Loaded Chicken Potato Soup

1 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2 . Stage

Prick potatoes with a fork, then wrap each potato in aluminum foil.

3 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Cool potatoes until easily handled; scoop flesh into a bowl and set aside. Discard skins.

4 . Stage

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onion, carrots, and celery in hot oil until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove vegetables to a plate and set aside.

5 . Stage

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook and stir chicken in hot oil until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.

6 . Stage

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-heat. Stir flour into melted butter and cook until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, into butter-flour mixture; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes.

7 . Stage

Stir potatoes, onion mixture, chicken, chicken stock, broccoli, most of the Cheddar cheese, 1/2 of the bacon bits, and 1/2 of the green onions into sauce. Cook soup until heated through and broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir sour cream into soup and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

8 . Stage

Ladle soup into serving bowls and top with remaining bacon bits, Cheddar cheese, and green onions. Erik Johnston