup!” He took a spoonful, savored it, and with a smile, pronounced it “perfect!” That, my friends, is what we call #Winning in the kitchen!
Key Ingredients for This Hearty Soup:
This incredibly satisfying Potato, Green Bean and Bacon Soup relies on a few simple, yet powerful, ingredients to create its rich flavor and creamy texture:
- Fresh Green Beans: The star of the show, providing freshness and a delightful bite.
- Potatoes: Lending their starchy goodness to thicken the soup and add heartiness.
- Onion: Sautéed to perfection, adding a foundational layer of aromatic flavor.
- Bacon: The crispy, salty hero that infuses the entire soup with irresistible smoky notes.
- Heavy Cream & Milk: The dynamic duo responsible for the soup’s luxurious, velvety texture.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors.
Bringing Your Soup to Life: Simple Steps for a Delicious Meal
Making this soup is a straightforward process, focusing on building layers of flavor. It all begins with the bacon. In a sturdy Dutch oven or large pot, cook your bacon pieces until they reach a beautiful, crispy perfection. Once done, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving it for later. You’ll want to drain most of the rendered bacon grease from the pot, but be sure to leave a little bit behind – that precious flavor-infused fat will be the foundation for sautéing your onions. Add the chopped onions to the pot and cook them gently until they become translucent and tender, absorbing all those delicious bacon flavors.
While your bacon crisps and onions soften, prepare your green beans and potatoes. Steam the green beans until they are slightly tender-crisp. For the potatoes, peel and cut them, then boil them until they are fork-tender. Once cooked, drain the water and give them a slight mash. This will help them break down and contribute to the creamy texture of the soup without being fully pureed.
Now it’s time to bring all these wonderful components together. Return the crispy bacon and the steamed green beans to the Dutch oven with the sautéed onions. Add the mashed potatoes, then pour in the heavy cream and milk. Stir everything gently to combine, allowing the flavors to meld. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer gently until it is heated through, taking care not to bring it to a rolling boil, which can sometimes cause dairy to curdle.
A Note on Creaminess: Making it Your Own
The beauty of homemade soup lies in its adaptability. While I used full-fat heavy cream for an exceptionally rich and indulgent experience (and because I happened to have it on hand!), you can easily adjust the creaminess and fat content to your preference. This soup can be wonderfully lightened up by substituting half & half for the heavy cream, or even using all milk. Just be aware that if you opt for all milk, the broth will be a bit thinner, but still incredibly flavorful. Regardless of your choice, the end result will be a deeply satisfying and delicious bowl of homemade goodness.
Serving Suggestions and Storage Tips
This creamy potato green bean bacon soup is hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own. However, it pairs beautifully with a side of crusty bread for dipping, a light green salad, or even a grilled cheese sandwich for the ultimate comfort food experience. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a few extra crumbles of bacon for added visual appeal and flavor.
If you find yourself with leftovers, this soup reheats wonderfully. Store any uneaten portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, do so gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Avoid boiling to maintain the creamy texture. While freezing can sometimes alter the texture of dairy-based soups, many readers have successfully frozen this soup in individual portions. If freezing, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently, adding a splash of milk or cream if needed to restore consistency.
The Joy of Homemade Soup
There’s an undeniable warmth and satisfaction that comes with preparing a homemade soup from scratch. It’s an act of love, filling your home with inviting aromas and your family with nourishing, delicious food. This Potato, Green Bean, and Bacon Soup embodies all of that – it’s a simple yet elegant dish that brings comfort and joy to every spoonful. Whether you’re making it to relive cherished family memories or creating new ones, it’s sure to become a beloved staple in your recipe collection.
Enjoy every delicious bite!
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Print Recipe
Potato, Green Bean & Bacon Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh green beans ends snipped and cut into small pieces
- 1 pound bacon cut into small pieces
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 medium sized potatoes peeled and 1/8’d
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 2 cups 2% milk
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
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Peel and cut potatoes into 1/8s. Boil either on your stove or in the microwave until tender. Drain water and slightly mash. Set aside.
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Steam green beans until slightly tender. Set aside.
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n your dutch oven, cook bacon pieces until slightly crispy, remove bacon with a slotted spoon, drain excess fat, but don’t wipe the bottom clean.
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Add onion to dutch oven and sauté in drippings until soft.
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Add bacon back in, add green beans, mashed potatoes, and cover with milk and cream.
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Warm for a bit until heated through, taking care not to boil.
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Salt & Pepper to taste.