This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
It’s finally soup weather!
Well, in Southern California it’s occasionally soup weather. But that doesn’t stop us – we love it! It makes such a fast and easy warm meal!
I’m sharing one of our favorite recipes today – it’s a Loaded Baked Potato & Ham Soup. Super hearty and yummy – and easy to make!
My kids love this one too! Sometimes we even have it in bread bowls. I love it with some sourdough bread!
I mean, with ham, pototoes, bacon, cheese and sour cream – what’s not to love?!
Loaded Baked Potato & Ham Soup
Print recipe
| Serves | 6 |
| Meal type | Main Dish, Soup |
Ingredients
- 1lb bacon (chopped)
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 7 large russet potates (diced (can be peeled if you prefer))
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups diced, cooked ham
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- grated cheese, green oinions (optional garnishes)
Directions
| In a large stockpot, cook bacon until crisp. | |
| Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Set aside. | |
| In bacon fat, cook onions until light and translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes. | |
| Add in flour and stir constantly, making sure potatoes aren't sticking to the pan. Cook until the mixture has thickened - about 5 minutes. | |
| Stir in chicken stock, half the bacon, and the chopped ham. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Keep in mind you have bacon fat in there, you won't need much salt.) | |
| Bring soup to a simmer and cook on medium heat for 20-25 minutes, until potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes to thicken the soup. | |
| Add whipping cream and sour cream and simmer for 5 more minutes. Your soup should be thick and creamy. If it's too thick, you can add water or more chicken stock to thin. | |
| Garnish with optional toppings and remainder of bacon. |
When Carton Smart sent me some yummy ingredients to try out in their environment-friendly cartons, I knew just what I wanted to make! Especially since the chicken stock they sent is the exact brand I normally buy. Handy huh?
They also sent me Organic Pumpkin Puree and Jellied Cranberry Sauce. These will definitely get used in the next couple weeks!
I knew (since I buy it anyway) that it was easy to find chicken and other broths in cartons, but I had no idea that you could find other holiday ingredients in them as well! I love the idea of being able to find organic ingredients in environmental cartons. Here’s some info on how to Become Carton Smart!
If you want more info and great recipe ideas, you can follow Tweet @CartonSmart and Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest too!
But I have more than a great recipe for you today – I have a seriously amazing giveaway!!!
Together with Carton Smart, we are hosting a giveaway for a $500 Visa Gift Card, and a $500 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice!! Can you believe it?
The entry is super easy too! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post answering one of these questions:
1. What is one of your favorite small, smart recipes that use ingredients in cartons?
2. What is one of your “smart” entertaining tips that produce great tasting food with little waste?
Giveaway open to US residents 18 Years and Older. Giveaway ends January 1, 2014. Official giveaway rules here.
Good Luck!!
First of all, that looks amazing. Secondly, I’m a big chicken brother kinda girl. I LOVE this chicken pot pie recipe that uses chicken broth. Seriously so tasty!
I use a lot of Swanson broth from cartons. Especially during the holidays or if my hubby is ill.
The soup looks fabulous as well as the Pacific organic products. I love broth from a carton to cook with. One thing I must make with a carton ingredient is real whipping cream… add a little pure vanilla and powdered sugar and you have a superb topping for your pie or dessert! :):)
Hmm. I think the only carton I keep in my pantry is chicken broth! I’ll have to start looking for these when I shop! Here is my go-to appetizer recipe, simply and delish. Every year, I can some variety of pepper jelly. This year I made peach-pepper jelly. Pour over cream cheese and eat with crackers, yum! The jars are reusable and the boxes are recyclable.
Chicken broth. Use it to make soup or enhance flavor of other dishes.
Wow! What a great giveaway.
I use only carton stock…of any kind. I am amazed at how many different flavors there are. You can use it when making sauces, soups, gravy, in the crockpot, in rice, quinoa, orzo…the question is when not to use it!
I love the Pacific brand! I use their broths in my green chili, soups and stuffing. I’m making pumpkin pie this year and will try the pumpkin puree!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I use stock in cartons for soup, soup and more soup!!! It’s so convenient and I really think it tastes better than from cans. Your soup looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing :)
I use cartons of beef and chicken broth for many recipes! Especially the beef when making French Onion Soup! Yum, yum….
I use Pacific brand broths in all my cooking. They are the best! I also use half and half, and whipping cream in the carton. Thanks for this great giveaway!
I use chicken broth for sauces. Thanks
We actually love potato soup around here but usually use the canned stuff. This looks so much better and I really can’t wait to try it. I wouldn’t feel as guilty making this potato soup.
For a waste free holiday, this 4th of July I actually saw people using banana leaves for their dishes instead of plastic wrap/foil. Now that is awesome!
It’s so crazy! I use carton stock all the time, but it is so common to my routine that I really had to dig in my brain to pull out a recipe!!! I like to make cauliflower soup and always cook the cauliflower in chicken broth and never drain. That way I get added flavor and added nutrients.
I have an easy way to serve fresh cut vegetables and dip. I use the clear punch size plastic cups. I put artichoke and spinach dip in the bottom of the cup and stand a variety of celery, carrots and bell pepper. These cup size, easy to hold, appetizers are always the first thing to disappear.
Only carton containers I use is chicken broth but will be on the lookout now for more products packaged in the cartons.
Brenda
We use chicken broth from cartons to make homemade chicken noodle soup.
Just made some awesome potato soup using boxed Chicken broth, but this looks great too, will have to try it.
I make a chicken stew with dumplings that is a staple all winter long…such comforting, warming food.
For waste free stuff, I make broths from carcasses, veggie peeling etc and the rest go to our chickens! Recycling into meat and eggs yes!
I love recipes that call for broth. I think we constantly have a carton of both in the fridge! My favorite is shepherd’s pie.
This soup looks so good!! Loaded baked potato is one of my faves, too!
Well I like to use stock for soups bases. My MIL has a great chicken noodle soup recipe that she uses chicken stock in, its one of my favorite dishes. Especially in the winter!
I like to keep shelf stable milk in my cupboards to use in recipes because I don’t always have fresh milk. I don’t drink much milk so it always goes bad before I can use it all.
My “smart” tip for eliminating waste is LEFTOVERS. Yummy!
I love making gravy – we do it year round so using the cartons is key
Gina took my tip for the gravy. We do that too. I love the chicken broth to add to soups, stews, pasta and so many quick meals. I use it to cook rice instead of water. So much more yummy that way.
I love using chicken broth in recipes, and always buy the cartons since I can reseal them and use the rest up later!
I always use chicken broth!!
Gossner Foods has a shelf-stable whipping cream that comes in a carton & I LOVE it! I add it to make yummy, creamy soups in the winter and also to make a quick ganache with chocolate chips :)
We always have cartons of chicken stock on hand. It is easy to store , and we always find something to use it in; it just makes everything better!
Lately, we have been using it in our mashed cauliflower!
YUMMM!! We love soup in our house!!! Love these cartons and so handy when a can opener is not around!!! I love using stocks to start my winter/fall soups!
I use chicken stock in many of the recipes I make! I always have a good supply on hand!!
2. definitely to use leftovers so there is no waste. deli rotisserie chicken for dinner can become soup the next day, etc.
Wow. What a delicious looking soup! I use chicken stock in some of my favorite recipes.
I like making multiple meals at once and freezing them so I use the whole carton and don’t have left overs that go bad or get wasted
We like using carton miso broth to make quick noodle tofu soup.
I try and “pre package” my foods before I store them or freeze them in multiples of two servings each so if my kids come over for dinner I just have to pull out an additional package of whatever I have planned for dinner and that way I don’t cook too much food because I had to make “7” pork chops for just the two of us.
I use stock in so many of my recipes. It isn’t always convenient to make my own and the boxed stock works so well. Love it! My tip is to plan ahead for using leftovers so nothing goes to waste.
I never throw away peels or ends of vegetables and fruit. I use them to make compost, so both my stomach and my garden thank me!
I make roast beef using beef broth from a carton.
My entertaining tip to avoid waste is quality over quantity. Make one really interesting appetizer instead of lots of odds and ends. One fabulous dessert instead of several. Use good quality ingredients, and everything will taste great!
I use vegetable stock from a carton in place of chicken stock to make vegetarian “chicken” and dumplings, as well as in soup recipes.
I don’t know that it’s necessarily a small recipe, but we like to make chicken whole wheat dumpling soup with boxed chicken broth.
I make a super simple roasted chicken leg quarter with spices and chicken broth from a carton. So delicious!
I love Pacific soups, I’ve been using them for a while now. I use their cream of mushroom to make what we call “Creme de Champignon” chicken and vegetable casserole (the French makes it fancier!).
I love using beef broth from a carton for my beef mushroom soup — it’s awesome!
I love to make chicken noodle soup with pacific brand stock!
I use boxed chicken broth and stock for just about every soup and stew that I make during the winter. I also love to use it when I make rice or risotto! What an awesome giveaway!!
What a great giveaway! We use the chicken broth in the cartons for soups, stirfry, flavoring mashed potatoes. Great to always have on hand.
I make Turkey Tortilla Soup like this:
3 cans of Rotel, 2 cans Mexicorn, 2 can black beans drained, 1/2 pkg taco seasoning, 2 cups leftover shredded turkey & a carton of chicken broth
This uses cartons AND leftover holiday turkey to save waste!
I use chai tea concentrate from a carton for a quick and easy warm drink – just add milk!
I use boxed chicken broth to make chicken and dumplings.
I use carton chivken broth to make chicken noodle soup. I cook choped celery, onions, carrots and boilef chicken in butter until its tender. I add it to my chicken broth. Salt it. I then add wide egg noodles and cabbage and cook until its all tender.
I use carton chicken broth to make chicken noodle soup. I cook choped celery, onions, carrots and boiled chicken in butter until its tender. I add it to my chicken broth. Salt it. I then add wide egg noodles and cabbage and cook until its all tender.
I love to make chicken and dumplings. Broth in a carton is just the right amount and I use chicken tenders so there is no waste!
A good chicken broth is great to have around. I like to use it in an easy Spanish rice.
Warm up 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan.
Add 1 cup of long grain white rice along with 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp garlic, 1/4 tsp cumin and a pinch of paprika.
Warm the rice for about 3 minutes on med heat until the rice begins to ‘crack.’
Add 1 can of tex-mex style tomatoes and chilis, not-drained and 1 cup chicken broth.
Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat. Cook covered for 30 min.
Serve with enchiladas or grilled chicken breast with sour cream and sliced avocado.
I love to use Pacific Low Sodium Chicken stock to make chicken noodle soup. I also like to use their beef broth to make beef stew. I have many food allergies and Pacific broths are the only ones I can use…..that’s a good thing because I really love them.
We brew iced tea and fill large drink dispensers rather than having small individual drinks. In the cooler months, I like to make spiced apple cider in the crock pot for parties. We also try to use real stemware for parties rather than disposable. It may mean doing dishes but there is a lot less waste.
I always cook huge meals from scratch whenever we have people over. To reduce waste, I toss veggie ends & peels, meat bones, and herb stems of what I’m cooking into a large soup pot with water to simmer to make homemade stock. Then, if I’m not using the stock for the day’s meal, I cool it down and freeze it (always with the date & contents labeled) for use later.
If you’re baking instead, throw apple cores, citrus rind, etc (or whatever you’re using) into a small soup pan with a cinnamon stick or other baking spices and simmer on a low heat setting for instant air freshening!
We use chicken broth/stock to make rice more exciting.
If we’re doing a football weekend, I make an easy dip using a block of cream cheese and a can of chili. Microwave to heat and mix…super easy, tasty and always gone by the end of the night.
We use the chicken stock to make super yummy chicken and noodles!
We use chicken stock when we make quinoa with lime and cilantro.
A small tip on how not to waste food? As a family of three, we try to be very aware of how much food we are cooking, and if it makes too much, we automatically put in in reusable containers in individual portions for my husband and I to take to work for lunch-cheaper and not letting things go to waste.
I use gluten free vegetable broth to make bean soup every other week. I soak dry brand over night in the am chop up lots of veggies. And dump them into the crockpot. Then I add the spices and garlic and pour the broth over everything. I don’t stir until the last half hour. Also, adding a half cup of white wine into roasted red pepper soup in a Carton, heat in a pot, serve with a dollop of sour cream and a Basil chiffonade. Yum. Easy.
I like using leftover chicken to make Arroz con Pollo, my family loves it and I get to stretch leftovers even further. I’d use Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Stock to make this delicious recipe.
Arroz con pollo – Chicken with rice
Ingredients: leftover cooked chicken,1 cup rice,3 cups chicken stock,mixed veggies,1/2 onion, 1/2 green bell pepper,1 tomato, 2 cloves garlic,1tbsp butter, 1 chicken bouillon cube, salt and pepper.
Directions:In a skillet saute onion, tomato, bell pepper and garlic. Add the rice and when it begins to turn gold add the chicken, mixed veggies, bouillon cube and chicken broth.Stir gently and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed.
Pumpkin puree for pumpkin pie milkshakes!
I buy roteiseery chicken and make about 3 0r 4 meals for my hubby and I from it !!
My white chicken chili recipe would be great with their stock in a carton!
Carton pureed pumpkin is perfect to use in a pumpkin spiced smoothie, or to use in a pumpkin cheesecake.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
I make chili and spaghetti sauce using carton tomatoes, I had read that tomatoes in the can has leached bpa and tin in them so I switched over to cartons. I also use cartons for my chicken, beef and vegetable stocks to make soups and rice. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I am a fan of the whole roasted chicken. Everything goes into making chicken broth. A lot of people reuse the bones again and again.
I love Pacific Chicken broth, it is my favorite! We always use this for soups, chili’s, and sauteeing!
We use carton Chicken broth all the time for soups and cooking in the crock pot!
Pureed pumpkin in a carton is the best…many things can be made with it.
I use chicken broth in a carton all the time for making minestrone, many of my recipes for the chicken dinners we have frequently have. I use a little chicken broth in my favorite way to make pork chops. I use beef broth in a carton for pot roast, beef stew & several other beef dishes.
I have to say a whole rotissary chicken is perfect for quick chicken and noodles, any casserole, soups etc, a real time and money saver ! !
I love to used cartoned pumpkin in pancake and waffle recipes to make a delicious and quick breakfast treat!
I use cloth napkins to reduce waste -it also gives a formal feel to my dinner. We use washable dinner and service-ware and I love to use these cartons – they do taste fresher and I make multiple recipes so that nothing is wasted. I use the organic pumpkin puree for my pumpkin cheesecake recipe and to reduce waste I use the leftover for a smoothie – such a treat! truckredford(at)Gmail(dot)com
I always buy tupperware and pack up food for guests to take so we don’t end up wasting or eating all the sweets when we have guests.
I use chicken broth from a carton in my stuffing
I use the Pacific chicken broth in my stuffing and mashed potatoes among many things through out the year
I use the Pacific butternut product in some delicious Chicken Curry Squash soup!
Pumpkin Spice Crockpot Soup: Sautee one onion and two chopped apples in a skillet with Coconut oil, then add to crockpot. Add one carton of vegetable broth, one carton of pumpkin puree, 2 chopped sweet potatoes, 2 tsp of pumpkin spice, 3 tsp of cinnamon, one can coconut milk, one cup of unsweetened apple sauce, salt and pepper.
Here is my recipe using cartons
Strawberry Coconut Water Smoothie:
2 Cups frozen strawberries (1) 11.1 oz. carton Cocozia coconut water, 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed, 1-2 Teaspoons honey
I always use carton chicken stock for my Southern style homemade chicken and biscuits. I also use carton pumpkin puree to make some delicious pumpkin coconut soup.
I like to use the Pacific Organic Chicken Stock 1 Cup Cartons to make gravy for chicken pot pie. It’s also super tasty on top of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes.
To make the gravy I heat 2 Tbsp. of Butter in a small cooking pot. As it begins to become completely melted and bubble on the edge I thrown in 2 Tbsp. of Flour and incorporate with a whisk. Next, I cook the butter and flour for about 2 minutes. After the rue is cooked a bit I begin slowly adding a bit of organic chicken stock to make a thick paste, adding about 2 Cups of Pacific Organic Chicken Stock total. After adding the stock I add a pinch of Thyme and a bit of fresh cracked Black Pepper. I will then cook the gravy on medium heat for about 5 minutes, whisking often, until becoming thick and delicious.
Thanks~karmakaytlyn(at)yahoo(dot)com!
Use pumpkin puree cartons to make this recipe:
Pumpkin pie croissants
All you need is croissant rolls, pumpkin puree, sugar and cinnamon.
Spread the pumpkin puree over each croissant, roll them up, sprinkle them with sugar and cinnamon and bake as directed
My recipe is chicken noodle soup with pepperoni and I use cartons of chicken stock.
I use chicken broth in a container for my mom’s stuffing recipe.
We use carton chicken stock for everything from soup to mashed potatoes
I like adding carton chicken stock to mashed potatoes for a little extra zip