Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is creamy and comforting and just what winter calls for!
Who doesn’t love a loaded baked potato? Am I right? Fluffy white potato adorned with a dollop of sour cream, a crumble of crispy bacon, shards of sharp cheddar, and a sprinkle of scallion.
Are you hungry yet?
Let’s take it to the next level. Let’s give it a little makeover in the form of a soup.
Soup for a cold winter’s day.
I had the idea to make loaded baked potato soup for my fellas who’d spend the day skiing Whiteface Mountain.
Though they’d get their fix of tasty Reubens and spicy Greek wings, there’s something very right about homemade soup at the end of a ski adventure.
So I hear….
Let’s digress, shall we…
My family skis. I tried. I took a lesson and mastered half the bunny hill. (And right about now, my family is thinking, “Mastered? Really?” There was no mastery involved with that day.) Hey! It was a sky-scraping bunny hill and the scariest afternoon of my life. I fell. A lot. Toddlers whizzed by, laughing as they passed, leaving me in their dust. All with the confidence of people who have skied their whole life – all three years of it. It was all I could do to demonstrate for these super-bionic-future-olympiad children how to fall with dignity and get back up again. I mean, it’s a lesson we should all learn, and teach, right? So, needless to say, when my family goes out to ski, I. do. not. And I’m good with that. I’ve checked it off my bucket list and am very happy to move on, thank you very much.
Okay, back to soup (thanks for listening, by the way), beyond the preparation of the bacon, this entire production occurs in a slow cooker. How simple is that? Plus, I tried something a little different with the bacon. I baked it. It doesn’t get any easier.
HOW TO BAKE BACON:
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Arrange 6 – 8 slices of bacon on a rack set over a baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes until bacon is browned and crisp.
- Remove from oven and drain on paper towels.
- Crumble bacon into bite size pieces.
No flipping, no mess, and the bacon comes out browned and crisp every time – just like we like it.
The rest of the dish falls together pretty easily…
HOW TO PREPARE SLOW COOKER LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP:
- Once the potatoes are cubed, onions and celery are chopped and garlic is minced, place them in the slow cooker with chicken broth, salt and pepper.
- Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Once that time is up, using a potato masher, mash the mixture in the slow cooker (leaving some larger pieces of potato), stir in half & half, sour cream and shredded cheddar, then cook for 20 more minutes on High.
- When soup is done – ladle into bowls and top with sour cream, shredded cheddar, crispy bacon and chopped scallion.
So friends, whether you ski or ice skate, snowshoe, or merely enjoy a few moments outdoors letting the fresh frosty air fill your lungs, this Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup will punctuate your adventure beautifully.
Now go out and play – dinner will be waiting!
Buon Appetito!
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Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Category: Dinner
Description
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is creamy and comforting and just what winter calls for!
Ingredients
6 – 8 slices of bacon
4 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, small dice
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. chicken broth
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups half & half
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup sour cream, divided
Chopped scallion
Instructions
To make the bacon, preheat oven to 375 F.
Arrange bacon on a rack set over a baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes, until bacon is browned and crisp.
Remove from oven and drain on paper towels.
Crumble bacon into small bite size pieces. Set aside.
Place potatoes, onion, celery and garlic in a 5 quart electric slow cooker.
Add chicken broth, salt and pepper.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
Mash mixture with a potato masher (be sure to leave some larger pieces of potato); stir in half & half, 1/2 cup sour cream, and 3/4 cup of cheddar.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes.
Ladle soup into bowls.
Top with sour cream and cheddar.
Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and chopped scallions.
What a great idea for soup! I could use some right about now. By the way, the first and only time I ever skied, I broke both my thumbs!
No wayyyy! Makes my experience seem like a walk in the park! Thanks for stopping by, Jeff!
I absolutely love this kind of rich, delicious, entirely comforting soup! We’ll be trying this beauty shortly. Thank you, Annie!
Wonderful! Enjoy, my friend!
This is a bowl of comfort if ever I saw one! I’d definitely come back for seconds. Pinned! Take care.
So easy to keep dipping in the pot for more! Thanks, Stacey!
Thank you for sharing the most cozy bowl of soup I’ve ever seen. It is so cold here today, my body is craving all the cozy comfort food. And since I’m stuck in my office at work, looking at this delicious photo will have to do! Also, your bunny hill experience is quite similar to mine!
Hahaha! So you’ve been there! Love it! Thanks, friend!
This does look amazing! I love all the toppings. This is a perfect bowl of soup after a full day of being outdoors. My kids all ski, but not me! 🙂
So we could hang together in the lodge!! Thanks, Kathy!
Annie, this soup looks so comforting and full of flavor. I love potato soup and your toppings take it right over the top. Absolutely lovely! Have a great weekend, my friend!
Thank you, Kelly! Those toppings are the bomb!! 🙂
This is a definite go-to meal for the chilly winter days! On board with the slower cooker version too!
I always get happy when I spot the slow cooker on the counter! Thanks, Kevin!
I can’t think of a better soup for the cold, wintry weather we’re experiencing right now Annie. This is such a hearty, stick to your bones kind of soup. Can’t wait to add it to our soup menu! Have a wonderful weekend!
The perfect soup to warm the soul!! Thanks, my friend!
A long, long, LONG time ago I worked as a server at Tony Roma’s (a rib house) and they had the most delicious loaded baked potato soup. I still dream of it. I can’t WAIT to try your version, Annie!
Ahhh! So you will know if this ranks! Love it!!
I am thrilled to see a slow cooker recipe Annie! OMG! I do not own an Instant Pot – I have no room for an Instant Pot and quite frankly, my slow cooker, stove and oven works great for me. I heart my slow cooker…. 😀 Potato soup was a comfort food my Ma made me specifically when I got sick… indeed pure comfort food. I love it! RE: skiing – same! I’ve tried twice. It terrified me and I too fell a lot! Give me the snow shoes please or I’ll be happy as ever in the kitchen making potato soup!
I don’t own an Instant Pot either… My slow cooker suits me just fine! So happy this recipe could conjure up comforting memories for you, my friend. Have a lovely weekend, Traci!
Potato soup has been a life-long favorite but I haven’t had it in so long. I’m 100% trying this one soon! It looks even better than I remember!
I promise you will not be disappointed! So yummy! 🙂
Potato soup is in regular rotation here in the winter, so I”m loving this slow cooker version! Nothing nicer than enjoying a day and have a big bowl of this delicious soup all ready for you at dinner time 🙂
The cold has decided to pay a big visit this year – and there’s nothing better than a big bowl of soup to balance the scales!! Thanks, Jennifer!
I haven’t put on a pair of skis in FOREVER! I’d say over 20 years, but I did enjoy it! Sometimes I was a little fearless and I remember one instance where I was skiing down a hill and kinda sorta fell, but not really (I was actually squat as I was skiing…don’t know how that happened?!) and almost went off track into some trees. Eeeek! Anyway, good times, lol. This loaded baked potato soup would hit the spot after a day of skiing or any day for that matter. And I LOVE all the garnish on there! Pinned! Have a wonderful weekend ahead, my friend 🙂 XOXO
So much courage is required for this sport!! hahaha! I give you all so much credit!! Thanks for stopping by, my friend! Stay warm, this weekend! XOXO
One of my favorite posts yet. Beautiful pictures and story! Warmed me right up! <3
Thank you, Sweeta. I had a lot of fun recollecting that special day! XOXO
Annie,
Now you’ve gone and done it: got me thinking about dinner before I’ve had breakfast!
Definitely will be trying this!
Great post to add to your great launch in 2014.
Love u
Wonderful! I’ve achieved my goal! Thanks, Pops! So glad you enjoyed it! XO