Hearty Potato Bacon Soup with Beans is topped with cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Homemade bacon and bean soup is so much better than canned.

a close up view of a bowl of potato bacon with bean soup

My husband loves bacon and bean soup combined with creamy potato soup. We usually make it with canned soups but decided to try a homemade version. This potato bacon soup with beans is now our favorite way to make it!

Start by cooking 8 slices of bacon and reserve two tablespoons of the bacon grease. You can find our favorite method for cooking bacon here: How To Cook Bacon In The Oven. Crumble the bacon and divide it into two equal portions and set them aside. Put the bacon grease and butter in a large pot over medium heat.

Can I use pre-cooked bacon in this soup?

Yes, just heat it in the microwave until it is cooked to your preference. You won’t be able to save the bacon grease though so you will want to substitute an additional 2 tablespoons of butter to use in its place.

carrots, onion flakes, and grease in a pot

Next, add the diced carrots and minced onions to the grease.

stirring the carrots and onions in the grease and butter

Then sauté the onions and carrots for 2-3 minutes over medium heat until softened.

flour, pepper, onion and carrots in a large cooking pot

After that, add the flour, salt and black pepper.

a wooden spoon and soup ingredients in a pot

Cook while stirring for 2 minutes. The ingredients will clump together.

milk, water and soup ingredients in a cooking pot

Now pour in the water and whole milk. Cook and stir until the flour is dissolved.

Add the diced potatoes and half of the crumbled bacon you prepared (reserve the remaining bacon for garnish.) Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then, reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Stir from time to time.

Would it work to add more veggies to this soup?

When making this potato bacon soup with beans we were going for a copycat of the canned soup so we kept it pretty basic. But the great thing about soups is that they are very adaptable. You can definitely add more veggies! Try adding corn, broccoli, and cauliflower.

beans and tomato paste in a soup pot with other ingredients such as potatoes, carrots and bacon

Stir in the tomato paste and white beans. The tomato paste adds flavor and gives the soup that classic “bean with bacon” soup color.

potato bacon and bean soup in a cooking pot

Cook for 5-7 minutes, until heated through. Stirring periodically. Then, remove from heat.

Top the bowls of creamy potato bacon soup with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits. The crispy crumbled bacon contrasts just right with the texture of the beans and potatoes.

Which other toppings would work?

The sky is the limit when it comes to soup toppings! We love saltines or you can make homemade crackers with this recipe. Other toppings include croutons, sliced green onions, sour cream, and french fried onions.

What goes with potato bacon soup with beans?

If you want to serve potato bacon soup with beans as the main dish, you can prepare a veggie tray as the appetizer. For side dishes, try a salad and dinner rolls, breadsticks, or cornbread. And for dessert serve chocolate covered strawberries like the soup restaurant we love or check out any of the dessert recipes on our website.

a bowl with potato bacon and bean soup in it

Looking for more soup recipes? Try these next:

And Bacon Cheeseburger Soup is really easy to make and is perfect for those cold winter evenings!

Don’t miss this Italian Sausage Soup recipe for a creamy, comforting soup with noodles that is full of flavor and perfect for a family dinner this time of year.

Another great one to try is this Slow Cooker Ham and Cheese Soup Put it in the crockpot in the morning on a busy weekday for an easy dinner.

This Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe is so easy to make and so flavorful. Just brown the meat, put everything in the crockpot to cook, and then just stir! Serve with corn chips. Serve for a family dinner or at potlucks and parties.