Tony Roma's Baked Potato Soup

Dib's's Note:

A very good copycat recipe. You can sub vegetable stock for the chicken, and imitation bacon bits for the real ones for a vegetarian dish. Prep time includes baking the spuds.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 medium baked potatoes
• 3 teaspoons butter
• 1 cup diced white onion
• 2 teaspoons flour
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups instant mashed potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/8 teaspoon thyme
• 1 cup half-and-half

Garnish

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 2 green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan and sauté onion until light brown.
2. Add the flour to the onions and stir to make a roux.
3. Add stock, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes and spices to the pot and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out.
6. Discard skins.
7. Chop potato flesh into 1/2 inch chunks.
8. Add chopped potato and half and half to the saucepan, bring soup back to a boil, reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.
9. Ladle into bowls, and serve with 1 tbsp cheese, 1/2 tbsp bacon bits and 1 tsp onion sprinkled on top.

Reviews

[ratherbeswimmin']

Oh my goodness, Diana, this was sooooo good. I think this is better than Tomy Roma's. My husband and I really loved this rich, creamy, full of potatoes comforting soup. I used probably 1/2 c. chopped bacon as garnish. Thanks for posting this.

[kat2]

I thought this was really good. It was definitely quick and easy. I nuked the potatoes in the microwave because I was short on time and I didn't have chicken stock so I used chicken broth from a can. It made a great fast dinner that my kids gobbled down. Thanks

[Just Cher]

I made this soup for Sunday dinner and boy what a treat! So creamy & satisfying and had a good rich flavor. I also garnished with more bacon and sauteed the potatoes in a few tsp. of bacon drippings for just a few minutes with a touch of garlic before adding the other ingredients. Served this with nice crusty bread. My husband absolutely thought it was the best I have ever made "if people don't like this then they don't know what good food is". Thanks Diana, we will be making a lot this winter.