The ULTIMATE Crockpot Potato Soup

There is no sound quite as soothing as the soft, gentle bubbling of a slow cooker on a cold day. And when that slow cooker is brewing a creamy, cheesy, hearty potato soup, you know you’re in for a truly comforting evening. Potato soup has always been my go-to comfort food—it’s simple, satisfying, and feels like a warm blanket in a bowl.

For years, I made my potato soup on the stovetop. It was delicious, but it required constant stirring to prevent the dairy from scorching and the potatoes from sticking to the bottom. It was a time commitment I often couldn’t spare, especially after a long workday.

Then, I adapted the process for the slow cooker.

This Crockpot Potato Soup recipe is, quite simply, the ULTIMATE version. The low, gentle heat of the crockpot does all the heavy lifting, ensuring the potatoes cook down to a velvety tenderness while the simple broth develops incredible depth. Best of all, it allows you to walk away and return hours later to a perfect slow cooker soup.

This recipe is a powerhouse on Pinterest because it combines two essential winter searches: crockpot recipes and easy winter meals. If you’re searching for a hearty, foolproof soup that will warm you from the inside out, this ULIMATE recipe is the answer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is a consistent favorite because it takes a beloved classic and makes it entirely stress-free, appealing directly to those searching for quick comfort food solutions.

Truly Hands-Off and Foolproof

The secret to this Crockpot Potato Soup is that the potatoes are cooked in the broth and seasoning before the dairy is added. This eliminates the risk of scorching or curdling the milk, which is the main pitfall of stovetop soup. You simply chop the vegetables, dump them into the slow cooker, and let the gentle heat do the work. It’s the definition of an easy winter meal.

The Creamiest Texture Without Flour

Thanks to the slow cooker, the potatoes become so soft that they naturally thicken the soup. Instead of relying on a flour-based roux, we simply mash or blend a portion of the cooked potatoes right in the pot. This creates a wonderfully creamy, naturally thickened base that is pure potato flavor, not starchy flour flavor.

The Ultimate Comfort Food Base

Potato soup is a blank canvas for delicious toppings. You can load it up to resemble a baked potato (fully loaded) or keep it simple with herbs. This recipe allows for total customization, making it a guaranteed family favorite. The simplicity and warmth are exactly what people crave when searching for a cozy slow cooker soup.

Budget-Friendly and High-Volume

Potatoes are one of the most affordable vegetables, and combined with simple dairy and broth, this soup is incredibly inexpensive to make.³ It yields a large batch, making it an excellent choice for a budget-friendly meal or for meal prep ideas.

Ingredients and Instructions: Building the Creamy Base

The key to this Crockpot Potato Soup is using starchy potatoes and quality dairy, ensuring the final result is rich, thick, and perfectly seasoned.⁴

For Serving (The Fully Loaded Experience):

• Crispy bacon bits, sour cream, extra shredded cheddar, and chopped chives.

The Basic Instructions:

1. Prep: Place the cubed potatoes, broth, chopped onion, minced garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper into the slow cooker.
2. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours. The potatoes are done when they are fork-tender and easily mashable.
3. Thicken: Once tender, use a potato masher to mash about half of the potatoes directly in the slow cooker. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to briefly blend a portion of the soup until it reaches your desired consistency.
4. Add Dairy: Stir in the softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the heavy cream or milk.
5. Serve: Turn the slow cooker to the “Warm” setting and let the soup sit for 10 minutes. Serve hot, loaded with toppings.

The ULTIMATE Crockpot Potato Soup

This Slow Cooker Potato Soup is thick, creamy, and comforting — all without using heavy cream! Packed with tender Yukon gold potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese, and Greek yogurt, it’s an easy family favorite made right in your crockpot.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 310

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 6 slices cooked bacon, diced
• 3-4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 medium white or yellow onion, diced
• 4 tablespoons bacon grease or butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 12-ounce can 2% evaporated milk
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• optional toppings: sliced green onions, extra cheese, extra bacon, sour cream

Equipment

• 6-quart crockpot for slow cooking
• saucepan for making roux
• whisk for combining roux and milk
• Potato masher to thicken soup if desired
• soup bowls for serving

Method

 

1. Add bacon, 3 cups chicken stock, potatoes, and onion to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until potatoes are completely tender.
2. Near the end of cooking, melt butter (or bacon grease) in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
3. Gradually whisk in evaporated milk until smooth. Continue whisking until thickened and simmering.
4. Pour the thickened milk mixture into the slow cooker. Stir in cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), salt, and pepper until combined.
5. For thicker soup, mash about half of the potatoes in the slow cooker. For thinner soup, add up to 2 cups of warmed stock. Adjust seasoning as needed.
6. Serve warm, garnished with your favorite toppings such as green onions, cheese, bacon, or sour cream. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days.

Notes

Use Yukon gold potatoes for the creamiest texture, but Russet or red potatoes also work. Save the bacon grease to use in your roux for extra flavor. To make it vegetarian, use vegetable stock, skip the bacon, and add 2–3 teaspoons of Old Bay seasoning. The soup doesn’t freeze well but keeps up to 3 days in the fridge.

Step by Step: Mastering the Velvety Texture

The biggest challenge in making Crockpot Potato Soup is ensuring the final texture is creamy and smooth, not grainy or watery. My early batches were often lacking in richness, but I cracked the code by incorporating the dairy strategically.

Here is the detailed, human-written guide to mastering the ULTIMATE texture of this slow cooker soup:

Step 1: The Right Potato Choice

For a creamy soup that thickens beautifully, Russet potatoes are the best choice. They are starchy and break down easily, naturally thickening the broth. Yukon Golds are a good second choice, as they offer a buttery flavor, but they don’t break down as much. Avoid waxy red or white potatoes, as they will remain firm, resulting in a thin soup.

Step 2: Cook Completely Before Mashing

The crucial step for all crockpot recipes like this is timing the mash. You must wait until the potatoes are completely tender before you mash them or blend them. The long, low cook time ensures the starches are fully released, which is what creates that velvety base. If the potatoes are still firm, the starch won’t release, and the soup will remain watery.

Step 3: The Cream Cheese Secret

Adding cream cheese is my secret ingredient for the ULTIMATE creamy texture. It melts perfectly, adding richness and a subtle tanginess that deepens the flavor of the soup without making it taste overwhelmingly dairy. Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened (microwave it for 15 seconds if needed) before stirring it in to prevent lumps.

Step 4: Tempering the Final Dairy

Although the risk is lower in a slow cooker, always add the final heavy cream or milk when the heat is reduced or after the cheese has melted. The sudden introduction of cold dairy to a high heat can sometimes cause separation. Stir it in slowly until fully combined. If your soup is too thick, this is the time to thin it out to your desired consistency.

Step 5: The Fully Loaded Finish (The Visual Appeal)

For a high-value pin, the presentation of your Crockpot Potato Soup is key. Before serving, transfer the soup to a beautiful bowl and load it up! The contrast of the creamy white soup with bright green chives, red bacon, and melted yellow cheese is highly appetizing and drives engagement on Pinterest.

Variations, Serving, and Storage FAQs

This core Crockpot Potato Soup recipe is a simple canvas that can be adapted for any dietary need or flavor profile, solidifying its place as a fantastic family favorite.

Delicious Variations to Try:

• Broccoli Cheddar Soup: During the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in 2 cups of fresh or frozen chopped broccoli florets. This turns it into a classic, cheesy broccoli cheddar slow cooker soup.
• Ham and Potato Soup: Add 1 cup of cubed, cooked ham along with the dairy for an extra protein boost. This is a great way to use up holiday ham leftovers.
• Healthier Potato Soup: For a lighter, healthy dinner option, replace the cream cheese and heavy cream with 1 cup of evaporated milk or unsweetened almond milk. You can still use the cheese for flavor, or omit it for a very low-fat option.
• Vegetarian Soup: Simply use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and ensure your cheddar cheese is vegetarian.

Serving Suggestions:

This ultimate comfort food is best served with simple sides:

1. Fully Loaded: The classic way! Top with sour cream, shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and chopped chives.
2. Simple Side: Serve with a simple green salad and a slice of crusty bread or the Garlic Butter Bread Rolls (if you made those!).
3. Bread Bowl: For an impressive presentation, serve the soup inside large sourdough bread bowls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Your Kitchen’s New Favorite Comfort Food

The Crockpot Potato Soup is the definitive recipe for those seeking warmth, satisfaction, and simplicity. It elevates the humble potato into an ULTIMATE slow cooker soup that requires minimal effort while delivering maximum comfort food flavor.

By using the slow cooker, you guarantee tender potatoes and a creamy base every time. Say goodbye to burnt bottoms and constant stirring, and hello to the easiest easy winter meal you’ll ever make.

Pin this easy crockpot recipe today and warm up your weeknights!