Cream Cheese Potato Soup with Ham

Eating this soup always takes me down memory lane because my mom served it for lunch the day that we were setting up our wedding reception. We had a bunch of friends and family there helping with all the setup and last-minute details and this soup totally hit the spot.

Everyone kept commenting about how tasty it was and we actually ended up eating up every last bit of the huge pot full she had made! Clearly, it was a hit.

What I love about this recipe:

• It’s easy and ready in just 30 minutes.
• It’s economical to make, especially if you buy the cream cheese at Aldi where they have it for around $1.00 a block.
• It’s hearty and filling.
• It’s great for using up any leftover ham at Easter or Christmas.
• It’s creamy, comforting and simply delicious!

Watch Video: Learn How to Make this Recipe

Ingredients for this Cream Cheese Potato Soup:

• Potatoes. You can use any variety of potatoes in this soup. However, I’ve discovered that thinner-skinned varieties work best as they will hold their shape and don’t get mushy as quickly.
• Ham. Ham steaks work great for this, but a cheaper alternative is to just use any leftover ham that you have.
• Onion. If you are short on time or don’t have onions on hand, you can easily just use onion powder instead of chopped onion.
• Cream Cheese. This is what makes the soup so amazingly creamy and delicious. I’ve used both full fat and reduced-fat cream cheese, as well as Philadelphia Neufchatel.  They all work equally well!
• Water and Bouillon. A good quality bouillon will really up the flavor of this soup!
• Garlic Powder. I love the hint of garlicky flavor this gives the soup.  It’s not overpowering but just adds a little extra flavor.
• Dill Weed.  In my opinion, the dill is partly what makes this soup amazing and unique. It complements the ham and cream cheese flavors so well and just takes the soup to the next level!

How to Make Cream Cheese Potato Soup with Ham

STEP ONE: In a large pot, combine the water and the bouillon.  Add the cubed cream cheese, cook on medium-low heat until the cream cheese is melted, stirring frequently to mix the cream cheese into the liquid.  I find a whisk works really well for this.

STEP TWO: Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

STEP THREE: Simmer, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes or until the potatoes and onions are tender.

FAQ and Expert Tips

• Do I need to cube the cream cheese? Yes. Cubing the cream cheese before adding it to the soup helps it melt more quickly. If you don’t do this, it’s going to be really hard to get the cream cheese to melt and mix into the soup.
• Can you freeze potato soup? I wouldn’t recommend it as potatoes tend to get mushy when frozen.
• How do you add cream cheese to soup without curdling? You want to make sure that the soup doesn’t start boiling. It also helps if you use full-fat cream cheese as well.
• What pairs well with potato soup? I love to serve it with a salad.  But these White Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches or this Homemade French Bread are also fun options.

Other easy soup recipes you’ll enjoy:

• Easy Tomato Basil Soup
• Curry Chicken and Rice Soup
• Creamy Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup
• Easy Vegetable Beef Soup