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–+ servings
A white ironstone bowl filled with cheesy sausage potato soup with crackers and a spoon resting in the soup.

Ultimate Cheesy Sausage Potato Soup

This one-pot cheesy sausage potato soup is creamy, hearty, and packed with flavor from Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and sharp cheddar. A comforting, family-friendly soup perfect for busy weeknights or cold days.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 5 medium potatoes (washed, peeled, diced)
  • ½ teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

Instructions

  • Brown the sausage
    In a large soup pot, crumble the Italian sausage and cook over medium high heat until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate leaving most of the fat in the pot.
  • Saute
    Use the grease from the sausage to start a slurry for thickening. (If you have more than 3 tablespoons of grease in the pot remove excess until you only have 3 tablespoons of grease in the pot.) Add in the chopped onion, minced garlic, and the flour. Stir. Cook the flour, onion, and garlic on low heat for a few minutes stirring continuously to prevent burning.
  • Thicken the soup
    Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir continuously to prevent burning while you bring to a boil over high heat. Once it begins to boil reduce the heat.
  • Simmer
    Add the potatoes, ground sausage, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the soup base. Simmer until the potatoes are fork tender (about 15-20 minutes.)
  • Cheese
    Turn off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese and cream cheese. Stir until it is melted and smooth. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with extra cheddar cheese, chives or serve with crackers for dipping.

Notes

Pro Tips for the Best Cheesy Sausage Potato Soup

  • Grate your own cheese: Bagged pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-clumping agents that affect melt and texture.
  • Potato size matters: Dice your potatoes roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
  • Don’t rush the roux: Cooking the flour into the onion/grease mix before adding broth helps avoid a raw flour taste.
  • Adjust the heat: Use hot sausage or add red pepper flakes if you like bold flavor.
  • Leftovers reheat well: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm gently on the stove before serving.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

How to Store:
Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Because this is a rich, cream-based soup, freezing isn’t ideal—the texture may change.
How to Reheat:
Slowly warm on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the soup thickens too much, add a splash of chicken broth to loosen it.

Variations & Add-Ons

  • Swap in potato varieties like Yukon Gold for a slightly different texture.
  • Add chopped bacon or crispy pancetta on top for extra flavor.
  • Stir in some spinach or kale right before serving for a veggie boost.
  • Use cheddar-jack or smoked cheddar for a flavor twist.