Description
This Creamy Crock Pot Potato Soup with Bacon and Cheddar is a comforting and easy slow-cooked soup featuring tender russet potatoes, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a rich creamy base. Perfect for family meals or cozy nights in, it offers rich, hearty flavors with minimal effort and versatile options to suit various dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 large Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced
- 6 slices Bacon
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 1/2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- Salt, to taste
- Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Peel and dice your russet potatoes into even chunks to ensure they cook uniformly. Chop the onion and mince the garlic for an even flavor spread in your soup.
- Cook the Bacon: In a skillet, cook bacon strips until crispy, then crumble them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside some for garnish and use the bacon fat in the skillet for extra flavor in the soup base if desired.
- Combine Ingredients in Crock Pot: Place diced potatoes, chopped onion, minced garlic, crumbled bacon, chicken broth, butter, salt, and pepper into the crock pot. Give everything a gentle stir to mix flavors.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until potatoes are tender and the flavors have melded beautifully.
- Blend and Add Cheese: Using an immersion blender, partially puree the soup to your preferred creaminess, leaving some potato chunks for texture. Stir in heavy cream and shredded sharp cheddar until melted and fully combined.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon, extra cheddar, and fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Choose Russet potatoes for best creamy texture.
- Don’t overblend; keep some potato chunks for rustic texture.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for stronger flavor and smooth melting.
- Save bacon fat to cook onions for enhanced smoky flavor.
- Add heavy cream at the end to prevent curdling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 60mg