German Potato Soup With Bacon (Kartoffelsuppe)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

Updated: October 26, 2025

German potato soup, boosted by smoky bacon ... so good.

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Easy Potato Soup Recipe -- a traditional German favorite made just like Oma!

Need an easy German potato soup? My Kartoffelsuppe comes together fast and uses simple ingredients you probably already have. Add some fresh homemade bread and you’ve suddenly got a hearty meal that brings everyone running to the table.

Top Tips for Best Results

1. Use smoked bacon: If you have access to double smoked bacon, use it
2. Cube potatoes evenly: Try for even-sized pieces so everything cooks uniformly
3. Adjust thickness at the end: If the soup is too thick after 20 minutes, add extra broth. If too thin, stir in instant potato flakes
4. Fresh parsley finish: A final sprinkle of chopped parsley just before serving for that fresh taste

For the meat, I like to use traditional German wieners. However, kielbasa, ham, or any smoked sausage is delicious.

How to Make This Potato Soup

Poke the sausage several times with a fork to let the flavors out during the cooking. Cut the meat into pieces just before serving the soup.

Can you get double smoked bacon piece with the attached rind? This would really be the BEST for this easy potato soup recipe!

Just throw the bacon into the pot, add water, and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes while you get the rest of the ingredients ready.

Then add veggies and cook till tender. Remove bacon piece. Remove the rind and dice the lean meat. Return to the soup. Season and serve.  WUNDERBAR!

I like making it the way my Mutti made it - it always brings back such lovely memories.

I serve this easy German soup as a "chunky soup" just the way my Mutti made it.

However, if you wish, you can mash it or cream it. Make it just the way you like!

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German Potato Soup With Bacon (Kartoffelsuppe)

Need an easy potato soup recipe? Here's my German version of this traditional comfort food. Add some fresh bread and you've a meal that will WOW your guests!

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

30 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 - 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 - 8 potatoes, large dice 
• 1 - 2 stalks celery, large dice
• 2 - 3 carrots, large dice
• 1 pound (454 g) meat, (wiener, kielbasa, ham, smoked sausage, etc.)
• 3 - 4 cups (720–960 ml) water or broth
• salt, pepper, fresh parsley 
• Maggi (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, fry bacon for a few minutes to render the fat.  Add onion and fry for several minutes until translucent, adding a bit of butter or olive oil if necessary. Add potatoes, celery, carrots, and meat. Add sufficient water or broth to cover.
2. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. 
3. Season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley and Maggi.

Notes/Hints:

• If soup is too thick, add extra water. If it's too think, thicken with instant mashed potato flakes.
• Don't have any bacon? Just omit that step and use butter to saute the onions.
• Adjust the amount of potatoes as needed. 
• If you like, add some chopped garlic or garlic powder. 
• Fried onions make a nice, tasty garnish.
• Instead of broth, add some bouillon cubes. Use Vegeta powder to taste, before seasoning with salt.
• Use fresh ground pepper if possible. Also, fresh parsley is great.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Recipe updated on October 26, 2025

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.