Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

There’s nothing better than a big pot of homemade soup and a pan of freshly baked rolls for dinner! We’ve had some unseasonably cool days here in the Carolinas (mixed in with some unseasonably hot days, haha), and today was the perfect day for Cheesy Potato Soup. As a bonus, my 17-yr old is home for spring break, and his favorite dinner is soup. Any kind of soup.

We had some leftover ham in the freezer from discounted ham I bought after Thanksgiving, so I substituted diced ham for the ground beef the recipe calls for. Every single person in our family loves this soup! It’s not as rich as traditional potato soup, which makes it filling but not heavy.

I served the Cheesy Potato Soup with Crystal’s super easy Bread Machine Dinner Rolls, but feel free to throw in a different side. The soup also pairs well with a tossed salad or a fruit salad or, if you’re short on a time, just serve it with crackers!

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.

Cheesy Potato Soup and Dinner Rolls Menu:

Cheesy Potato Soup

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Ingredients for Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup:

2 cups diced ham (used in place of 1-lb ground beef) (Aldi) — $1.49

1 onion, peeled and diced (Aldi — $2.09 for 2 lbs) — $0.30

2 carrots, peeled and diced (Aldi – $0.99 for 2lbs) — $0.35

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (Aldi – $1.75 for 3-ct pkg) — $0.18

8 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (Aldi – $3.49 for 10-lbs) — $1.40

1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning (substituted for basil and parsley) (Aldi) — $0.20

4 cups chicken broth (I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water) (Aldi) — $0.30

2 cups milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon) — $0.38

1/3 cup flour (Harris Teeter – $1.99 for 5-lbs) – $0.04

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (Aldi — $3.29 for 4 cups) — $0.82

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (Aldi — $2.99 for 16-oz) — $0.37

Salt and pepper to taste, if needed (using ham adds extra salt, so I didn’t need any)

Total: $6.13 (makes 6 servings)

Ingredients for Bread Machine Dinner Rolls:

1 cup warm milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon) — $0.19

1/2 cup butter, softened (Aldi – $3.49 for 4 sticks) — $0.87

1/4 cup sugar (Aldi – $2.86 for 9 1/2 cups) — $0.08

2 eggs (Aldi – $1.66 for 12) — $0.28

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups flour (Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups) — $0.40

1 Tablespoon instant (or rapid-rise) yeast (Sam’s Club – 2lbs for $6.88) — $0.08

Total: $1.90 (makes 20 rolls)

Grand Total for Dinner: $8.03

How to Make Easy Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls:

1. Make the rolls in the bread machine, following the instructions here (or on the recipe card below).

A bread machine holds flour and yeast in the pan while the dough for homemade dinner rolls.

2. While the dough cycle is running, prep all of the vegetables for the soup. Peel and dice the onion and garlic. Peel and cut the carrots into chunks. Peel and cube the potatoes.

3. Follow the instructions for making Cheesy Potato Soup (on the recipe card below). Since I substituted ham for the ground beef, I added a drizzle of olive oil while frying the vegetables (because I didn’t have fat in the pan from frying the ground beef).

Chopped carrots and onions sauté in the bottom of a large pot on the stovetop.

Diced potatoes, carrots, and onions cook in a large pot.

Chopped ham, potato chunks, carrots, and onion simmer together in a large pot as the base for cheesy ham and potato soup.

A large stockpot of creamy cheesy potato soup sits on the stovetop with a ladle resting inside.

4. Follow both recipes as written otherwise, and you’ll have an amazing homemade family dinner for less than $10!

Unbaked homemade dinner rolls rest in a white baking dish.

Golden brown homemade dinner rolls fill a white baking dish.

5. Enjoy the finished Cheesy Potato Soup with the homemade rolls fresh out of the oven! We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc.

Easy cheesy potato soup in a white bowl with blue trim next to a pan of homemade dinner rolls on a folded kitchen towel.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup with Bread Machine Rolls

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There’s nothing better than a big pot of homemade soup and a pan of freshly baked rolls for dinner! This soup is not as rich as traditional potato soup, which makes it filling but not heavy. It also pairs well with a tossed salad or a fruit salad or, if you’re short on a time, just serve it with crackers!

Course Bread, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword bread machine, brunch, easy dinner, family favorite, homemade, potatoes, rolls, soup, weeknight dinner

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 45

Bread Machine Run Time 1 30

Servings

Calories 743kcal

Author Brigette

Cost $8.03

Ingredients

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Ingredients:

2 cups diced ham used in place of 1-lb ground beef (Aldi) — $1.491 onion peeled and diced (Aldi — $2.09 for 2 lbs) — $0.302 carrots peeled and diced (Aldi – $0.99 for 2lbs) — $0.353 cloves garlic peeled and minced (Aldi – $1.75 for 3-ct pkg) — $0.188 medium potatoes peeled and cubed (Aldi – $3.49 for 10-lbs) — $1.401 Tablespoon Italian seasoning substituted for basil and parsley (Aldi) — $0.204 cups chicken broth I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water (Aldi) — $0.302 cups milk Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon — $0.381/3 cup flour Harris Teeter – $1.99 for 5-lbs – $0.041 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese Aldi — $3.29 for 4 cups — $0.821/2 cup Parmesan cheese Aldi — $2.99 for 16-oz — $0.37Salt and pepper to taste if needed (using ham adds extra salt, so I didn’t need any)

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls Ingredients:

1 cup warm milk Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon — $0.191/2 cup butter softened (Aldi – $3.49 for 4 sticks) — $0.871/4 cup sugar Aldi – $2.86 for 9 1/2 cups — $0.082 eggs Aldi – $1.66 for 12 — $0.281 teaspoon salt4 cups flour Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups — $0.401 Tablespoon instant or rapid-rise yeast (Sam’s Club – 2lbs for $6.88) — $0.08

Instructions

Add dinner roll ingredients to your bread machine in the order listed. Run on dough cycle.

While the dough cycle is running, prep all of the vegetables for the soup. Peel and dice the onion and garlic. Peel and cut the carrots into chunks. Peel and cube the potatoes.

When the dough is complete, divide the dough into 20-24 equal portions and shape each into balls.

Place dough balls on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a medium-sized pot, combine a drizzle of olive oil with the onion, carrot, and garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables are softened.

Once the vegetables soften, add the potatoes, Italian seasoning, and broth, and bring to a rolling boil.

Reduce the soup’s heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

While the soup simmers, bake the risen rolls in preheated oven for 13-16 minutes, or until golden brown.

Combine milk and flour for the soup until smooth (this only takes a few seconds in my Vita-Mix). Gradually pour the mixture into the soup, stirring constantly.

Cook and stir until the soup is thickened and starting to boil.

Add cheeses and continue cooking until cheese is melted (another minute or so).

As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush them with melted butter.

Add salt and pepper to the soup to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with additional cheese if desired. Serve alongside warm rolls, fresh out of the oven!

Notes

We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc.

Nutrition

Cheesy potato soup in a white bowl with blue trim next to a pan of homemade dinner rolls on a folded kitchen towel.

FAQs about Cheesy Potato Soup and Homemade Dinner Rolls:

Can you freeze cheesy potato soup?

I don’t recommend freezing this soup because the potatoes will probably become grainy when thawed and the dairy might separate.

Can you freeze bread machine dinner rolls?

These easy dinner rolls do freeze nicely for several months. Simply cool them completely and store them in an air-tight container or freezer bag.

What are some common toppings for cheesy potato soup?

We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc.

What will thicken my potato soup?

My recipe’s flour thickens the soup (mix with milk first to prevent clumps). If it needs further thickening, mix a bit more flour with a splash of milk and add.

How can I make this cheesy broccoli and potato soup?

Once the potatoes are nearly tender and before adding the milk, flour, and cheese, add chopped broccoli and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

How long does it take to make bread machine dinner rolls?

These rolls take about 2 hours: The dough cycle is usually 90 minutes, plus 10 minutes to roll, 15 minutes to rise, and 15 minutes to bake.