Crockpot Potato Soup (Thick and Creamy Recipe) + Video
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Crockpot Potato Soup is a thick and creamy cheesy slow cooker soup that your whole family will enjoy! Loaded with flavorful bacon, herbs, potatoes, and cheese, there’s no way anyone will leave the kitchen table unsatisfied. Don’t skip the video in this post — check out the techniques that make this easy crockpot potato soup the most delicious recipe to boot!
Can we all just agree that the creamy texture of this crock pot potato soup is crazy good? It’s a great recipe for the perfect hot soup and the easiest way to treat your taste buds on cold days.
What I really enjoy about this easy potato soup recipe is the depth of flavor that it has.
Each bite reveals lots of flavor – and it makes it the perfect ultimate comfort food. The recipe card shows you all the steps needed to make this simple crockpot potato soup – which is sure to be a new family favorite.
I find myself making slow cooker soups at any time of year because I just love the way that soup tastes!
The beauty of this soup is that it is loaded with flavors and is still such an easy recipe to make.
I often find myself adding some extra cheese and crispy bacon to the top of this delicious potato soup because you can never have too many favorite toppings!
Pair with homemade dinner rolls, and you’re set with the best soup and side!
Crockpot Potato Soup
Who doesn’t love a good loaded potato stew? No one I know!
And this slow cooker potato soup recipe sure is loaded — onions, cream, herbs, bacon, and cheese? Yes, please!
Even better, this easy crockpot potato soup can be on the table in under 5 hours, or less if you prep ahead.
Recipe Video
To see us make slow cooker potato soup from start to finish, watch the video in this post!
Trying to make this recipe work on the stovetop? Let me recommend my stovetop loaded baked potato soup instead. It’s much better suited for what you’re looking for!
Think this is the only crock pot soup recipe I have? Think again! Try out my classic chicken noodle or saucy taco crockpot soup that you can slow cook to perfection.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Potatoes – Yukon gold is my preferred spud for this easy crockpot potato soup recipe.
But any nice, waxy potato can be used as a substitute: red skinned, russet, and carola, for example. - Cooked Bacon – In the soup and on top of it — more is more, I say!! Save some from breakfast to use at dinnertime. My favorite home cooking hack!
- Yellow Onion – White or red onions can always be used instead, but remember the differences between the three: white onions are sharp, red are sweet, and yellow fall somewhere in between.
- Chicken Broth – Most broths can be used in its place — vegetable, mushroom, or beef. Chicken, however, really matches this flavor profile best.
- Sour Cream – To add a tangy creaminess to this dish! Cream cheese is one swap you could try, though it will make your crockpot loaded potato soup much thicker.
And if that’s what you want, then I’d highly recommend it! - Dried Parsley – Fresh herbs are always lovely, though you will definitely need a whole lot more to get the same amount of flavor.
So, for this crockpot potato soup, you’ll need 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley to make up the difference!
Easy Crockpot Potato Soup Tips and Tricks
- The Finishing Touches
Chives, bacon, sour cream, and cheese are the no-brainer garnishes for this crockpot potato soup. But think outside the box!
What about crackers, corn (for pops of texture and sweetness!), broccoli, or crispy fried onions?
- Through Thick and Thin
Not everyone loves a thick slow cooker potato soup. That’s okay!
Thin things out a bit with splashes of chicken broth until it’s the consistency that you want.
Alternatively, thicken it up by smashing the potatoes more or adding a bit of cornstarch.
- Load Up the Protein
It’s easy to sneak some extra protein in the form of shredded chicken, shredded beef, or ground meat into this slow cooker loaded potato soup!
It’s a great way to make use of leftovers from the night before, too.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup
Leftovers should cool to room temperature before being transferred to an airtight storage container.
Slow cooker loaded potato soup can be chilled for 3 days or frozen for up to 6 months — though, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend freezing!
The consistency of the potatoes and creamy broth changes when frozen.
Reheat right on the stovetop, keeping it on a medium heat and stirring until warmed through.
Store crockpot loaded potato soup without toppings and add them fresh once it’s been reheated!
Slow Cooker Potato Soup FAQ
Sure, you can! Any cream can be used in its place. Consider that this will make the broth, well, creamier and richer in flavor.
Thin a heavier cream with regular milk, or just use regular milk instead if you’re going for a thinner broth.
The key is to cook your potatoes in larger pieces and smash them afterward, just before the end of cooking.
And we’re smashing, not puréeing, to also avoid that gumminess that you sometimes find in loaded potato soups.
The type of potato used can also be a factor. See the ingredients section above for tips on choosing the best potatoes for slow cooker loaded potato soup!
That’s usually a matter of preference, but I actually recommend peeling the spuds for this one — and that says something coming from me!
Leaving the skins on will make smashing less effective and also result in bits of potato skins floating around in the broth.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Crockpot Potato Soup (Thick and Creamy Recipe) + Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 10 slices cooked bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 12 ounces evaporated milk, or half & half, or heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Optional Toppings
- chives, extra shredded cheddar cheese and bacon
Instructions
- Add diced potatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, bacon, parsley and chicken broth to the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 6-8 hours on Low, or for 3-4 hours on High, until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Once the soup is cooked, add butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat and melt. Whisk in the flour until completely combined.
- Slowly and gradually whisk the evaporated milk into the flour mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and begins to simmer.
- Immediately add the milk-flour mixture to the potato mixture in the slow cooker and stir to combine. Using a potato masher, mash about 3/4 of the potatoes, leaving some unmashed for texture.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and continue cooking the soup on Low for 30 minutes, or on high for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm, garnished with optional chives, bacon, cheese and/or sour cream.
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published October 2017, updated and republished September 2024
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So delicious! I am so glad I tried this recipe! Love using my crockpot too!
Made this soup for family dinner last night. Made it exactly as written and everyone loved it. It will now been my "go to" for baked potato soup. So easy to make is a huge bonus. Thanks~
I usually use heavy cream when making this and skip the flour, it thickens so much that it needs more chicken broth added when reheating. This time I used half and half, and its a good soup thickness without the flour as well. But I do smash a good part of the potatoes. Thank you for this delicious recipe! All of my family loves it and always wants a container taken to them lol.
Can I use 1% milk instead of heavy cream?
Just made this soup. I doubled the recipe. I Wanted a head start so I par boiled the potatoes with the skins on then peeled and cut up. Also par boiled carrots. I had a little broccol and celery in the fridge added that too. Everything came out delicious! So creamy!
Can this be made on top of the stove
The soup is very good but there is way to much garlic! I will cut way back on that next time!
I can't wait to make this soup! If I put it in before work and my crockpot turns to warm after 6 hours, is it ok to wait to put in the rest of the ingredients for 3 more hours until I get off work? I know it only needs to cook on low for 6 hours because my crockpot is really powerful.
I would think that would be fine except you may want to turn up the heat before adding in the rest of the ingredients
Another tasty option is to sub ham cubes in for bacon, but instead of throwing them in at the beginning, fry them in a skillet until they get some color and add them when you put in the sauce & cheese near the end.
I’ve used smoked Turkey sausage as well instead of bacon.
Just made this today!! So good!!
Suggestion: if you have an immersion blender you can stick it in the slow cooker after the potatoes are soft enough. It blends everything really nice to a creamy texture. Also instead of bacon I used turkey sausage—really good. I removed the sausage before blending
This is delicious, I did make some slight changes. We have someone who doesn't like onion unless they're sauteed, so I sauteed the onions until nice and soft and lightly brown and then threw in the garlic for the last minute or so. I also found out you can use powdered milk and just make it thicker, since I didn't have any evaporated milk that's what I did. I also used my immersion blender so it's creamier and did add about half a cup of milk and one cup of chicken broth to make it slightly thinner. Mine was spoon stand up thick so it's still thick just not as much.
Do you have the nutritional outline for this recipe? Thank you.
This is my forever favorite soup!!! I’ve made it almost weekly since I found this recipe, even during hot, hot weather. I get hungry for it and nothing will satisfy until I make it. The only change I made is to use diced ham instead of bacon. I buy the package of 3 ham steaks (from Sam’s) and use just half of one; it’s plenty.
Hi Sue,
We are so happy that you enjoy this easy potato soup, adding diced ham sounds amazing!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
The easiest soup you will ever make. This is my favorite slow roasted italian recipe! Loaded with flavor, cooked perfectly and very little effort. Simply delicious!
Can this be made on the stove top?
Hi Susan,
We have an amazing Loaded Baked Potato Soup stovetop recipe herfe https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/fully-loaded-cheesy-baked-potato-soup-recipe/ Enjoy!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
So yummy ! My family loved it ! Left overs were the best ! So easy !
Thanks for sharing 👍
Hi Karen,
Thanks so much, we love this soup! Have a great day!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
Delicious! I sauteed onions and garlic before adding everything else and used half and half instead of evaporated milk. If I were to make this again, and I likely will…I would omit the sour cream. I tasted it before I added it and it was just the way I liked it. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
This Crockpot Potato Soup is beyond excellent!!!! I used the Yukon potatoes as you suggested and it made a big difference. It was amazing. Thanks!!!!
This is my go-to Potato Soup and perfect as written topped with chives, cheese and bacon! It’s cold this week in SoAZ and it’s in the crockpot as I write this! Thank you for this super yummy recipe!
Delicious! Very easy too!
Absolutely delicious… five..5..V … stars…. Great with fresh baked rolls…
Hi James,
Thank you! This is one of our favorite soup recipes. We are happy you enjoyed it!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
This soup was very easy to make and tasted wonderful. I will make it again
Hi Constance!
We’re so glad to hear that!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Fantastic crockpot potato cheese soup. So easy to make. My family loved it so I made it for my book club. HINT. Use the heavy cream it really elevates the taste. No need to peel Yukon gold potatoes.
Now if I can only figure out how to email the recipe to my friends.
Hi Evelyn!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Thank you for such a fantastic recipe. I love a good creamy (not runny) potato soup. My husband, “doesn’t like potato soup”. I got him to try it and he liked it and actually ate a bowl of it. I will keep this one in my back pocket!
Hi Kristin!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Just about ready to serve up! The 3 cups of chicken broth used up almost the whole container. So I added the remaining broth just to thin it a little…not too much! It smells heavenly!!
Hi Jan!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn