Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup
ShareThis easy slow cooker loaded potato soup tastes just like your favorite loaded baked potato, covered in cheese and bacon but in soup form.
I’m beyond thrilled that Fall is finally here so we can fully embrace warm comfort food. Pack away your bathing suits and pull out your cozy sweaters and pants. Prepare yourselves for cheese, soup, everything warm and totally in season. Let’s not forget pumpkiny because I will be very soon embracing it’s goodness full force. I can’t spend an entire month celebrating an apple a day and then forget about the 2nd best part about Fall food. I must have missed the memo that October 1st is national every blogger must post a pumpkin recipe day, but… I failed apparently. Promise I’ll have some fun stuff coming up soon though!
Last week I shared my first soup of the season: slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, to be exact. After after thinking about a creamy and chunky loaded potato soup for an entire year, it was finally time. I mean, it’s soup season so it’s just right to make this now. Otherwise, I can’t explain why it took me so long and I regret having not made it sooner. It’s ridiculously good. If you loved potatoes, you’ll love this.
It tastes just like a baked potato, loaded with cheese and bacon… but in soup form. Oh it’s so good. So so good. It had to have chunks. Forget the creamy potato soups you see everywhere. A good potato soup needs chunks, big hearty potato chunks throughout.
Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 7 C potatoes
- 1 C yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 C chicken stock
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 C heavy cream
- 4-6 slices thick cut bacon
- Monterey Jack Cheese
Instructions
- Prepare potatoes by peeling and chopping into small chunks, roughly 1" in size. Chop onions and mince garlic. Add all vegetables to slow cooker bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour in chicken stock. Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours (or low 6).
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon. Drain on paper towels. Add any remaining bacon grease to slow cooker. Stir gently and replace cover. Chop bacon, set aside.
- When initial cook time is up, remove 1/3-1/2 of the potato chunks to a blender with heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Return to slow cooker. Stir and cover, continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- When ready to serve, garnish with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and bacon. Additional optional toppings: green onions, fried onions, croutons and sour cream.
- May be stored chilled for up to several days.
Notes
Oh yes, this was made for me. And I seriously wish I had a bowl for lunch. Love it!
Yumm! I love this kind of soup, esp. when it comes with crispy bacon.
Yes, please – this looks so tasty! I’m all about the slow-cooker these days, so you know I’ll be adding this to my queue of recipes to try.
This is one of my favorite soups for fall/winter! It may just be the bacon and cheese that draw me in, but either way, I could eat it every day!
I have been wanting to make a potato soup for days! This looks so good!
This looks amazing, and I love that it’s made in the slow cooker! Totally making this tomorrow night for dinner. :)
I don’t have a slow cooker (i’m a college student), would it be possible to modify this recipe to make it without that rather crucial item?
If you have access to a large stockpot you could certainly make this a more traditional way. I don’t have exact timing or instructions for that method but you’d basically want to add the ingredients in the same order as stated in this recipe, bring to a low boil and reduce to a simmer until the potatoes are fork tender. Finish off with the cream/potatoes blended either in or out of the pan (blender or immersion blender). I hope that helps!
yes! another slow cooker recipe to add to my arsenal – love the comforting potato soup!
O.M.G. I just got my crock pot out yesterday! I’m all over this. Looks great!
I love how creamy and comforting potato soup is! Definitely adding this to my slow cooker recipes!
Gah, this looks delicious! You already know that i’m obsessed with my slow-cooker AND soup, so this is pretty much heaven in a bowl to me. =)
I love a potato soup! This looks great!
love that this can be done in the slow cooker AND my hubs never met a potato anything he didn’t love!
Looks amazing– a great cozy meal!
It’s 52 degrees out there… perfect weather for this delicious soup! It looks really really good!
never had potato soup. I bet this would be good with sweet potatoes too!
This is one of my husbands favorite soups ever. And the fact that it is in a slow cooker just made my day. Definitely going onto Pinterest. I need to remember this one. LOVE the photos too. So beautiful
This sounds wonderful! Potato soup is my favorite and I love that you made it in the slow cooker!
Love this recipe! Will be linking back to this in my upcoming post :)
Awesome – thanks Marla! :)
OMG! This recipe was delicious and very easy to make!! The bomb
What’s heavy cream!? LOL
Can I substitute anything for the heavy cream??.. I dont have it on hand..
You could sub in whatever milk you have on hand but it wouldn’t be nearly as thick or creamy. The extra fat in the heavy cream gives extra flavor.
Thanks Rachel
Just made this. It was a hit!!! Amazing!! :)
I have a silly question for you – what kind of potatoes did you use?
I used russet potatoes.
Is the additional 30 minutes on high or low setting?
Whichever setting you are already cooking on. I cook mine on high for a shorter time, but if you’re cooking on low it should still apply.
Making this as we speak! Smells yummy!
Absolutely terrific!!! It is as good as it gets.
P.S. I used to live in Brattleboro Vermont during my High school years.
Gorgeous up there.
Ron
can you substitute the chicken broth with water ?
I would recommend vegetable broth instead of chicken if looking to substitute. Water won’t offer any flavor.
Can you substitute a Greek yogurt for the heavy cream??
I personally wouldn’t as it would change the flavor entirely. There is also a greater risk to it potentially curdling if choosing substitutions.
I’m making this tomorrow. Anyone know if you can freeze this when it’s done? I’m trying to find great things to make that I can freeze for future meals.
Most soups can be frozen, however I haven’t personally tried with this particular one. You may want to try with a portion of it for testing purposes. Good luck! :)
Could you use cream cheese if you don’t have the heavy cream? I have seen several recipes that use cream cheese and no heavy cream. I am making this now and just realized that I only have a little less than 1/2 c of the cream. I live 15 miles from town and am not going to drive that for one ingredient. lol
I haven’t personally made it that way. You’re welcome to try it but I cannot promise how it will turn out. As for the bacon grease, it calls for being placed in the slow cooker once the bacon has been cooked (during the cooking process, not at the end). Enjoy :)
Also…does the bacon grease go in after the potatoes have cooked for 3 1/2 hrs or at the beginning?
I added 8 oz of cream cheese (not fat free) and it turned out great.
Glad to hear it! :)
Wonderful soup!!! Thank you!
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it. :)
At what point in the cook do I “Remove 1/3 – 1/2 of the potato chunks and toss them into a blender”?.
At the end of the 3 1/2 hours. You then continue to cook, making it a total of 4 hours cook time.
Made this for supper. Have made lots of potato soups and this one is right up there! Loved it!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it :) Thanks for sharing!
I see it says it serves 4-6 people. How much is a serving?
I don’t have an exact measurement, but it is likely 1 1/2 cups give or take.
Made this last year and my whole family loved it! Breaking out the slow cooker and making it again tonight. Can’t wait!
So glad you enjoyed it so much! Thanks for sharing! :)
This soup looks so rich and creamy…delicious! What a great soup to have on a cool day in fall! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Thanks Jodee!
Hi Rachel, how would you suggest this be done without a slow cooker and instead a regular stove top pot?
I have only made this in the slow cooker and since this has been written specifically as slow cooker recipe, I don’t have stovetop directions for you. Sorry I couldn’t be more help but good luck!
Great soup I substituted a 16 oz can of sour cream for the heavy cream and put four slices of velveeta in and crumbled six pieces if bacon in it as well as having some for garnish ..it was yummmmmmy
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing :)
Made this for the family tonight. It was delicious! (Will try cheddar cheese next time instead if the Monterey Jack.) Served with a salad…easy, satisfying meal.
So glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing! :)
This soup was delicious!! I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! I will definitely make this again!
So glad you enjoyed it! :)
This soup looks delicious! I love a good potato soup…thanks for sharing your recipe1
Thanks Jodee!
I have been looking for a good potato soup recipe for a long time. I took this to a potluck at work with great success. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe.
So glad to hear everyone enjoyed it, Kristina! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi! I am thinking about making this soup on Sunday for a large group of people. If I double the recipe, how long do you recommend to cook it on low for?
Thank!!
It’s been a while since I’ve made this so I can’t be sure if it will all fit in one 6 quart slow cooker. You may need to use two or one larger unit, just a heads up. As far as cooking goes, if you’re able to fit it all in one, cook until potatoes are tender. It’s possible you may not need to add any time, but prepare to add as much as an additional 30-60 minutes to be on the safe side.
Very good soup!!! So easy and tastey!! Look forward to trying more :))) Thx Rachel!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Linda! :)
Hands down our favorite soup recipe! My husband and I cook this at least once a month. We can’t get enough of it!
So glad you’ve both enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Beth! :)
What size crock pot do you use?
A 5-6 quart slow cooker should be used. Enjoy! :)