Alaska's Gold Rush Potato Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

Hearty, creamy potato soup with smoked ham and chives, capturing the rustic comfort of Alaskan frontier cooking. This alaskan-inspired soups ready in about 55 minutes pairs butter, medium onion, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 3 garlic cloves
• 4 cups russet potatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup smoked ham
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh chives

Instructions

1. Step 1: Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large pot over medium heat, then add 1 diced medium onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks; cook for 5 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 4 cups diced russet potatoes, 4 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup diced smoked ham, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper; bring to a boil.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes until potatoes are tender.
5. Step 5: Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth, then stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes until heated through.
6. Step 6: Season with additional salt and pepper if needed, then garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives.