Hearty Bacon and Potato Soup

Ingredients

• Green onions (1/4 cup, chopped)
• Cheddar cheese (1 cup, shredded)
• Salt (1 teaspoon, or to taste)
• Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)
• All-purpose flour (1/4 cup)
• Milk (2 cups)
• Chicken broth (4 cups)
• Potatoes (3 large, diced)
• Celery (2 stalks, diced)
• Carrots (2 medium, diced)
• Onion (1 large, diced)
• Bacon (6 strips)

Instructions

1. In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Once done, remove the bacon, chop it into small pieces, and set aside. Retain the bacon grease in the pot.
2. In the same pot with the bacon grease, add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Saute until the vegetables become tender, which should take about 5 minutes.
3. Next, add the diced potatoes and chicken broth to the pot. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until the potatoes are cooked through. This should take approximately 15 minutes.
4. While the soup is simmering, whisk together the milk and flour in a separate bowl until a smooth mixture is obtained. Slowly pour this milk-flour mixture into the pot, stirring constantly.
5. Continue to cook the soup over medium heat until it thickens. This should take around 5 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper according to your taste.
6. After the soup has thickened, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it's completely melted and the soup becomes creamy.
7. Serve the soup hot. Top each serving with the crispy bacon and chopped green onions for an extra layer of flavor and texture.