Creamy Air Fryer Leek and Potato Soup โ€“ Easy & Comforting

A lot of folks donโ€™t think of turning to their air fryer for soup making, but Iโ€™m telling you youโ€™re missing out!ย The air fryer does such a great job of roasting vegetables that it creates the perfect base for a great bowl. Iโ€™ll make some air fryer leek and potato soup to show you just how easy it is!

creamy air fryer leek and potato soup dinners done quick

Why We Love This Recipe

Instead of firing up the oven or standing over the stove forever, I turn to the air fryer. It will get our potatoes and leeks nice and brown with great depth of flavor. Best of all, it requires very little attention, which is always a plus in my book!

Once thatโ€™s done, itโ€™s just a quick blend and mixing with the liquids, and youโ€™re ready to enjoy a creamy and hearty bowl of soup!ย  I love pairing with some nice rolls or crusty bread, but you can add a salad or sandwich for a more full meal.

spoonful of potato leek soup made in the air fryer

If youโ€™re interested in trying out other soups in your air fryer, check our best air fryer soup recipes for more inspiration!

What Youโ€™ll Need

ingredients to make potato leek soup in the air fryer
  • 3-4 potatoes (about 1 pound)
  • 2-3 leeks (white and light green parts only)
  • 2 shallots (or about 3 ounces)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • ยฝ tsp pepper (or to taste)
  • Chives for garnish (optional)

Special Equipment Note: Most traditionally, potato leek soup is served blended. To do this, youโ€™ll want a blender, food processor, or an immersion blender handy. That said, you can always just enjoy it without blending as a chunky soup if you donโ€™t have one of those.

Ingredient Tips and Substitutions

  • I usually use Yukon gold potatoes for this, but you can sub in russet or red potatoes as well
  • The shallots may be substituted by a small white onion if preferred
  • Instead of olive oil, you can sub another high smoke point oil (grapeseed, avocado, etc). Butter or margarine can work, but they burn easier so I tend to avoid them
  • Use low sodium or salt free stock so that you can better control the amount in the soup. Chicken adds nice flavor, but vegetable stock is great if youโ€™re keeping this vegetarian
  • For a thinner soup, use milk instead of heavy cream. Alternatively, half and half may be used here as well

How to Make Air Fryer Potato Leek Soup

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400ยฐF
  2. Peel potatoes (optional) and cut them into approximately 1โ€ cubes
peel and slice potatoes into cubes
  1. Toss the potatoes with 2 Tbsp olive oil and season with salt and pepper
toss potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper
  1. Add potatoes to the preheated air fryer basket
  2. Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 400ยฐF
cook potatoes in air fryer basket
  1. While potatoes are cooking, remove skin from garlic and shallots. Cut shallots and leeks in half, and then into ยฝโ€ moons
slice shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves
  1. Toss the shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves with the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil and season with salt and pepper
toss shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves in olive oil, salt, and pepper
  1. When the 10 minutes have passed, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Add the shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves to the basket, then stir to distribute everything
add shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves to the potatoes in air fryer basket
  1. Return basket to the air fryer and cook for another 15-20 minutes at 400ยฐF, stirring every 5 minutes, or until potatoes are soft and vegetables are browned
  2. Add your roasted vegetables to a blender, food processor, or into a bowl for use with an immersion blender
blend roasted vegetables in food processor
  1. Blend until smooth, then add cream and stock and blend until mixed
  2. Top with chives to garnish
overhead view of potato leek soup in a bowl next to fresh rolls and a spoon

What to Serve With Potato Leek Soup

  • Ham sandwich
  • Beef sandwich
  • Grilled cheese
  • Roasted chicken
  • Garlic bread
  • Dinner rolls
  • Biscuits
  • Soft pretzels
  • Green salad
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Fried potato cakes
  • Potato skins

Try your air fryer potato soup with these easy Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders, a tasty Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich, a quick Microwave Grilled Cheese, yummy Air Fryer Frozen Soft Pretzel Bites, golden brown Trader Joeโ€™s Air Fryer Latkes, or alongside these homemade Air Fryer Potato Skins.ย 

Recipe FAQs

Can You Cook Potato Soup in the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can cook potato soup in the air fryer in that you can cook all of the vegetables in it. Liquids, however, should be added at the end once everything is removed from the air fryer.

In addition, you can heat canned or leftover potato soup in the air fryer with an oven safe bowl. Just pour the soup into the bowl, cover it with foil to prevent splatters, and air fry for about 10 minutes at 375ยฐF. Time may vary based on the size of your bowl.

Should You Peel Potatoes For Potato Soup?

If you plan to blend your potato soup, it is recommended to peel the potatoes so you donโ€™t have loose skin. For whole pieces of potato, peeling is entirely optional and up to personal preference.

In a dish like potato leek soup which is traditionally blended, it is customary to peel the potatoes.

What is the Best Thickener for Potato Soup?

The best thickener for potato soup is actually the potatoes themselves. Potatoes have natural starches that help to thicken dishes up. When combined with a fat such as butter or cream, they create a thick consistency.

If you need to add more thickener, then a cornstarch slurry is the next best option.

Recipe Pro Tips

  • If you donโ€™t often cook with leeks: they are naturally very dirty. Make sure to wash your leeks thoroughly thoroughly, including between layers to remove dirt
  • When adding the liquids, it may cool the soup down too much. Reheat your soup for a minute or two in the microwave, if needed. Alternatively, you can heat it in the air fryer in an oven-safe bowl covered in foil for 5-6 minutes at 400ยฐF
  • This recipe makes a nice, thick soup. If you want it thinner, add some additional stock or milk to make it soupier
  • Everything was perfectly done in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer at the 15 minute (second cooking) mark. However, other air fryers may vary slightly in time needed
dipping a spoon into hot leek and potato soup

Other Air Fryer Potato Recipes to Try

Final Thoughts

This creamy air fryer potato leek soup cooks up so easily and perfectly. The vegetables get all nice and brown on the edges for a great depth of flavor in this simple soup. Enjoy a warm bowl on a cold day, or pair with a side for a complete lunch or even dinner.

Itโ€™s easy to keep this recipe vegetarian as long as you use vegetable stock, making it versatile for different diets as well.

I like to make a batch and heat it up throughout the week for easy lunches because it keeps well and the flavor is still great!

If youโ€™re craving another bowl of warm comfort, then check out my Air Fryer Chicken Soup Recipe or Air Fryer Pumpkin Soup!

creamy air fryer leek and potato soup dinners done quick featured image

Air Fryer Potato Leek Soup Recipe

Thick and creamy air fryer potato leek soup is a warming bowl of comfort. Pair with a salad or sandwich for a complete meal!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Lunch, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 301 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
ย ย 

  • 3-4 Potatoes (about 1 pound)
  • 3 Large leeks (white and light green parts only)
  • 2 Shallots (or about 3 ounces)
  • 3 Cloves garlic
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 Cup heavy cream
  • 1 Tsp salt (or more to taste)
  • ยฝ Tsp pepper (or more to taste)
  • Chives for garnish (optional)

Instructions
ย 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400ยฐF
  • Peel potatoes and cut them into approximately 1โ€ cubes
    3-4 Potatoes
  • Toss the potatoes with 2 Tbsp olive oil and season with salt and pepper
    3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tsp salt, ยฝ Tsp pepper
  • Add potatoes to the preheated air fryer basket
  • Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 400ยฐF
  • While potatoes are cooking, remove skin from garlic and shallots. Cut shallots and leeks in half, and then into ยฝโ€ moons
    2 Shallots, 3 Cloves garlic, 3 Large leeks
  • Toss the shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves with the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil and season with salt and pepper
  • When the 10 minutes have passed, remove the potatoes from the air fryer. Add the shallots, leeks, and garlic cloves to the basket, then stir to distribute everything
  • Return basket to the air fryer and cook for another 15-20 minutes at 400ยฐF, stirring every 5 minutes, or until potatoes are soft and vegetables are browned
  • Add your roasted vegetables to a blender, food processor, or into a bowl for use with an immersion blender
  • Blend until smooth, then add cream and stock and blend until mixed
    2 Cups chicken or vegetable stock, 1 Cup heavy cream
  • Top with chives to garnish
    Chives for garnish

Notes

  • I usually use Yukon gold potatoes for this, but you can sub in russet or red potatoes as well
  • The shallots may be substituted by a small white onion (use quarters instead of halves) if preferred
  • Instead of olive oil, you can sub another high smoke point oil (grapeseed, avocado, etc). Butter or margarine can work, but they burn easier so I tend to avoid them
  • Use low sodium or salt free stock so that you can better control the amount in the soup. Chicken adds nice flavor, but vegetable stock is great if youโ€™re keeping this vegetarian
  • For a thinner soup, use milk instead of heavy cream. Alternatively, half and half may be used here as well
  • Leeks are naturally very dirty. Make sure to wash your leeks thoroughly thoroughly, including between layers to remove dirt
  • When adding the liquids, it may cool the soup down too much. Reheat your soup for a minute or two in the microwave, if needed. Alternatively, you can heat it in the air fryer in an oven-safe bowl covered in foil for 5-6 minutes at 400ยฐF
  • This recipe makes a nice, thick, creamy soup. If you want it thinner, add some additional stock or milk to make it soupier
  • Everything was perfectly done in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer at the 15 minute (second cooking) mark. However, other air fryers may vary slightly in time needed
  • Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any substitutions, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only

Nutrition

Serving: 266gCalories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 5.2gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 583mgPotassium: 591mgFiber: 2.4gSugar: 4.9gCalcium: 73mgIron: 1.8mg
Keyword air fryer leek and potato soup, air fryer potato ideas, air fryer potato soup, air fryer soup recipes, ninja air fryer soup recipes, potato and leek soup, potato leek soup, potato soup, potato soup recipe
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creamy air fryer leek and potato soup dinners done quick pinterest
Katie Vine