First Step: Prepare Your Ingredients Begin with mise en place: Wash, peel, and chop 7-8 medium russet potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking. Dice 1 medium onion and mince 3 cloves garlic; measure out 3 cups chicken broth, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper to taste. For dietary adaptations, use vegetable broth if going vegetarian or gluten-free cream of chicken soup as needed.

Second Step: Sauté the Aromatics Add 1 tablespoon butter to the Instant Pot and select Sauté mode. Once melted, cook the diced onion for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, ensuring it doesn’t burn this builds a flavorful base for your Instant Pot potato soup. If making a vegan version, swap butter for olive oil to keep things plant-based.

Third Step: Combine and Pressure Cook Stir in the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, chopped potatoes, salt, and pepper into the pot. Secure the lid and set the vent valve to Sealing, then cook on Manual High Pressure for 10 minutes. This step is key for that creamy texture in your pressure cooker potato soup, and for low-calorie adaptations, you can reduce the soup amount to lighten it up.

Fourth Step: Release Pressure and Add Slurry After cooking, perform a Quick Release once the 10 minutes are up be careful of the steam. While the soup cooks, whisk together 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon flour to make a slurry. Stir this into the soup after opening the lid; for dairy-free options, use plant-based milk to adapt seamlessly.

Fifth Step: thicken and Finish Select Sauté mode again and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens. Then, stir in 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it’s melted and smooth, creating that signature creamy potato stew. Adjust for vegan diets by using nutritional yeast instead of cheese to maintain the cheesy flavor without dairy.

Sixth Step: Serve and Garnish Finally, ladle the hot Instant Pot potato soup into bowls and garnish with 5-6 slices of cooked and chopped bacon, sliced green onions, and additional shredded cheddar cheese. For a heartier version, add proteins like beans for vegetarians, and pair it with a side like the delightful easy peach cobbler from my blog for a sweet finish.