Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Serves: 8; 1-pint servings

Weight Watchers Smart Points: 6 SP for Paleo version (no milk, cheddar or sour cream); 11SP when made with full-fat cheddar and sour cream and 1% milk

Ingredients

• 4 Russet potatoes
• 3 medium onions, peeled and chopped
• 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
• 3 broccoli crowns, washed and broken into florets
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 bunches of scallions, washed and chopped
• 12 ounces of nitrate-free bacon
• 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, poached and torn into pieces (you can also used a cooked roasting chicken)
• 6 C organic gluten-free chicken stock
• 3 C milk (I use Organic Valley lactose-free 1%)
• 1 C sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 C sour cream or creme fresh – preferably organic
• 2 tbsp each onion powder and garlic powder
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place the potatoes on a roasting tray, pierce with a fork and bake for 45-60 minutes. When done, the tip of a paring knife should go through the potatoes easily.
3. In another pan, add broccoli and 1 tbsp oil. Roast broccoli for about 20 minutes until it starts to brown but is still a little crunchy.
4. Cook bacon until crisp in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving 1 tbsp of the drippings in the pot
5. Add the onions and the garlic and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes.
6. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
7. Remove potatoes from the oven and cut in half. Scoop out the insides and add to chicken stock, garlic and onions, cooking for 5 minutes.
8. Turn off the heat and use an immersion blender or beater to puree until smooth.
9. Turn heat back on and add milk, sour cream and cheddar, whisking to incorporate until melted.
10. Add the cooked crumbled bacon (leaving a little out for garnishing the soup), chicken and broccoli
11. Season well with salt and pepper, garlic powder and onion powder
12. Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle bacon bits and scallions

Enjoy!