Description
Hearty Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending creamy potatoes and rich cheese into a soul-warming experience. Effortless preparation and deep flavors invite you to savor each spoonful of this classic midwest comfort classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 russet potatoes, peeled & diced
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ cup sour cream
Garnish:
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled (optional)
Instructions
- Gather and arrange diced potatoes, minced onion, crushed garlic, and seasonings inside the crock pot, creating a flavorful base for the soup.
- Pour vegetable or chicken broth over the ingredients, ensuring all components are well-submerged and evenly distributed.
- Set the slow cooker to low temperature and allow the mixture to simmer gently, transforming the raw ingredients into a tender, aromatic blend over 6-8 hours.
- When potatoes become soft and easily pierced with a fork, carefully use a potato masher to partially crush some potatoes, creating a rustic, creamy consistency.
- Introduce rich dairy elements by gradually stirring in heavy cream, allowing the liquid to integrate smoothly with the existing soup texture.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese into the soup, gently folding until the cheese melts completely and creates a velvety, uniform appearance.
- Incorporate cream cheese, breaking it into small pieces and stirring until it dissolves and enhances the soup’s luxurious mouthfeel.
- Fold in sour cream, which will add a tangy depth and further enrich the soup’s creamy profile.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, potentially adding extra salt, pepper, or paprika to elevate the flavor complexity.
- Serve the soup in warm bowls, garnishing with crisp bacon bits, chopped green onions, and an additional sprinkle of cheese for visual appeal and textural contrast.
Notes
- Customize potato texture by choosing between smooth or chunky soup style depending on personal preference.
- Swap heavy cream with lighter alternatives like milk or half-and-half for a lower-calorie version.
- Use vegetable broth and omit bacon for a vegetarian-friendly adaptation of this comforting soup.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding smoked paprika or roasted garlic for deeper, more nuanced taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg