21 Paula Deen Potato Soup Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Try
Let’s be real: when it comes to comfort food, Paula Deen knows what she’s doing. The woman has basically built an empire on butter, cream, and unapologetically rich recipes.
And honestly? I’m here for it. One dish that never fails to hit the spot is potato soup. It’s hearty, cozy, and basically a hug in a bowl.
But here’s the thing—you don’t need to stick to one boring potato soup recipe.
Paula Deen herself has dozens of variations, and with a little tweaking, you can spin her ideas into soups for every mood, season, and craving.
So, buckle up because I’ve pulled together 21 Paula Deen potato soup ideas that’ll keep your kitchen smelling amazing and your stomach happy.
1. Classic Creamy Paula Deen Potato Soup
Let’s start with the OG. Paula’s classic potato soup is the kind that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good TV show. It’s loaded with cream, butter, and tender potatoes. Add in some onions and celery for flavor, and you’ve basically got liquid comfort.
Pro tip: Top it with shredded cheddar and bacon crumbles. Because honestly, why wouldn’t you?
2. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
This one is Paula Deen’s twist on a fully loaded baked potato but in soup form. Think sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, and crispy bacon. It’s rich, decadent, and, IMO, basically a cheat meal in a bowl.
Question for you: if you don’t top it with extra cheese, did you even make it right?
3. Paula’s Slow Cooker Potato Soup
If you’re not using your slow cooker for soups, you’re missing out. Paula’s slow cooker version lets you toss everything in, walk away, and come back to magic. It’s the perfect “set it and forget it” comfort food.
Bonus: it makes your whole house smell amazing while you’re pretending to be productive.
4. Potato Soup with Ham
Got leftover ham from the holidays? Paula’s potato soup with ham is basically the best way to use it. The smoky, salty ham brings out the sweetness of the potatoes. Honestly, this one tastes even better the next day.
5. Paula Deen’s Cheesy Potato Soup
Cheese lovers, this one’s for you. Imagine velvety potato soup but with a ridiculous amount of cheese melted in. Sharp cheddar works best, but hey—go wild. Paula would approve.
Pro move: stir in a little cream cheese for extra tangy richness.
6. Potato and Corn Chowder
Sometimes you want your potato soup with a little extra sweetness. Enter corn. Paula’s potato and corn chowder blends creamy potatoes with juicy kernels of corn. It’s sweet, savory, and ridiculously filling.
7. Sausage and Potato Soup
Paula’s spin on this one reminds me of a lighter version of Zuppa Toscana. The sausage adds a savory punch, and the potatoes soak up all that flavor. Top it with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if you like a little kick.
8. Paula Deen’s Cream of Potato Soup
This is the no-nonsense, silky-smooth version. Paula’s cream of potato soup is all about texture—thick, velvety, and spoon-coating. It’s the kind of soup that makes you think, “Yeah, I could survive winter with just this.”
9. Chicken and Potato Soup
When you want something hearty but still comforting, throw in shredded chicken. Paula’s chicken and potato soup feels like a hybrid between chicken noodle and potato soup—without the noodles. It’s filling but still light enough for lunch.
10. Paula’s Potato Soup with Shrimp
Here’s where Paula gets fancy. Adding shrimp to potato soup might sound weird at first, but trust me—it works. The shrimp gives it a coastal, Southern vibe that makes it perfect for dinner parties.
11. Potato Soup with Smoked Sausage
Yes, sausage deserves its own entry, but smoked sausage changes the game. Paula’s smoked sausage and potato soup is bold, savory, and perfect with cornbread on the side.
12. Broccoli and Potato Soup
Broccoli cheese soup is a classic, so why not add potatoes? Paula’s broccoli and potato soup is hearty, cheesy, and (dare I say it?) even a little healthy. Okay, maybe not Paula’s version, but you get the idea.
13. Paula Deen’s Mashed Potato Soup
Ever make way too many mashed potatoes? (Yeah, guilty.) Instead of reheating them for the third day in a row, Paula turns them into soup. Just thin them out with broth, add cream, and boom—new meal.
14. Potato Soup with Kale
This one’s for when you want to pretend you’re eating something healthy. Kale gives Paula’s potato soup a nice texture and a pop of green. Plus, it makes you feel better about all the cream you just added.
15. Paula Deen’s Cajun Potato Soup
If you like spice, this one’s for you. Paula’s Cajun-style potato soup packs in bold seasoning, smoky sausage, and a little heat. It’s hearty, flavorful, and anything but boring.
16. Potato Soup with Carrots and Celery
This is more of a veggie-heavy spin. Paula uses carrots, celery, and onions to balance out the richness. It’s basically comfort food with a side of “I’m eating my vegetables, so it’s fine.”
17. Paula Deen’s Potato Soup with Crab
Yep, she went there. Crab meat in potato soup. It’s luxurious, creamy, and feels like something you’d get at a fancy Southern coastal restaurant. Definitely not your everyday soup, but amazing for special occasions.
18. Spicy Jalapeño Potato Soup
Paula loves flavor, so of course she has a spicy version. Adding jalapeños (and maybe a little hot sauce if you’re brave) gives her potato soup a fiery kick. Perfect for cold nights when you need to warm up fast.
19. Paula’s Potato Soup with Cream Cheese
This might sound simple, but it’s next-level. Cream cheese makes Paula’s potato soup extra creamy and tangy. If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out.
20. Vegetarian Potato Soup
Yes, Paula does have lighter options (occasionally). A vegetarian potato soup skips the bacon and sausage, but it’s still flavorful thanks to veggie broth, herbs, and, of course, lots of butter.
21. Paula Deen’s Holiday Potato Soup
Finally, the holiday version. Paula’s holiday potato soup often includes extra toppings like crispy fried onions, shredded cheese, and sometimes even turkey. It’s festive, indulgent, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it—21 Paula Deen potato soup ideas that’ll keep your kitchen cozy and your taste buds happy. Some are classic, some are over-the-top, and a few are straight-up indulgent (but that’s Paula for you).
The best part? Potato soup is endlessly customizable. You can take her base recipe and tweak it with whatever you’ve got on hand—extra veggies, leftover meats, or just more cheese because, honestly, there’s no such thing as too much cheese.
So the next time you’re staring at a bag of potatoes and wondering what to do, remember: Paula Deen probably has a soup recipe for it. And now, so do you.