Easiest Way to Cook Tasty Potato Soup (made with ham and cheese)

Potato Soup (made with ham and cheese).

You can have Potato Soup (made with ham and cheese) using 13 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of Potato Soup (made with ham and cheese)

1. Prepare 16 of small red potatoes, or 8 medium russet, or whatever potatoes enough to equal that.
2. Prepare 1 lb. of box Velveeta Cheese or store brand, whatever flavor you like.
3. Prepare 1-2 of onions any kind, depending on how much you like onions. (Obviously use more than 2 if you like pearl onions, just get at least a lb.).
4. It's 1 (16 oz.) of container of sour cream, or more depending on if you like it creamy.
5. Prepare 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted margarine or butter.
6. Prepare 1 cup of instant mashed potatoes (Idahoan brand is my favorite).
7. It's 8 cups of low sodium chicken or vegetable broth (or make it with 8 cups water and 8 bouillon cubes) plus ~4 cups extra water (enough to cover).
8. It's 1 lb. of fresh sliced carrots.
9. It's 1 cup of sliced celery.
10. It's 1 lb. of cooked cubed ham (approximately).
11. Prepare 1 Tbsp. of Italian seasoning.
12. It's of Salt and pepper to taste (optional).
13. It's of Crackers and bacon bits (optional).

Potato Soup (made with ham and cheese) step by step

1. Wash and cube potatoes (1 inch thickness and add them with seasoning, carrots and ham to a covered ~12 qt. pot to boil over medium to medium-high heat in the broth until tender. (I like to cheat here and microwave the potatoes before I cut them up to help them along). Make sure you add just enough extra water to cover ingredients (~4 more cups). Stir occasionally..
2. Sauté over medium heat, onions and celery in margarine or butter just until tender and add the to the pot..
3. After potatoes are really fork tender (may need to taste one), melt the cheese in the microwave or a sauce pan following package directions. (I cube it and microwave 1 min. stir, 1 min. stir and 1 min. more and stir in a splash of milk to loosen it up if necessary). Add to pot and stir..
4. Add instant potatoes to pot and stir until dissolved..
5. Add sour cream to pot and stir..
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and let the soup thicken by simmering over low heat, probably ~10 mins depending on the amount of extra water added..
7. Sit back and relax, you’re done, enjoy with/without real bacon bits and/or crackers (I like Ritz)..