Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 8 Comments

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No one does Baked Potato Soup like Houlihans. They use instant mashed potato flakes for a special flare.

Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Make Houlihan’s Baked Potato Soup Today

Houlihan’s baked potato soup is rich and creamy and hands down one of the best around. The secret to Houlihan’s soup is combining baked potatoes with instant potato flakes to create a perfect texture.

About Houlihan’s

The original Houlihan’s opened up in Kansas City in 1972. It took over a site that was previously Tom Houlihan’s Men’s Wear. This is why the name Houlihan’s Old Place became the new restaurant’s name. In time the words Old Place were dropped and the restaurant became simply Houlihan’s.

Tom Houlihan, whose motto was there is no substitute for style, valued high quality above everything else. Houlihan’s has stayed true to those roots. The chain is known for its quality food and beverages, prepared on-site with fresh ingredients and served up with a style that’s uniquely Houlihan’s.

Houlihan’s Potato Soup Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Baking potatoes
  • Butter
  • Yellow onions
  • All-purpose flour
  • Low sodium chicken base
  • Instant potato flakes
  • Dried basil
  • Tabasco sauce
  • Heavy cream
  • Milk
  • Salt
  • Ground white pepper
Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (2)

What is Chicken Base?

This Houlihan’s potato soup recipe uses chicken base. Chicken base is a highly concentrated stock with a deep rich taste.

Most supermarkets sell the chicken base (sometimes labeled chicken soup base) in the form of cubes or powder. You can generally find it in the same location as chicken bouillon cubes.

A popular brand is Better Than Boullion. You can even make your own and keep a supply in your freezer. Chicken base takes much longer to make than chicken stock, but the rich result is definitely worth your patience.

How to Make Chicken Base

Start with combining the basics for making chicken stock (whole chicken, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, water, salt, and pepper). Just let it all simmer away for several hours until the liquid is greatly reduced and the veggies have melted into the rich sauce. You can choose to strain it before use or placing it in your freezer.

How to Make Houlihan’s Potato Soup

  1. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until a fork pierces to the center easily.
  2. Remove potatoes from oven and allow to cool completely.
  3. Peel off the potato skins and cut potatoes into cubes.
  4. Melt butter in a large saucepan.
  5. Add onions and sauté over low heat for 10 minutes or until onions become translucent.
  6. Add flour and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  7. In a bowl, combine chicken base, water, potato flakes, and seasonings. Stir or whisk to get rid of lumps.
  8. Gradually add potato flake mixture to the onions, constantly stirring while adding to prevent lumps.
  9. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the soup begins to simmer gently.
  10. Add the cubed potatoes to the soup.
  11. Add milk and cream, gently stirring until smooth and slightly thickened.
  12. Simmer for 15 minutes, do not let it boil.

Top each serving with grated Cheddar cheese, sliced scallions, and crispy bacon pieces.

Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (3)

Recipe Tips and Variations

Substitute chicken broth for some of the water for extra flavor.

Use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream and regular milk to cut down the calories.

Use flavored instant potato flakes for a flavor twist.

Double the spice ingredients and hot sauce for a spicier soup.

Add some ham for extra heartiness and flavor.

Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (4)

Can’t Get Enough of Potato Soup? Try these recipes!

Some of my favorite potato soup recipes include:

  • Country Potato Soup
  • Hard Rock Cafe Potato Soup
  • Houston’s Baked Potato Soup
  • Loaded Potato Soup
  • Old Fashioned Potato Soup
  • Panera Potato Soup
  • Ultimate Potato Soup

Favorite Potato Recipes

  • Cheesy Bacon Potatoes
  • Homemade Potato Wedges
  • How to Cook Purple Potatoes
  • How to Cook Red Potatoes
  • Roasted Potatoes with Onion Soup Mix
  • Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Recipe

Check out more of my easy soup recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes here on CopyKat!

Houlihan’s Baked Potato Soup

This take on Houlihan’s potato soup recipe makes a wonderful, pleasing, and filling meal that your family will eagerly spoon up. Serve with a sandwich for lunch or with crusty bread and a salad for dinner. It’s easy to make.

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Baked Potato Soup, Houlihan’s Baked Potato Soup, Potato Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 348kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds baking potatoes
  • 1/4 pound butter
  • 2 cups diced yellow onion
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups water
  • 1/4 cup low sodium chicken base
  • 1 cup instant potato flakes
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • salt to taste
  • ground white pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • Prick washed potatoes and bake for 1 hour or until a fork pierces to the center easily.

  • Remove potatoes from oven and allow to fully cool.

  • Remove skin and cut potatoes into ½-inch cubes.

  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan.

  • Add the onions and sauté over low heat for about 10 minutes or until onions become translucent. Don’t let the onions burn.

  • Add flour and cook low for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring continuously until the flour is thoroughly absorbed.

  • In a bowl, combine chicken base, water, potato flakes, and seasonings. Stir or whisk thoroughly to get rid of lumps.

  • Gradually add potato flake mixture to onions, constantly stirring so no lumps form.

  • Increase the heat to medium and continue cooking until the soup begins to simmer gently.

  • Add the cubed potatoes to the soup.

  • Add milk and cream, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened.

  • Simmer lightly for 15 minutes – DO NOT BOIL.

  • Top each serving with grated Cheddar cheese, sliced scallions & bacon pieces.

Notes

Substitute 2 cups chicken broth for 2 cups of water for more flavor. You would use 2 cups of chicken broth and 3 cups of water for a total of 5 cups of liquid.

Use 2 cans of evaporated milk instead of heavy cream and regular milk (cuts down on calories from the heavy cream).

Use flavored instant potato flakes for a different depth of flavor.

For a spicier soup, double the spice ingredients.

Add some ham to make the soup extra hearty and flavorful.

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 840IU | Vitamin C: 13.2mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen

    Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (6)
    I love this soup but found baking the potatoes, cooling them down, peeling and cubing them…a messy and tedious process! Wouldn’t they cook fine by peeling them raw and cubing them…… toss them in the soup while it’s in the simmering stage, before the addition of the milk and cream?

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      That could work, my guess is the restaurant uses their leftover baked potatoes this way. The flavor of the potatoes most likely are a bit different when you bake them. Should this work? Yes.

      Reply

  2. Nancy Manion

    Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (7)
    Made this for dinner last night, my family LOVED it. Fixed salad to go with it. Cooked a pack of maple bacon and then ran it through my Magic Bullet chopper for a garnish on top, sprinkle of cheese and voila a wonderful, pleasing, filling meal that my husband and kids gobbled up. Six hours and 2 bowls later my husband was still pleasantly full. I added parsley, chives, and garlic to the seasonings. Used 3 cups of water and the other 2 cups chicken broth for more flavor. Also used 2 cans of carnation milk instead of heavy cream and regular milk….did not have any heavy cream, plus did not need the extra calories from heavy cream.

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      Thank you for all of your great suggestions. Your additions were well thought out, I have never thought about using canned milk for heavy cream. I will have to give that a try sometime.

      Reply

  3. Jeannie Parisi

    Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (8)
    Oh my daughter is going to be thrilled that I found this. The Houllihans closed by us and that was her favorite

    Reply

  4. Jeannie Parisi

    Oh my daughter is going to be thrilled that I found this. The Houllihans closed by us and that was her favorite

    Reply

  5. ediven

    I used flavored instant potato flakes and it was delicious. It added a depth of flavor. I also cooked the onion in the bacon fat. Good stuff.

    Reply

  6. Justin

    Was very easy to make. Too bland to be a stand-alone meal – would have been nice with a sandwich. Ended up adding some ham and doubling the spice contents.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Houlihan's Baked Potato Soup - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to potato soup to add flavor? ›

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

What can I add to potato soup for flavor without? ›

Use plenty of cream combined with milk, lots of cheddar cheese, garlic, ground black pepper, salt to taste, creamery butter and parsley. Don't forget the potatoes boiled than baked into the soup.

What is a good thickener for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way. Add cornstarch to a small amount of cold water or other liquid (wine or stock) and whisk into a thick slurry. Then the slurry can be stirred into a simmering soup, a bit at a time to set the final consistency.

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? ›

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? Most creamy soups require you to add dairy of some sort into it. If you're finding your soup is too thin adding milk, add in cream instead, or whole milk.

How to make can potato soup taste better? ›

Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving. Spices: Your soup is probably salty enough, but what about simmering a bay leaf in there for a while (don't forget to remove it before serving)? Depending on the soup's flavor profile, you could shake in some cumin or red pepper flakes.

How to jazz up canned potato soup? ›

Add swirls of pesto, chili crisp, hot sauce, sour cream, or salted yogurt. Garnish your bowl with fried shallots, garlic chips, croutons, or a mish-mash of toasted seeds. Douse tender, fresh herbs—like cilantro, dill, parsley, or basil—in good-quality olive oil and vinegar and pile them on top.

How do I spice up bland potato soup? ›

Some ingredients I like to include in potato soup:
  1. Cooked, chopped bacon.
  2. Corn.
  3. Shredded cheddar (or similarly medium strong cheese)
  4. Cabbage or broccoli.
Jan 17, 2013

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes. Acidic Ingredients: If your soup contained highly acidic ingredients (e.g., tomatoes), it could have affected the texture of the potatoes. Acidic ingredients can slow down the softening process of potatoes.

Should I cook potatoes before adding to soup? ›

There's no correct way but some methods provide difference outcomes. I normally dice my potatoes quite small, boil them on their own and add to the soup at the end. That way they are perfectly cooked. On the other hand you can add them with other vegetables and the potatoes will begin to crumble once they are cooked.

Will cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

Can you use instant potatoes to thicken potato soup? ›

Honestly, if you just stir in a little instant mash, like Smash, your soup will thicken up in no time at all. Now, you may end up needing more than a spoonful, but it's best to add a little at a time, because remember, you can always add more of it, but you can't take it away.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in potato soup? ›

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream.

Why is potato soup gluey? ›

If you've ever tried potato leek soup and found it to have a gluey texture, it's because the potatoes released too much starch from being over handled. This is unfortunately easy to do with a food processor or blender (heck, it can even happen when making mashed potatoes, which is why I avoid using an electric mixer).

Does sour cream thicken soup? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

How do you add Flavour to tasteless soup? ›

Use fresh, good quality ingredients like vegetables and herbs. Add a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to your soup to make it taste better. Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness.

How to spice up store bought potato soup? ›

A pinch of seasoning can make all the difference to freshen up the flavors in a ho-hum soup. Most canned soups have plenty of sodium, so skip the salt and stick with spices like cumin or curry powder or try dried herbs like basil or rosemary.

How do you spice up boring soup? ›

The key here is using the right herbs. Choose tender, leafy herbs for topping soup, like parsley (flat leaf or curly), cilantro, chives, or even mint. Skip the woody herbs, like rosemary and thyme — or add them in the beginning of the cooking process — otherwise they will dull, rather than brighten, the flavor.

What is the key to flavorful soup? ›

All soups and stews must have three major components in order to be tasty: an undercurrent liquid, aromatics, and volumizing ingredients.

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