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Cozy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon

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This creamy, comforting potato soup is made effortlessly in a slow cooker with simple pantry ingredients and topped with crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onions. It’s the perfect bowl of warmth for chilly days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 3 large potatoes)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon in a cold large skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Once cool, crumble or chop into small pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet.
  2. In the same skillet with the reserved bacon fat, add the butter and diced onion. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add the diced potatoes, sautéed onion and garlic, chicken broth, salt, pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika to the slow cooker. Stir to combine. The liquid should just cover the potatoes; if not, add a little more broth or water.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Using an immersion blender, blend about half the soup directly in the slow cooker, leaving some chunks for texture. Alternatively, use a potato masher to mash the potatoes about 10-15 times until creamy but still textured.
  6. Stir in the milk, heavy cream, and half the crumbled bacon. Let it cook on low for 10-15 more minutes to heat through.
  7. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, the remaining crispy bacon, and sliced green onions.

Notes

For best flavor, don’t skip cooking the aromatics in bacon fat. Cut potatoes evenly (1/2-inch cubes) for consistent cooking. Add dairy at the end to prevent curdling. Season in layers, adjusting salt after adding dairy. Soup thickens as it sits; thin with broth or milk when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker potato soup, creamy potato soup, bacon potato soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe

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