This Vegetarian Cheesy Potato Soup recipe is easy, creamy, extremely delicious, and loaded with potatoes, cheddar cheese, and heavy cream; it comes together in under 30 minutes using an Instant Pot pressure cooker.
Winters are known for soups, our go-to comfort food, and a perfect source of warmth and nourishment throughout the day.
However, if you're bored of regular vegetable soups like tomato soup or minestrone soup, try this one-pot creamiest loaded potato soup recipe made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker to kick off the chilly months. It's super easy to make with minimal ingredients from the pantry.
This is one of my favorite easy cheesy vegetarian soup recipes, similar to broccoli cheddar soup, broccoli spinach soup, and cauliflower soup.
If you like potatoes, then check out more Potato Recipes
Ingredients
- Potatoes: I used Yukon gold potatoes. They are an excellent choice, as they make the soup creamy, and buttery flavor. However, you can also use Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes.
- Butter: Adding butter gives a great flavor to the soup.
- Aromatics: I used yellow onions and minced garlic. You can also use white or red onions.
- Vegetable broth (or water): Use low-sodium vegetable broth.
- Cheddar Cheese: I have used sharp cheddar cheese, You can also use mild or medium cheddar. I prefer grating my own cheese from a block than using a pre-grated one. Increase or decrease the cheese according to your preference. Extra sharp white cheddar also works well.
- Milk: I used whole milk in this recipe.
- Heavy Cream: heavy cream is added to make the potato soup extra creamy. You may substitute with half and a half.
- Corn starch: This is used to make cornstarch slurry. This helps to thicken the soup.
How to Make the Best Creamy Potato Soup in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add 2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil), and once it’s hot, add ½ medium onions (finely chopped) and 3 garlic cloves (minced). Saute until the onions soften.
Then add potato cubes (2.5-3 cups), 2 cups vegetable broth (or water), salt, and pepper. Mix well and deglaze the pot by scraping the bits stuck to the bottom to avoid a BURN notice.
Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 6 minutes.
While the soup cooks, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of water (or milk) with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (or flour) to make a slurry. Keep aside.
When the instant pot beeps, Allow 5 minutes Natural pressure release, and then do a quick pressure release.
Open the lid, Add the cornstarch slurry, 1 cup of whole milk, mix well, and bring the soup to a boil and simmer for a few mins. Stir often.
Take a potato masher and lightly mash potatoes to get the desired (creamy and yet chunky) consistency.
Lastly, add ½ cup heavy cream, and ¾-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Give everything a good mix until the cheese melts—season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Serve cheesy instant pot potato soup immediately with shredded cheddar and green onions.
Stovetop Pot Method
- Heat butter (or oil) in a large pot, and once it’s hot, add minced garlic and onions, and saute until onions soften.
- Add water or vegetable broth and deglaze the pot by scraping the bits stuck to the bottom. Then, add diced potatoes, black pepper powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Cover and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 15-20 minutes.
- While the soup cooks, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of water (or milk) with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (or flour) to make a slurry.
- Once the potatoes are soft, add the cornstarch slurry and milk. Mix well, bring the soup to a boil, and let it simmer for a few minutes, stirring often.
- Take a potato masher and lightly mash potatoes to get the desired (creamy and yet chunky) consistency.
- Remove from the heat, add heavy cream, and cheddar cheese, and Give everything a good mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
- Serve cheesy potato soup immediately and top it with green onions and shredded cheddar.
Serving Suggestions
Serve creamy potato soup for a quick lunch or an easy weeknight meal with crusty bread to dip into the soup and fresh chickpea cucumber salad on the side.
Storage Suggestions
This vegetarian instant pot potato soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days or in the freezer for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Basically, any potato will work in this recipe. I used peeled Yukon gold potatoes in this recipe, these potatoes are creamier when cooked.
You can also use red potatoes and russet potatoes.
In the last few minutes of cooking, try adding heavy cream (keep the heat on low to medium). This produces a deliciously thick and extra-creamy potato soup.
White, red, or Yukon gold potatoes can be boiled in their skins for a more rustic potato soup, but russet potatoes must first be peeled.
Yes, Absolutely! You can skip the cream and use the same quantity of 2% milk or half-and-half.
More Instant Pot Vegetarian Soup Recipes
Instant Pot Potato Soup (Vegetarian)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 medium yakon gold potatoes (peeled & diced into ½ inch cubes, about 2.5-3 cups)
- 2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 cups vegetable broth (or water)
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch or flour + 2 tablespoon water for slurry
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¾-1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup green onions
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Garnish:
- shredded cheddar cheese
- green onions
- greek yogurt or sour cream
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add butter (or oil), and once it’s hot, add onions and minced garlic. Saute until the onions soften.
- Then add potato cubes, vegetable broth (or water), salt, and pepper. Mix well and deglaze the pot by scraping the bits stuck to the bottom to avoid a BURN notice.
- Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 6 minutes.
- While the soup cooks, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of water (or milk) with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (or flour) to make a slurry. Keep aside.
- When the instant pot beeps, Allow 5 minutes Natural pressure release and then do a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid, Add the cornstarch slurry, milk, mix well and bring the soup to a boil and simmer for a few mins. Stir often.
- Take a potato masher and lightly mash potatoes to get desired (creamy and yet chunky) consistency.
- Lastly, add heavy cream, and cheddar cheese. Give everything a good mix until the cheese melts—season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
- Serve cheesy potato soup immediately with top it with shredded cheddar and green onions.
Stovetop Pot Method:
- Heat butter or oil in a large pot and once it’s hot add minced garlic and onions, saute until onions soften.
- Add water or vegetable broth and deglaze the pot by scraping the bits stuck to the bottom. Then add diced potatoes, black pepper powder and salt. Mix well.
- Cover and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 15-20 minutes.
- While the soup cooks, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons water (or milk) with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch(or flour) to make a slurry.
- Once potatoes are soft, Add the cornstarch slurry, milk, mix well and bring the soup to a boil and simmer for a few mins. Stir often.
- Take a potato masher and lightly mash potatoes to get desired (creamy and yet chunky) consistency.
- Lastly, add heavy cream, and cheddar cheese. Give everything a good mix until the cheese melts—season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
- Serve cheesy potato soup immediately with top it with shredded cheddar and green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
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Madi
This is THE BEST potato soup recipe!! It is so sooo easy and so so good. I’ve lost track of how many times we have made this, but it’s just so simple and delicious (and affordable!) that we make it every couple of weeks.
Bhavana Patil
Hi Madi, I am soooo glad you liked the recipe and found it helpful.Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Megan
Yum! I added some curry powder and cayenne and it was delish.
Bhavana Patil
Hey Megan, thank you for the feedback 😊