Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients:

6 slices bacon, chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups chicken broth

5 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped chives or green onions, for garnish

Optional Toppings:

Additional shredded cheddar cheese

Extra bacon bits

Sour cream

Instructions:

Cook the Bacon:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pot.