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:

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).

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).




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


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.


Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup with Bread Machine Rolls
Ingredients
Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Ingredients:
- 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)
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls Ingredients:
- 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
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
Nutrition
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FAQs about Cheesy Potato Soup and Homemade Dinner Rolls:
I don’t recommend freezing this soup because the potatoes will probably become grainy when thawed and the dairy might separate.
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.
We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc.
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.
Once the potatoes are nearly tender and before adding the milk, flour, and cheese, add chopped broccoli and cook for another 5-7 minutes.
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.

More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:
- Homemade Chipotle Chicken Bowls
- Crustless Spinach Quiche and Whole Wheat Bread
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas and Cilantro Rice
- Baked Potato Bar
- Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Chicken Alfredo and Roasted Carrots
- Breakfast Sandwiches
- Chicken Alfredo Soup and World’s Easiest Biscuits
- Lazy Lasagna Casserole
- Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet
And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!
If you make this easy family dinner, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out!
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Easiest Homemade Easter Candy Recipe (Easter Basket Idea!)
This homemade Easter candy is such a simple and delicious option for a fun treat to add to Easter baskets this year. It only takes a few ingredients, comes together quickly, and makes a festive Easter bark that kids and adults both love!
Note from Crystal: I’m so excited to have my youngest sister, Olivia, sharing this fun homemade Easter candy recipe — a spring variation of our family’s favorite homemade Christmas Candy recipe! We typically make this candy to give as a delicious and affordable food gift during the Christmas season, but I never thought of the brilliant idea to make it for Easter baskets!
Looking for non-candy Easter basket ideas? Check out this Easy Homemade Slime Recipe that my daughters love making!

We Love This Homemade Easter Candy!
Looking for unique Easter basket ideas this year? This homemade Easter candy recipe is sure to be a hit with your kids!
This delicious recipe is a spin-off of Crystal’s incredible Christmas candy recipe — and if you’re a white chocolate lover like me, you might end up actually liking this one better than the original! 😉
(Not a fan of white chocolate? Just use milk or dark chocolate chips instead, but don’t forget to put on the festive colorful sprinkles!)

Ingredients for Homemade Easter Candy
This recipe is SO easy to make and only uses a few ingredients! It’s hard to believe this recipe could be so yummy with just these few ingredients, but it really is.
- 1 sleeve Saltine crackers
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- Pastel sprinkles

How to Make White Chocolate Easter Bark Candy
1 Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then spread Saltine crackers over foil.

3. In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, just until gooey.
4. Pour this gooey mixture over crackers and bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes, or until bubbly.
5. Remove from oven and sprinkle white chocolate chips.

6. Let sit for a few minutes until the white chocolate chips begin to melt. Then, use a rubber spatula to spread the melted chocolate over crackers.
7. Immediately decorate with sprinkles.

8. Stick in the freezer for an hour, or until the chocolate hardens.
9. Break into small pieces and put into gift containers or baggies.

10. Store in the freezer until ready to eat or give away.

There’s just something about the concoction of crackers, chewy caramel, and chocolate! YUM!
I brought a bowl of these to a recent family gathering, and not only did the kids absolutely love it, but the adults raved about it, too!
This is a super simple dessert that you could totally use for Easter Sunday, if you want something a little different than usual. Just make a big batch ahead of time and you’re ready to go.
This Easter Bark Candy Recipe Is Freezer Friendly, Too!
It’s SO easy to make ahead of time because it keeps really well in the freezer. I recommend making a batch and breaking it up into individual baggies to freeze for later.
Then just pull a baggie out when you’re ready to use it for a get-together or Easter basket!
I love the fun colors of the sprinkles — and this recipe is really perfect for just about any spring parties or get-togethers! You could even use them as frugal end-of-the-year teacher gifts.

Homemade Easter Candy
Ingredients
- 1 sleeve Saltine crackers
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- Pastel sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then spread Saltine crackers over foil.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, just until gooey.
- Pour this gooey mixture over the crackers and bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes, or until bubbly.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle white chocolate chips.
- Let sit for a few minutes until the white chocolate chips begin to melt. Then, use a rubber spatula to spread the melted chocolate over crackers.
- Immediately decorate with sprinkles.
- Stick in the freezer for an hour, or until chocolate hardens.
- Break into small pieces and put into gift containers or baggies.
- Store in the freezer until ready to eat or give away.
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This homemade Easter candy recipe will add such a personal touch to a kids’ Easter basket — even if it’s the only thing in it! You could even make some of this Homemade Slime to add a little non-candy gift to the mix!

Related Links:
- Grain-Free Chocolate Cashew Cookies
- Quick & Easy Honey Sweetened Truffles
- Good-For-You Peanut Butter Freezer Fudge
- How to Make Homemade Slime
- Free Easter Meal Planning Printable
- Teen Easter Basket Ideas (Fun Gifts for Boys & Girls!)
- Easter Basket Ideas for Kids
- 22 Easy Spring Dessert Recipes
What other unique Easter basket ideas do you have? I’d love to hear in the comments!
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