Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  Swaps for unsalted butter

  Instead of butter

  • Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
  • Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
  • Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.

  All 4 swaps for butter

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• 1 medium onion, chopped
  Swaps for onion

  Instead of onion

  • Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
  • Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
  • Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.

  All 4 swaps for onion

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
  Swaps for garlic

  Instead of garlic

  • Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
  • Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.

  More for garlic

• 3 lb russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 4 cups chicken broth
  Swaps for chicken broth

  Instead of broth

  • Vegetable broth: The same amount. Lighter and slightly sweeter.
  • Bouillon cube, powder or paste + water: Follow the label for the amount of liquid. Close in flavor; a little saltier.
  • Water + extra seasoning: The same amount, with ½ tsp salt per cup and extra garlic, onion or herbs. Flatter and lighter, but fine where other ingredients bring plenty of flavor.

  More for broth

• 1 tsp kosher salt
  Swaps for kosher salt

  Instead of salt

  • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
  • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

  More for salt

• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
  Swaps for whole milk

  Instead of milk

  • Unsweetened soy milk: The same amount. The closest plant milk for baking: its protein helps things brown and set.
  • Unsweetened oat milk: The same amount. Creamy and mild with a hint of sweetness.
  • Unsweetened almond milk: The same amount. Thinner and less rich, so cakes are a little paler and drier.

  All 5 swaps for milk

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• ½ cup sour cream ≈ 115 g
  Swaps for sour cream

  Instead of sour cream

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount (full-fat for baking). Tangier and a little less rich.
  • Crème fraîche: The same amount. Richer and milder, and it doesn't curdle in hot sauces.
  • Cottage cheese, blended: The same amount, blended smooth with a squeeze of lemon. Milder and less rich, with more protein.

  All 4 swaps for sour cream

• 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded (6 oz), divided
  Swaps for cheddar cheese

  Instead of cheddar

  • Colby or Colby Jack: The same amount. Milder and softer, and melts very smoothly.
  • Monterey Jack: The same amount. Mild and buttery, one of the best melting cheeses.
  • Gouda or Gruyère: The same amount. Nuttier and richer; melts beautifully.

  All 4 swaps for cheddar

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  Swaps for green onions

  Instead of green onions

  • Chives: The same amount, for the green tops. Milder and more delicate, without crunch.
  • Shallot or red onion: Half as much, chopped fine, for the white parts. Stronger; best cooked or soaked in cold water first.
  • Leeks: The same amount, sliced thin. Milder and better cooked than raw.

  More for green onions

Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights. Counted things (eggs, cloves, cans) stay as counts, and salt stays in spoons: kosher and flaky salts weigh very differently by brand.

Cooking for a crowd? Pans, timing and salt for 12 to 50.

Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.