Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

SweetsLady's Note:

Comfort soup at its finest! I usually make this to use up leftover ham. This is easy to adapt with other ingredients. I don't put celery in mine. I have added garlic sometimes as well.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 3 ½ cups potatoes , peeled and diced (I keep mine with the peel)
• 1⁄3; cup celery , diced
• 1⁄3; cup onion , finely chopped
• 1 -2 cup ham , diced and cooked
• 3 ¼ cups water
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups cheddar cheese , shredded

Directions:

1. Combine potatoes, celery, onion, ham, and water in stockpot and bring to boil.
2. Then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
3. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper.
4. In separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook stirring constantly until thick.
5. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form and all milk is added. Continue to stir until thick (4-5 minutes)
6. Add in cheese and stir until melted.
7. Stir the cheese mixture into the stockpot and cook until heated through. (I also will break up some of the potatoes for thickness. It gets thicker as it cools and next day).

Reviews

[truckerboo]

My kids aren't done eating this and I must rate it. I have the most picky 5 and 9 year old children in existence. My 5 year old had a second helping and my 9 year old is finishing his. They both like it. It was super easy. I made with homemade chicken stock as I had some I needed to use up. I also added some carrots as I had some already diced. It is very good. I think it will replace my usual potato soup.

[Queen Chef]

OMG! This soup is delicious. I too left out the celery and used country ham instead of sugar cured or smoked ham and it was great. Used this for a recent "soup swap" and the fourteen other ladies were scrambling for my soup. Definetly a winner!

[Rijaka]

I made this for dinner tonight. It was wonderful! I doubled the recipe as I have hungry people in my house. I'm also using this for my soupswap on Thursday! I too did not peel the potatoes, used 2 Cups onion and celery, and did not thicken it with anything. I mashed the soup with a potato masher about 5 times to break some potatoes up before adding the ham, which I added after the potatoes were soft. Instead of milk I used nonfat half and half. As I write this I am craving more...that's how good it is!