How to Make the Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup Recipe at Home
Paula Deen is a world-renowned chef, television personality, and hugely successful cookbook author.
Deen is known for her authentic southern cooking, a skill she attributes to her grandmother. Her rise to chef stardom began with humble roots. Deen first restaurant-type venture was The Bag Lady, a catering business she operated from her kitchen with the help of her brother Bubba and her two sons.
With the success of Deen’s home-based catering business, she opened her first restaurant in Savannah in the early 1990s – The Lady. Next, she created The Lady & Sons with her sons – Jamie and Bobby Deen.
Deen was first introduced to the television industry in 1999 by Gordon Elliot, a widely successful British television producer and personality. Several years later, Elliot helped create Deen’s first TV show – Paula’s Home Cooking. Paula Deen has created a diverse career, having joined the celebrities on Dancing with the Stars in 2015 and even has a film to her long list of credits.
Paula Deen’s style of cooking is southern home comfort food. Her Ham and Potato Soup recipe offers a creamy and rich bowl of comfort and warmth on a cold winter day. The best part is that this ham and potato soup is easy to make and can be frozen, so make extra.
The Steps to Make Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup Recipe at Home
This ham and potato soup recipe is simple to make. It simmers away on the stove without much fuss after you have completed the prep work. Get ready for a hearty, delicious soup that warms you from the inside out.
- Total Prep Time – 15 Minutes.
- Total Cooking Time – 30 to 45 Minutes.
- Total Cook & Prep Time – 45 to 60 Minutes.
- Servings Per Recipe – 10 to 12.
Recipe Ingredients For Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup
The following ingredients create Paula Deen’s hearty and flavorful ham and potato soup.
- 5 lbs. of Diced Russet, Red, or Yukon Gold Potatoes – 1/2″ cubes.
- 1 Thick Slice of Cooked Ham (About 2 Cups) – cut the ham into small, equal-sized pieces.
Pro-tip – avoid country ham, as it has a high salt content. - 1 Stick (or ½ Cup) of Butter.
- Salt & Pepper.
- 1 Cup of Half & Half.
- 1/2 Cup of Sour Cream.
Toppings & Garnish Options for Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup Recipe
- Toppings –
- Shredded Cheddar or Jack Cheese.
- Chopped Crispy Bacon.
- Chopped Green Onions.
- Garnish –
- Fresh Chopped Chives.
- Fresh Chopped Thyme.
Cooking Instructions For Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup Recipe
To make things easy, it is best to dice all the vegetables you intend to use before you begin to cook. Make sure the vegetable cubes are equal in size, as this allows them to be cooked at the same time.
- Place the diced potatoes into a large-sized soup pot. Add enough water to cover the potatoes in the pot.
Pro-tip – Avoid adding too much water because this may make the soup base too thin or watery. - Cover the soup pot and bring the mixture to a boil.
- When boiling, remove the lid.
- Reduce the heat to medium-high.
- Simmer for at least 20 minutes. The potatoes should be fork-tender.
- Reduce the heat further, and then add the cubed ham and the butter.
- While the soup simmers, whisk the sour cream and half and half together.
- Slowly add the sour cream/half & half blended mixture to the simmering soup base.
- Season the potato and ham soup with salt and pepper.
- Keep on a low heat setting until it is serving time.
Paula Deen’s Ham and Potato Soup Cooking Tips
Consider these cooking tips when making this delicious and warming bowl of soup –
- To keep the potatoes from browning, place them in a bowl of cold water after dicing. This is an important tip if cutting the potatoes in advance.
- Cut the potatoes (and any other vegetables into the same-sized cubes) as this ensures they cook evenly.
- If the ham and potato soup is too thick, add some broth a little at a time to create the desired consistency.
Optional Ingredients for Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup
You can add these additional and nutritious ingredients to enhance the Paula Deen ham and potato soup recipe. Note that these optional ingredients need to be sauteed in butter before you add the potatoes (see step #1 above) –
- ½ Cup of Diced White Onion.
- ½ Cup of Diced Carrots.
- ½ Cup of Diced & Rinsed Leeks.
Pro-tip – Only use the leek’s white and pale green sections.
FAQS
What are Some Serving Suggestions for Paula Deen’s Ham and Potato Soup?
While this warm and hearty soup is a meal unto itself, it also pairs well with –
- A Grilled Cheese Sandwich – A gooey grilled cheese is ideal for dipping into the creamy soup. While American cheese is always a favorite, make the grilled cheese with Smoked Gouda, Brie, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Fontina, or Sharp Cheddar Cheese for something different.
- Homemade Dinner Rolls – Fresh, warm rolls and Paula Deen’s Ham and Potato Soup is a delicious and simple combination. For a unique option, serve crusty garlic bread for dipping.
- A Small Salad – The potato and ham soup recipe from Paula Deen also pairs well with a bright-noted salad. Simply toss some of your favorite greens and cherry tomatoes with a light vinegar-based dressing. This adds a nice acidic note to the meal.
How to Store Paula Deen Ham and Potato Soup?
This Paula Deen recipe for ham and potato soup stores well in the refrigerator – for up to five days – if kept in an airtight container.
Note when the potato and ham soup cools, it will begin to thicken. To serve, reheat the soup over a medium setting until the desired temperature. If the soup remains too thick after reheating, you may want to thin the soup down by adding a bit of broth.
Can Paula Deen’s Ham and Potato Soup Be Frozen?
Yes. Transfer the mixture to quart or gallon-size freezer bags (or use an airtight container) when the ham and potato soup has cooled to room temperature. This ham and potato soup can be stored for up to 3 months if stored properly.
When you want to serve the frozen soup, either allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or leave it on the counter for several hours before heating.
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