What to Love About Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
New recipe + My 10 top reasons to love this soup. Enjoy!
Making the Best Creamy Ham & Potato Soup
Suppose you're thrifty-minded and appreciate the taste of homemade soup. In that case, you'll love my new recipe for the best creamy ham and potato soup and my discovery that using the correct type of potato makes all the difference.
Enjoy the delicious taste of this Creamy Ham and Potato Soup—served as a meal on its own, as a first course, or alongside a sandwich. To make this comforting, hearty soup, use cubed Yukon Gold potatoes, pre-cooked diced ham, a gluten-free thickened chicken broth or stock, and a cream base, perfect for slurping. It's not only delicious but also an excellent way to use up leftover ham. I customize the soup to make the flavor super delicious by adding regularly kept vegetables (grated carrot, celery, and a small onion) from the pantry.
So, pull up a chair and join me at my table because today is all about what to love about creamy ham and potato soup!
A Warm Hug in A Bowl…
There's something wonderfully comforting about a warm bowl of soup. While there are so many soups to love, creamy ham and potato soup stands out among the plethora of them that are easy to make at home, combining the rich, savory flavors of ham with the creamy, satisfying texture of potatoes. This dish evokes a sense of nostalgia for many, reminiscent of home-cooked meals shared with family and friends around a cozy kitchen table. It's not just a dish; it's a warm hug in a bowl, perfect for chilly days or evenings when you want to indulge in something truly delightful.
This creamy Ham and Potato Soup is simple and versatile. It utilizes common pantry ingredients such as potatoes, onions, broth or stock, and some leftover ham. Still, it transforms into a luxurious dish by adding cream and simple seasonings that elevate its flavor profile. The contrasting textures of tender potatoes and chunky pieces of ham create a delightful mouthfeel, while the silky broth blankets each spoonful, ensuring that every bite is a perfect blend of creaminess and savory goodness.
A Uniqueness All its Own
But beyond its delicious taste and comforting qualities, creamy ham and potato soup also holds a deeper significance. It represents the importance of resourcefulness in cooking—an ingenious way to use leftover ham and turn it into a memorable meal that minimizes food waste. This dish can be tailored to individual preferences, accommodating various dietary needs and flavor enhancements, making it a beloved staple in countless households.
As we explore the many aspects of Creamy Ham and Potato Soup, from its rich potato history to creative variations to personalize it, it's clear that this dish is more than just a simple recipe; it's a celebration of warmth, love, and culinary creativity that connects us to the very essence of home.
The Best Potato for This Soup
Without tooting my own horn too much, I think it's important to note that I discovered the secret to making the best potato soup years ago.
No—I'm not a cooking genius, LOL—it's just pure luck that once in a while, I stumble upon a thing or two that genuinely makes all the difference in the dishes I cook.
By now, you may have guessed it's all about the Potato. And it most certainly is. But while many home cooks might consider it a simple ingredient, if you've been cooking for a while, it's not much of a secret that using the correct type of ingredient can make or break the recipe, affecting the overall taste and texture of the dish.
About Potatoes
As potatoes go, they are probably one of the most beloved foods in the world, or at least in the United States. From mashed potatoes to French fries and many excellent dishes (too many to name), potatoes are among the most versatile and delicious foods ever.
Moreover, potatoes are one of the most affordable foods you can buy. Therefore, they are a fantastic choice when staying within a tight budget or preparing a meal for a large family.
But I digress; therefore, if you are curious about potatoes and the best types to use in your recipes, I encourage you to check out my spud spectrum article. It looks into common kinds of tubers found in the grocery store and includes a bit of their culinary history.
How to get this recipe:
You can access the Creamy Ham & Potato Soup digital recipe card on GfreeDeliciously.com. Once there, you can easily adjust the servings, add ingredients to your grocery list, read about the equipment and resource recommendations we’ve used to make it, and quickly print, pin, or favorite it!
Keep scrolling 👇 for a quick summary of the recipe below. 👩🍳
As an added benefit to paid subscribers, you can download a 3-ring-binder-ready printable recipe PDF. Find it at the end of this post to print or save for building a cookbook of all your favorites!
To get even more juicy details, read LFN #239, which has bonus information about choosing the best potatoes for your recipes…
The Home Cook's Guide to Potatoes: LFN #239
The Home Cook's Guide to Potatoes: Starchy, Waxy, All-Purpose Potatoes & Their Best Cooking Uses
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Spoiler Alert: You Need to Use a Waxy or an All-Purpose Potato
Jumping ahead to the best potato to make this recipe: While you might reach for a starchy potato (like a Russet or Idaho), let's skip past these varieties and head right to waxy and all-purpose potatoes in the spud spectrum.
Waxy Potatoes:
First, waxy potatoes, compared to starchier potatoes like russets and Idahos, have a low starch and high water content. The higher water content allows them to hold their shape better when they cook. Therefore, they are an excellent potato to use in recipes where you want it to maintain its shape. But…
Instead, my first choice is an all-purpose potato…
I like using the comparison that others have made to think about all-purpose potatoes like you would think about all-purpose flour. Similarly, as an all-purpose flour is good in "almost" any baking or cooking situation, all-purpose potatoes are also well-suited for "most" dishes.
Thin-skinned white potatoes, purple potatoes, and Yukon Gold potatoes—my choice of potatoes for this soup — are all in this category.
Besides being the type of potato I almost always have in my pantry, you can't beat Yukon Gold Potatoes' balance of starch to water for my creamy ham and potato soup. These potatoes have an equal medium starch and water content, making them perfect for this soup!
This variety of potatoes also holds its shape better than a starchy potato while cooking up fork-tender with a creamy texture, making them an excellent choice.
Besides their creamy texture, the most unique quality of Yukon Gold Potatoes is their delicious buttery flavor, which is perfect for this soup without adding much butter.
Pre-cooked Ham
The rich, savory flavor of ham adds so much to this potato soup!
You'll need only a small amount of ham, so it's a great way to extend a tiny amount remaining from pre-cooked store-bought packages or ham leftovers from your holiday dinner.
Dicing the ham into roughly quarter-inch pieces or half-inch cubes is the perfect size for spooning when you eat.
Vegetables for Flavor
While technically, you can skip the carrot, celery, and onion in potato soup, I strongly suggest including them. These three ingredients up the ante, so to speak, adding flavor. And let's not forget the vitamins, nutrients, and fiber in them that make the soup a wholesome meal.
Another great option is peas if you have them. They add even more vitamin C and antioxidants to the soup.
A Balance of Stock and Cream
To amp up the flavor in this soup, I use a two-to-one combination of chicken broth or stock and half-and-half to contribute a rich, hearty, flavorful taste while keeping the overall calories a little lighter. But you could also use broth or stock with just heavy cream.
The Difference Between Broth and Stock
If only I had a nickel for whenever someone asked me, "What is the difference between broth and stock?"…
It's a fair question; maybe you've wondered about the difference, too.
I need to credit my answer to my long-ago home-ec teacher, who taught me that the easiest way to remember the difference between broth and stock is that stock begins with "S," the same letter that bones ends with. While her little trick for remembering stuck in my thick noggin', I also think "sturdy" because bones make a sturdy, thick consistency.
The main difference between broth and stock is that broth includes meat, bones, vegetables, and seasonings and has a more pronounced flavor. On the other hand, stock is made "only" from bones, vegetables, and aromatics, serving as a background flavor and a base for soups and sauces, meaning it should be unsalted.
While both provide flavor—when making it, the broth is cooked less and tends to be thinner. It also doesn't have a stock's thick "sturdy" consistency.
On the flip side, when making stock, the collagen-rich bones simmer for hours to coax out loads of flavor along with the gelatin in the bones. That gelatin makes stock solid (like Jell-O) when refrigerated, while broth keeps its liquid form even when refrigerated.
Soup Seasonings
While you could add fresh or other dried herbs or seasonings, I like to keep it simple: seasoning with black pepper, celery salt, roasted garlic powder (only a tiny amount), and a dash or two of table salt to taste.
I keep roasted garlic powder in my spice cabinet, but if you only have regular garlic powder, use that instead or leave it out entirely if garlic causes you a problem.
If you only have powdered chicken base instead of broth or stock, that will work in a pinch as a replacement for liquid, but be aware of its saltiness. Do you prefer soupier soup? Increase the total liquid (stock and half-and-half) you use to accommodate your level of slurpy-ness 😊!
💭 Before you get started...
Here are my 10 top reasons to love this soup:
This soup embodies the essence of comfort food and is at the top of my list of favorite soups. It's warm, creamy, and filling, making it perfect for chilly days or when you're seeking a cozy meal.
It's also a great use of leftovers. Do you have leftover ham from a holiday meal or other occasion? Or have you ever bought a package of diced or cubed ham for one recipe and then had a partial package left that you're unsure what to do with? This soup is an excellent way to use it. It minimizes food waste and transforms leftovers into a delicious new dish.
Let's not forget about this soup's nutritional ingredients. Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant; they provide carbohydrates and fiber, while ham adds protein. Beyond that, you can easily incorporate vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, and peas (if you have them) for added nutrients, making it a wholesome meal.
You can also customize this creamy ham and Potato soup further to suit your taste. Add fresh herbs, spices, or other vegetables to personalize it. You can also make it creamier or lighter, depending on your preference.
Still, no matter how you make it, it's easy to prepare, uses simple (standard) ingredients, is quick to make, and requires minimal cooking skills. It typically involves cooking the ingredients in one pot, which means less cleanup!
All in all, you can't beat it as a satisfying meal. The creamy base, tender potatoes, and savory ham make for a very filling dish. It can easily serve as a standalone meal.
Let's not forget that it's perfect for meal prep: Creamy Ham & Potato Soup stores in the refrigerator and can be reheated quickly in your microwave or stovetop. So, it's great for meal prep, ensuring you have a delicious lunch or dinner ready to go.
It's family-friendly—this soup appeals to both adults and children. Its mild flavor and creamy texture make it easy for kids to enjoy.
Perfect for seasonal variations—while it's great in colder months, you can also tweak the recipe to include other seasonal vegetables, making it a versatile choice throughout the year.
Lastly, you'll appreciate every one of these points because it's a penny-wise recipe for a soup everyone loves!
Thanks for stopping by. Have a happy time souping it up!
Picture the recipe step-by-step:
Would you prefer to recreate this soup visually, step-by-step? View the recipe card with easy-to-follow photos over on the main website.
From frying the bacon garnish to combining the soup ingredients, each step will ensure your creamy ham and potato soup is lip-smackingly delicious!
Creamy Ham & Potato Soup
Gluten-Free + Corn-Free, Egg-Free, Grain-Free, Keto-Friendly, Nut-Free, Paleo, Pescatarian, Sodium Smart, Soy-Free
Creamy Ham & Potato Soup is the ultimate comfort food—a hearty and satisfying dish that brings warmth to chilly days. This velvety soup features tender Yukon Gold Potatoes and savory ham, all simmered to perfection in a rich, creamy base. Bursting with flavor and easy to make, it's a great way to use up leftover ham while providing a nourishing meal for your family. Serve it with crusty gluten-free Sourdough bread or a fresh salad for a complete and delightful dining experience. This soup will become a favorite in your kitchen, perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings!
Equipment
Medium Dutch Oven or Heavy Pot
Cutting Board
Utensils (Cooks Knife, Measuring Cups and Spoons, Whisk, Large Spoon, or Soup Ladle)
Ingredients
3 slices Bacon, cut into ½" pieces
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Butter
1 small Carrot, grated
1 stalk Celery, minced
1 small Onion, diced
2 cups Chicken Broth or Stock
1 cup Half-and-Half [1]
4 small Yukon Gold Potatoes, cubed ½" pieces
2 teaspoons gluten-free All-purpose Flour + 1 tablespoon water combined into a slurry
¼ cup Ham, diced
½ teaspoon black Pepper
½ teaspoon Celery Salt
¼ teaspoon Roasted Garlic Powder
Table Salt to taste
Instructions
Brown the bacon until evenly crisp, drain, and set aside for garnish.
Meanwhile, warm the butter and olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add the carrot, celery, and onion and cook until the onion becomes translucent and the vegetables soften (about 3-4 minutes).
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken broth (or stock), half-and-half, and potatoes. Bring to a boil (about 5 minutes).
Immediately reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer the soup mixture for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender. Add the ham and season with pepper, celery salt, garlic, and table salt to taste.
Whisk the flour and water slurry into the soup mixture, using enough to thicken it to the desired consistency until it is creamy and smooth. Simmer an additional 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings if necessary.
Serving & Storage -
Garnish with the reserved bacon, and serve with crusty gluten-free Sourdough bread or a fresh salad for a complete hearty meal.
Store creamy ham and potato soup in the refrigerator. It can be reheated quickly in your microwave or stovetop, making it great for meal prep. This ensures you have a delicious lunch or dinner ready to go.
Kitchen Notes:
Footnotes:
[1] I use a two-to-one combination of chicken broth or stock and half-and-half to contribute a rich, hearty, flavorful taste while keeping the overall calories a little lighter. But you could also use broth or stock with just heavy cream.
More garnish ideas:
Grated cheddar cheese
Sliced green onions
Enjoy the Recipe! Scroll to the end for the downloadable PDF, which you can print and save to your recipe binder.
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