Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup is the ultimate comfort food, made super simple! It's a bowl of creamy, cheesy, bacon-topped goodness no one can resist. Serve this delicious creamy soup with Bacon Cheddar Scones for a hearty meal the whole family will love.
You'll also love this recipe for crockpot hashbrown soup!
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During the colder months, I use my slow cooker every week, sometimes twice! This loaded potato soup recipe is just the thing when you need a warm comforting and hearty meal.
This is a delicious soup that can be prepped on the weekend if you like, so it's great for busy families. It's also pretty cheap when you consider the ingredients. It does have some richer ingredients, but not a huge amount of them, so it's still an economical choice.
I love a good slow-cooker meal, but this one reminds me of my mother. During a crazy blizzard one year, the kids and I holed up with my parents while Mr. Juggling Act stayed home to tend to the generator. We made potato soup, played games, and stayed warm while the blizzard blew outside. This great recipe was the absolute perfect meal for the occasion!
My mom taught me just about everything I know about using a slow cooker. As a working mom of four, she took all the help she could get to quickly get yummy but inexpensive meals on the table quickly.
Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of the crockpot potato soup recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- Broth: Use either chicken broth or vegetable stock.
- Bacon: For a lower-fat version, use turkey bacon.
- Onion: I use sweet onions, such as Vidalia, but yellow or white onions will also work.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic will lend the most flavor, however, you can substitute garlic powder if needed.
- Potatoes: While I love red bliss potatoes for this recipe, you can use any waxy potato like Yukon gold. Some readers have told us that they like the texture of russet potatoes in this soup as well.
- Heavy Cream: I love the texture heavy cream gives to the soup, however, you can also use whole milk.
- Cheese: Gruyere cheese has a creamy nutty flavor and melts beautifully. However, most good melting cheeses will work. Mozzarella tends to be mild, so if you choose this, add a little extra salt. Some of my favorite cheeses for this soup are Gouda or Colby Jack.
- Sour Cream: This ingredient is optional but recommended for adding creaminess and a little tanginess.
Additional ingredients include celery, dry mustard, dried tarragon, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper
Optional Toppings: sharp cheddar cheese, fresh parsley, chives, or scallions (green onions).
If you're new to using a slow cooker or CrockPot, you'll want to check out a post I wrote on How to Use a Slow Cooker Like a Boss. It's got tons of tips for making the most of this awesome kitchen appliance - plus lots of slow cooker recipes you'll love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about this creamy potato soup recipe.
Yes, instead of bacon grease, cook the celery and onions in 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil. Instead of topping the soup with crumbled bacon, use cheddar cheese and fresh parsley.
For a little crunch, melt one tablespoon of butter in a skillet on medium heat, add ½ cup of panko bread crumbs, and toast. Add to the top of the soup in lieu of bacon.
Cook the bacon and vegetables a couple of days ahead of time. Both should be kept in their own airtight containers or resealable bags. On cooking day, all you'll need to do is peel the potatoes and toss everything into the slow cooker.
If you like meal prepping, you might also like to check out my Menu Planner and Grocery List Printable Set to plan out your meals and keep track of groceries you need to order.
Serving Suggestions
Our creamy soup is certainly hearty enough on its own, but it's super tasty with Bacon Cheddar Scones, Buttery Dinner Rolls, or Cheesy Cornbread.
You can also serve a smaller portion of soup along with a Toasted Caprese Sandwich or fresh green salad.
You could also top this soup recipe with my Cheesy Tater Tots and bacon!
Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these other awesome soup recipes:
Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup
With the cheese and cream, this isn't necessarily the healthiest of recipes, but it sure is scrumptious. Moderation in all things, I say! If you are watching your weight, you might prefer this Healthy Sweet Potato Soup, which has less fat.
Not ready to make our slow cooker potato soup recipe yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Crock Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup w/ Gruyere
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Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon cooked and diced
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat reserved from cooked bacon
- 1 cup onion diced
- ½ cup celery diced
- 1 teaspoons fresh garlic minced
- 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons white pepper
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
- ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
- 4 cups red potatoes peeled and diced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 6 oz Gruyere cheese shredded
- cheddar cheese grated, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, fry the bacon and place onto paper towels to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and discard the rest.4 slices bacon
- In the reserved bacon grease, cook the onions and celery until tender. Add the minced garlic cook 1-2 minutes more.2 tablespoons bacon fat, 1 cup onion, ½ cup celery, 1 teaspoons fresh garlic
- To the crock pot, add the stock, vegetable mixture, salt, pepper, dry mustard, dried tarragon, and garlic powder. Whisk to combine.6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, 1 teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoons white pepper, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, 2 teaspoons dried tarragon, ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
- Add the potatoes and set the slow cooker for 6 hours on LOW until the potatoes are tender.4 cups red potatoes
- Just before serving, use an immersion blender to smooth out the potato soup to desired taste.
- Stir in the heavy cream and shredded Gruyere cheese. If desired, add in the sour cream.½ cup heavy cream, 6 oz Gruyere cheese, 2 tablespoons sour cream
- Serve with crumbled bacon pieces and cheddar cheese for topping.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
More Potato Recipes
- Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins - these are the ultimate in game day grub.
- Make-Ahead Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar - you'll want to make a double batch for Thanksgiving.
- Easy Baked Potato Casserole - kids love this!
Meal Planning
Want to add this recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 44 along with:
- homemade chicken tenders
- chicken hashbrown casserole
- bourbon chicken
- slow cooker taco beef
- sweet potato casserole
- pancake bundt cake
... and more!
👉 Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
Alina says
Sounds easy and delicious to make!
Kelley @Miss Information Blog says
I can't wait to try this, thanks for being so awesome!
Heather S says
I love cooking in my slow cooker!
debbie c says
It was so cold here today so I tried this recipe - PERFECTION!!! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
I will be making this again for sure!
Lilia says
I am pregnant this is the only thing I'm craving. I made it last week and twice since then lol!! Thanks for the recipe
Kathleen says
We love potato soup, but I've never made it in the slow cooker before. What a great idea!
Maria says
As a working woman, I appreciate my slow cooker and use it often. Thank you for posting this delicious potato soup recipe. It is super easy and I love that it's a time-saving recipe. I had a little panchetta so I used that instead of bacon - so good!!
Melissa George says
i love this recipe, it always comes out really good. i love potatoes!! i used gouda cheese instead one time and now that's my favorite. i always make salads with mixed veggies to go with this soup.
Debra C. says
Oh my goodness potato soup is totally my meal! This looks delicious, hearty and perfect for dinner. Love the prepared directions too - thank you!!
Ang Paris says
It's just SO good! Hope you get a chance to try it soon 🙂
Joy says
This slow cooker potato soup recipe was really good. I had a little bit of sweet potato leftover and added that to use it up. Thanks for sharing!
Cindy B says
This is one of our favorite meals for after football practice - hot, hearty, and filling!! Thanks for the recipe.
Sonja says
The Gruyère cheese is what makes this so unique. I used half and half instead of heavy cream and boiled the potatoes and made in a dutch oven instead. It was amazing and so much flavor!
Ang Paris says
So glad you enjoyed it! Gruyère is so good in this - I also like it with fontina or gouda.
Eymi says
this is sooo good!!! I love how creamy it is! I used red potatoes and light cream - instead of heavy cream - and it was still so creamy.
Sonja F says
Haven’t made this in years but used a Dutch oven instead of crockpot. Also used turkey stock. So delicious.