Homemade Potato Leek Soup with Roasted Garlic & Cheddar Cheese is a flavorful, easy-to-make, bowl of comfort full of creamy potatoes, rich roasted garlic, sweet leeks, warm broth, and topped with tangy Greek yogurt. Perfect for a casual winter weeknight dinner or when you’re craving the classic soup with a gourmet twist.

This Roasted Garlic Cheddar Soup will literally warm you up from the inside out! It is filled with yummy cheddar cheese and roasted garlic making it the perfect Winter comfort food and gluten free meal! | Healthy Seasonal Recipes | Katie Webster

I originally shared this recipe on August 25, 2012. I have updated the images and some of the text today. This post contains affiliate links.

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Praise For Potato Leek Soup with Cheese and Garlic

When it’s winter and the days are long and cold, all we can think about is soup. And we like our soup to be a big bowl of creamy, cheesy comfort and this potato cheese soup fits the bill!

At its purest form, this soup is a delicious but humble potato leek soup that’s been elevated to the next level with the addition of rich sharp cheddar and sweet roasted garlic. This kicked-up dish really is a stick-to-your-ribs kind-of meal. With the best part being that it comes together in no time and uses easy-to-find store-bought ingredients and common pantry staples.

And while we love this easy-to-make, one-pot dish on cold chilly days, we know your family will too! It is a great lunch or dinner in a bowl. All you need to complete the meal is a chunk of crusty bread.

Key Ingredients For This Gourmet Potato Leek Soup

  • Garlic: To give this potato leek soup rich complexity and kick up the flavors a notch or twelve we added in roasted garlic! You’ll need three whole heads- which sounds like a lot, but the roasting process will really mellow the flavors.
  • Leeks: Use only the white and light green parts of the leek. I find that their mild onion-like, slightly sweet flavor complements the savory undertones of the dish really well. Here’s how to cut and clean the leeks
  • Potatoes: Use any waxy, thin-skinned potato waxy potatoes, such as a Yukon Gold or red potatoes to produce an ultra-creamy texture pureed in this soup.
  • Chicken Stock or Broth: For the base of the soup, you’ll want chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth. While using chicken stock will produce a richer flavor base, low-sodium chicken broth is a great option to use if you are running low on time and can’t make your stock. And if you’d like to keep this vegetarian, feel free to use Vegetable Stock.
  • Dry White Wine: Dry white wine brings out the flavors of this delicious soup while also adding another note of acidity. We prefer to use a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay but feel free to use your favorite; just be sure to use a brand that does not have a lot of oak or residual sugar.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese is used in the soup. We find that full-bodied, tangier flavors of this cheese pairs well with all the rich elements of this dish, however; if you would prefer to use just a sharp cheddar that would be delicious as well.
  • Kitchen Staples: Salt and Pepper and Olive Oil
  • Fresh thyme: To season
  • Greek yogurt and Scallions: For garnish

Step-By-Step Instructions To Make Leek Potato Cheese Soup

Step 1: Preheat Oven

Preheat oven to 350 °F.

Step 2: Roast Garlic

With a serrated knife, cut the ends of the garlic head off, exposing individual tips of garlic cloves. Place root-side down on a double layer of foil and drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over the exposed garlic clove ends. Wrap foil into a packet and place it in the oven. Roast until garlic is soft, fragrant, and starting to brown; approximately 1 hour. Remove from oven and open packet to allow garlic to cool.

Step 3: Prepare Soup Base

Meanwhile, in a large soup pot over medium heat, heat the remaining olive oil. Add leek, thyme, and salt. Cook, stirring often until leek is softened and slightly brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine, increase heat to high and boil until the wine is almost evaporated about 1 to 3 minutes. Then, add broth and potatoes, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and maintain a gentle simmer. Remove lid and continue simmering until the potatoes are soft, 15 to 18 minutes.

Step 4: Add in Roasted Garlic and Puree

Squeeze the roasted garlic out of their skins and into the soup. Puree in batches until desired consistency is reached. Stir in cheese.

Step 5: Finish Soup

Serve immediately with a dollop of Greek yogurt and scallions.

This Roasted Garlic Cheddar Soup will literally warm you up from the inside out! It is filled with yummy cheddar cheese and roasted garlic making it the perfect Winter comfort food and gluten free meal! | Healthy Seasonal Recipes | Katie Webster

FAQ And Expert Tips For Potato Leek Roasted Garlic Soup

How to store leftovers

Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat any leftovers on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through.

Do I have to add wine?

No, if you do not drink or cook with alcohol, wine can be omitted completely without effecting the taste as the garlic will add plenty of acidity. If omitting, skip ahead to step 4.

How To Safely Puree Hot Soup

If you’ve never pureed hot soup before, keep these safety tips in mind:

  • Do not fill the blender too high. To be safe, only fill the blender jar to the halfway point and puree in batches.
  • Be sure the lid is firmly closed, set a dry kitchen towel over the top, and hold on tight to the top.
  • Turn the blender on low and slowly increase the speed. If the blender is turned on too high initially, it will build up too much steam that can violently push the top right off the blender and can cause the hot soup to go everywhere.
  • If you have one, feel free to use a hand immersion blender. It’s convenient, easy to clean, and usually a safer way to puree than the blender method
two bowls of soup with leeks and scallions and a bulb of roasted garlic

Additional Soups with Potatoes To Try

  1. Potato Soup with Andouille Sausage is a hearty chunky stew with a little anise added to it!
  2. I love this slow cooker potato and kielbasa soup in the cold months. The house smells fantastic when it’s cooking!
  3. The trick to making this cheesy kale soup creamy is adding in potatoes.
  4. My creamy and chunky Corn Chowder gets its creaminess from pureeing the soup with the cooked potatoes in it. No other thickener required! 
  5. If you have an instant pot this creamy cheesy cauliflower soup is super simple and ultra-silky smooth.

Additional Roasted Garlic Recipes To Try

  1. Roasted Garlic Caesar Salad is a hearty and delicious salad for true garlic lovers!
  2. Stove-Top Roasted Garlic is a great and simple technique to know if you love roasted garlic.
  3. Roasted Garlic Hummus is close the classic that we all know and love but with a nice rich twist!

Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter for healthy recipes delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make these recipes, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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This Roasted Garlic Cheddar Soup will literally warm you up from the inside out! It is filled with yummy cheddar cheese and roasted garlic making it the perfect Winter comfort food and gluten free meal! | Healthy Seasonal Recipes | Katie Webster

Potato Leek Soup with Roasted Garlic & Cheddar Cheese

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4.7 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
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Description

Potato Leek Soup with Roasted Garlic & Cheddar Cheese is creamy, gourmet and rich tasting. The potatoes thicken the soup naturally so there is no flour, roux or gluten and to make it vegetarian, simply swap in no-chicken broth. We love it topped with Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of scallions or chives for a hearty meal in a bowl. Serve for lunch or dinner with crusty bread.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 whole heads garlic
  • 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 large leek, sliced and washed and drained
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 6 cups reduced sodium chicken broth or stock or vegetarian no-chicken broth
  • 2 pounds thin-skinned waxy potatoes, such as Yukon gold, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 4–ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
  • 6 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 scallions, sliced

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 °F.
  2. Cut ends of garlic head off with a serrated knife exposing individual tips of garlic cloves. Place root-side down on a double layer of aluminum foil and drizzle 1 teaspoon oil over the exposed garlic clove ends. Wrap foil into a packet and transfer to the oven (seam side-up.) Roast garlic until soft, fragrant and starting to brown, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and open packet and allow garlic to cool.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add leek, thyme and salt and cook, stirring often until the leek is softened and starting to brown slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine, increase heat to high and boil until the wine is almost completely evaporated, 1 to 3 minutes. Add broth or stock and potatoes, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer, remove lid and continue simmering until the potatoes are very soft, 15 to 18 minutes.
  4. Squeeze the soft roasted garlic out of the papery skins into the soup. Puree in batches until desired consistency. USE CAUTION WHEN BLENDING HOT LIQUIDS! Stir in cheese.
  5. Serve topped with a dallop of Greek yogurt and scallions.
  • Prep Time: 50 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Category: soup
  • Method: oven/stove top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups each
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 876 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 11 g

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This Roasted Garlic Cheddar Soup will literally warm you up from the inside out! It is filled with yummy cheddar cheese and roasted garlic making it the perfect Winter comfort food and gluten free meal! | Healthy Seasonal Recipes | Katie Webster