Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup is a delicious, easy potato soup recipe. This pressure cooker potato soup recipe is simple, but it has a lot of flavor, and we love it. It’s a little rustic, and a lot delicious!
Originally published 3/18/2018
Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup
Today I’m sharing a flavorful version of a simple, classic potato soup that you can easily make in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup is really tasty, and is made with potatoes, onion, bacon, and some other yummy ingredients.
Making this potato soup recipe in the pressure cooker infuses the flavors much faster than cooking on the stove top. It is also very easy!
The thing I like best about potato soup is that it is so versatile. You can make it with or without bacon, or use ham instead. You can leave out the celery, or add carrots.
It always comes out as a comforting and tasty bowl of soup!
Which potatoes work best?
Use what you have. I have made this soup with russets, gold, and red. It is delicious every time. The russets are a little starchier, and break down a little more.
I think this soup has a good balance of flavors (the bacon makes it even better), and the potatoes really shine through.
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If you make this delicious pressure cooker potato soup recipe, please leave a comment below with a star rating. I’d love to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup is a creamy, savory potato soup recipe that is easy to make with potatoes, onion, celery, and bacon. It tastes delicious! Pressure Cooker potato soup is comforting and simply tasty.
- 6 slices Bacon, chopped
- 1 small Onion, diced
- 2 stalks Celery, diced
- 5 medium Potatoes, peeled and diced
- 5 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 tsp Salt (more to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1/4 cup Flour
- 4 Tbsp Butter, softened
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
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Turn on the pot's sauté function and add the chopped bacon and onion. Cook until bacon is done and onions are translucent, stirring occasionally.
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Add the celery. Stir, and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot (deglaze).
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Add the potatoes, broth, salt, and pepper. Put the lid on and lock in place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position, if applicable.
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Cancel the sauté setting and push the Pressure Cook/Manual button, or dial. Use the + or - button, or dial to select 8 minutes.
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When the cook cycle ends, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes (10 minute natural release). Then do a controlled quick release of the remaining steam/pressure (release steam in short bursts until you are sure no soup will spew out with the steam).
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While the pot is naturally releasing, combine the softened butter and flour in a small dish, using a fork. If the butter isn't soft enough, warm it in the microwave for 10 seconds. Mix thoroughly until all lumps are gone.
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When all of the pressure is out of the pot, carefully open the lid, and turn on the sauté setting. Let the soup come to a simmer (don't let the soup scorch on the bottom), then stir in the flour mixture and stir until thickened.
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You can use a potato masher to mash some of the potatoes to help it thicken a little more and give the soup more texture.
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Cancel the sauté setting and stir well. Then Add the heavy cream. Taste and adjust salt if desired.
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Serve with some crusty bread.
If you want to thicken your soup even more, you can add some instant potato flakes.
Or make a slurry of equal parts flour and softened butter (mashed together with no lumps). Turn on the sauté setting and stir in the mixture until soup is thickened.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup recipe and more
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This potato soup was perfect! It is one of my favorite soups. Lots of flavor, and thick! I will double the recipe next time I make it.
I’m really happy that you liked this recipe! Thank you for your review!
Have you ever made it without the bacon?
Yes, you can make it without.
Why would you?? LOL!
My daughter is vegetarian so I made 2 substitutes. Swapped chicken broth for vegan protein broth & the bacon for McCormick Bac’n Pieces. It was really good! This one will be a regular for sure!
That’s great, Heather! Thanks for the review!
Turned out Awesome! I used beef instead of chicken broth and red pepper instead of the celery. I also added some spinach, just for more veggies! I will definitely make again.
Nice! Thanks for your review!
What if you dont have heavy cream on hand can you use milk?
Yes, if you add it after pressure cooking.
This is super delicious and easy-to-prepare soup! Thanks for the recipe.
FYI: instead of making the roux to thicken the soup, I tossed in some instant mashed potato flakes. It worked like a champ!
That’s great, Stephanie! Thanks for the tip!
Oh good tip! We’re gluten free and I was trying to think of a good alternative thickener.
I USED TAPIOCA FLOUR SINCE I HAVE CELIAC. WORKED PERFECTLY. BEST SOUP EVER! AND MY FIRST TIME USING MY INSTANT POT
TRIED TO RATE IT 5 STARS
I have been looking for a good potato soup recipe, but not found the one that tasted like I wanted. This soup is awesome and will be my new go-to recipe. My whole family loved it. My 11 yo even said, “Mom, you really outdid yourself tonight.” LOL
Hi Angela, how precious that your kiddo said that! High praise! I’m thrilled that your family liked this soup! Thank you for your nice review!
My 11 year old has a fascination with soup and since it is getting chilly here in the Mojave Desert we made this for lunch. Due to issues with lactose we substituted Almond Milk (worried about sweetness) and it worked great. It didn’t looks as creamy as we’re used to so I used the immersion blender and broke up the potatoes. We didn’t have celery so I used celery seed. It is quite delicious and he is on his third bowl and cannot stop praising me for the great job I did! lol Thanks for sharing this with us!
Quick question if I double the recipe do I need to change how I cook it? Sounds delicious!
Cook time stays the same.
I just made potato soup with your recipe almost the exact same ingredients but I did add some turkey smoked sausage and garlic. Thank you best potato soup I’ve ever made!
Awesome!
If anyone wants some delicious potato soup fry up some Jimmy dean ground sausage, I use 1 lb. each. 1 hot and one sage. Drain it good and add to the soup once it’s cooked. It’s delicious
Wow, I just made a pot of this to have Christmas Eve when our kids come over. Needless to say I am making another pot to have enough for everyone. My husband was my taste tester and he loved it. I did leave out the onions since our granddaughters are not fans of onions, but other than that this recipe was perfect.
Thank you, Lisa! I’m so glad that you and your husband liked this soup!
II just made it and it is delicious…I swapped out the bacon for ham I had leftover from Christmas dinner
That’s great, Brenda! Thank you!
I just made this soup also, thank you for the recipe. I needed a good recipe so I didn’t have to keep telling my husband that I wanted to go to a restaurant that makes soup when he asks me where I’d like to go. LOL He hates when I say that.
I did mine with a little bit of leftover ham and added some carrots as well,everything else is the same as the recipe. yum!
Thanks again, from both the husband and myself. 🙂
Thank you, Sher. I’m so glad that you and your husband liked the soup recipe!
Something very bad happened when I added the butter+flour mixture. Basically the mixture didn’t integrate into the soup and clumped up all together. It didn’t blend at all into the soup.
Did you bring the soup to a simmer, then soften the butter and incorporate the flour thoroughly? Then whisk it into the soup?
Sounds like a great recipe. Was wondering if I could substitute evaporated milk for a heavy cream?
Yes you can.
What size IP was used? I just got an 8 qt.
I used a 6 qt, but you can use an 8 qt.
I made this and it had a great flavor, but mine did not get thick. Is it not supposed to be thick? What do you suggest?
Hi Rachel, I’m not sure why this didn’t thicken for you. Was the soup simmering when you added the flour/butter mixture? Another think you can do is mash some of the potatoes in the pot before serving. I went it and tried to get more specific on the thickening step, I hope that helps.
THIS a truly fantastic. I doubled the bacon! Thank you!!!
We will be making this a second time tomorrow at my son and fiance’s request! They loved it, I will add carrots this time as well. I loved reading the comments and different variations of this soup, sausage and ham sound awesome! Ive made potato soups in the past and this one has been the only one 2nd requested! Thank you!
That’s so nice, Susan! Thank you! I’m so pleased that you all like it!
This soup was amazing. I used scallions instead of onions but the rest the same. My boyfriend and I both loved it! It was really good with some shredded cheddar on top. Thank you for the great recipe!
Thank you, Alessia! I’m so happy that you and your boyfriend enjoyed this soup!
Can you make it with out heavy cream?
Yes, you don’t need any, and if you want it creamier, try a different milk (lower fat, etc., or unsweetened almond milk), or add some cheese. Maybe mash a few of the potatoes in the soup to give it a bit of a chowder consistency.
It is so bitter cold out, I do not want to go to the store, but want to make the soup. However, I only have 1% milk. Will that be OK to use instead of cream?
If you add it at the end, it will be fine! Stay warm!
This soup is absolutely yummy. It’s the perfect comforter food on a rainy or cold day.
This soup is phenomenal this is the 3rd time ive made it and its my go to soup!
Thank you, Daniell!
One of my first times making soup, very first time making soup in our pressure cooker… I’m excited to announce it turned out super good! My whole family loved it. Thanks!
That’s awesome, Rachel!
I made this tonight. It turned out really, really well. I added 1/4 tsp of Merquen, which is a spice from Chile we bring back that is similar to smokey paprika but with a kick. I also added in the ham, carrots and sauted the onions, celery, and carrots all together in a about a Tbsp of butter. The soup turned out so well, that hubby wanted to know how much was left and could we add some shrimp and corn to the rest of it! I told him we could, and I would!
If you don’t like the “whimpy” bacon, crisp it and then add it to the soup when ready to serve.
Lol!
So Amazing!! I felt like I just started it and, bam it was done! My hubby flipped for it! I will definitely be making this again!
Wow! That’s awesome! Thank you for letting me know!
Yum Yum Yummy. Do I Need To Say More. Thank You Very Much Sandy. I Tried To Give This A 5 Star, But It Wouldn’t Let Me.
Yay! Thank you, Donna! It looks like the stars showed up. I really appreciate your review!
5 Stars! I too had trouble with it, not showing the rating I gave it. My hubby found this recipe last week, he made it with a little to almost assistance from me (it’s my Instant Pot & I have more experience with it, but he’s learning). I came back today, we’re making it again. I also wanted to print this recipe & put it in a page protector, it’s a keeper of a recipe, it is going in my 3 ring binder! We browned ground sausage in the IP, strained the meat…deglazed the instant pot before proceeding.
Loved this soup! Thank you!!
Only difference is we added shredded carrots and used chicken base with 5 Cups of water since I didn’t have any broth. ? Omitted the bacon
I make potato soup all the time but never in an instant pot. I used this recipe but i washed the potatoes(did not peel them), and fid not have any celery on hand so i skipped it. I did add some chives. The recipe turned out great. And I’m thinking its a great chowder base. Corn, chicken, ham, mushroom, use your imagination.
Thanks for the recipe.
I have made this probably a dozen times and it’s always popular! This time I added bacon and cooked my veggies in the grease! Oh my goodness! Makes it less of a “frugal” meal but YUM!
Absolutely fab little recipe.
My 25 rears in SF food land made me kick it up a notch.
Added 1 cup chopped Crimini mushrooms with the celery.
Then 1 cup canned lump crabmeat!
Simply decadant!
Jimmy
Oops crabmeat goes in with flour mixture.
Hope you can edit these two comments into one that is actually coherent!
Jimmy
The recipe was excellent as is but do you think clams could be added to make it clam chowder?
I think so, however I have an excellent IP Clam Chowder recipe!
The best potato soup ever. I used ham broth instead of chicken. I also used corn starch to thicken instead of flour.
Me, again😀. Will a 3 quart Mini hold it all or should I halve everything?
I would cut it by 1/3.
I love potato soup and this recipe did not disappoint. It is full of flavor and quick too!!
My husband had been craving potato soup. It’s something I had never tried before but we found this recipe. It turned out perfectly! He said it was the closest he’s ever had to traditional german potato soup. He now requests it often.
I tried your recipe and loved it! I doubled the recipe, mashed some of the potatoes and used sour cream. It was so delicious! I will be making this again for sure!😊💗
This recipe was so easy to make and tasted amazing! I’m not able to eat dairy so I made it with plain, unsweetened cashew milk, and cashew milk smoked “chedda” cheese. It was hearty and the consistency was perfect. Five stars from me!
I am not seeing where I add the cream? Or is it just me
In step 9.
This soup is amazing!!!! It tastes like you’ve cooked it all day; we just LOVED it!!!!!
If I want to cut the recipe in half do I change the time in the instant pot?
Nope. Keep the cook time the same.
I eliminated the celery and added a can of mild green chilies and then topped with grated cheddar.
Sounds good!
GOOOOOOOD LAWD!!! Best potato soup I’ve had in my life. I feel so guilty that it was so easy to make! Slap ya momma good!
Haha! That’s awesome! Thank you!
Absolutely excellent soup. Better than I could have imagined. I will make this over and over. Thank you!
Tried to give it five stars but not sure it was working.
Hey Sandy,
Thanks you for your recipe!
Tonight, I made Instant Pot Simple Potato Soup. It’s really delicious. My son ate a large bowl. He very love your dish. hehe
Until today I didn’t think anything could top my mom’s potato soup. This is outstanding. I couldn’t stop eating it! I had to make a few changes to use what as on hand (it’sCOVID quarantine time), I have celiac disease, and I’m also allergic to celery. I replaced the celery with a large carrot. Used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour (blue bag). Used 1 cup whole milk instead of the cream. Can’t wait to eat the leftovers! Can’t wait to serve this to friends!!
THE BEST SOUP EVER!!