Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup
This Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup is packed with bacon, ham, and cheese and is the perfect dinner for a cold night. It’s easy to prepare in the crockpot and is the best kind of comfort food, especially during the long winter months. It is the BEST potato soup, and has been a favorite recipe with my family for many years!
For more Slow Cooker Recipes, be sure to check out my Cinnamon Roll Casserole, Juicy Crockpot Turkey Breast, and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken.
Now that winter is in full swing, I find myself constantly craving a big, warm bowl of soup. This recipe for Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup is one I always turn to, especially on cold days this time of year. I promise once you try it, you’ll understand why I say that it’s the BEST potato soup!
This loaded baked potato soup recipe has been a favorite with my whole family (and with all of you!) for many years now. My friend Carrie from Kenarry shared it here over ten years ago, and it’s been getting rave reviews ever since.
It combines all the cozy flavors you love (potatoes, cheese, ham, and bacon, to name a few) into a creamy, hearty soup. It’s a great recipe for even the pickiest eaters, and is one that I love coming home to after a busy day.
Ingredients for Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup
- Potatoes – I like to use russet potatoes, but you could also use yukon gold potatoes. As long as it’s a waxy potato with enough starch, it will work well. I don’t recommend using red potatoes for this reason.
- Onion – one large chopped yellow or white onion gives a lot of flavor to the soup.
- Ham – if you have leftover ham from Christmas or another holiday, use it here! You can also use precooked chopped ham or a ham steak. You can omit the ham, too, for a meatless option.
- Cream of chicken soup– my favorite brand (and what I always recommend) for canned creamy soup is Pacific Foods. Most grocery stores carry it. It’s a bit more expensive than Campbell’s or store brand versions of condensed soup, but the flavor and simplicity of ingredients (no weird chemicals) is well worth it.
- Chicken broth – I like to use low sodium chicken broth. You could also use vegetable broth instead.
- Garlic + black pepper – are used for seasoning your loaded baked potato soup. I like A LOT of pepper!
- Milk – is combined with a small amount of flour to thicken and add creaminess to the soup. You can use any type of milk; I just use whatever I have on hand which is usually 2%.
- Flour – a small amount of all purpose flour is used to create a slurry and thicken the soup.
- Cheese – my favorite cheese to use in this slow cooker potato soup recipe is sharp cheddar cheese. For that delicious creamy texture, I recommend shredding the cheese yourself from a block, as opposed to using the bags of pre-shredded cheese.
- Toppings – some of our favorite toppings include shredded cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, green onions, and even a dollop of sour cream.
How to Make Crockpot Potato Soup – Step by Step
Wash, peel, and dice the potatoes. Place in the bottom of your crock pot.
Add onion, ham, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, water, minced garlic, and black pepper. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You want the potatoes to be tender.
An hour before you’re ready to serve the soup, add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese. Whisk together flour and milk in a small bowl and pour the flour mixture into the slow cooker. Stir and replace the lid.
After the cooking time is up, serve and garnish with the remaining extra cheese, crispy bacon bits, green onions, etc.
Tips and Notes
- Don’t forget the toppings! I like to add shredded cheese, chopped bacon, green onions, chives, etc.
- My favorite brand (and what I always recommend) for cream soups is Pacific Foods. Most grocery stores carry it. It’s a bit more expensive than Campbell’s or store brand versions of condensed soup, but the flavor and simplicity of ingredients (no weird chemicals) is well worth it.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and bacon, and swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of celery soup and the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
- To make your potato soup gluten free, swap the all purpose flour with cornstarch and use gluten free cream of chicken soup (Pacific Foods brand is gluten-free, FYI.)
- For a quick version of loaded baked potato soup, try my Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup. I love to make it this way when I don’t have time to get my soup into the crockpot earlier in the day.
- My favorite kind of cheese to use in this Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup is sharp cheddar cheese, though it also tastes delicious with regular cheddar cheese. I also recommend shredding your cheese from a large block as it will melt into the soup much better.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes You Should Try!
- Slow Cooker White Bean and Ham Soup
- Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Crockpot White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup
- Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!
Recipe: Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 6 russet potatoes, (about 7 cups chopped potatoes)
- 1 onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 16 oz diced ham
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup, (10.5 oz.)
- 1 can chicken broth, (14.5 oz.)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 16 oz bacon slices, cooked and crumbled into bits
- sliced green onions, for garnish, optional
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and dice the potatoes. Place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Add onion, ham, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, water, minced garlic and black pepper. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You want the potatoes to be tender.
- An hour before you're ready to serve the soup, add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese. Whisk together flour and milk in a small bowl and pour into the slow cooker. Stir and replace the lid.
- After the cooking time is up, serve and garnish with the remaining cheese, crumbled bacon, green onions, etc. Enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t forget the toppings! I like to add shredded cheese, chopped bacon, green onions, chives, etc.
- My favorite brand (and what I always recommend) for cream soups is Pacific Foods. Most grocery stores carry it. It’s a bit more expensive than Campbell’s or store brand versions of condensed soup, but the flavor and simplicity of ingredients (no weird chemicals) is well worth it.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and bacon, and swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of celery soup and the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
- To make your potato soup gluten free, swap the all purpose flour with cornstarch and use gluten free cream of chicken soup (Pacific Foods brand is gluten-free, FYI.)
- For a quick version of loaded baked potato soup, try my Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup. I love to make it this way when I don’t have time to get my soup into the crockpot earlier in the day.
- My favorite kind of cheese to use in this Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup is sharp cheddar cheese, though it also tastes delicious with regular cheddar cheese. I also recommend shredding your cheese from a large block as it will melt into the soup much better.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Love these kinda soup – so perfect as one pot meal and I can set it and forget about it . This is going to be on the dinner table soon .
I absolutely love soup in the fall and winter!!! And slow cooker recipes are great when you have a busy schedule. Definitely will be trying this recipe out!
Now THIS is the kinda comfort food I want all up my face this winter. It looks so so yummy!!
This soup looks so comforting! I love the additions of cheese and ham on top. This looks great.
I have been looking for a potato soup just curious if I can leave out the cheese
Hi Robin! I’m sure that would be fine!
This soup was absolutely amazing!! I had been looking for a potato soup for the crockpot and found yours right after Thanksgiving. I admit I wasn’t sure about the cream of celery soup but when I tasted this soup it was Amazing!! Thank you for sharing and keep cooking and sharing your recipes with us.
So glad you enjoyed it, Ann! This is one of our favorite soups! Thanks for leaving your sweet comment!
Would you possibly know the nutritional facts for 1 serving (1 cup)?? Calories, carbs, sugar etc??
Hi Donica! For nutrition info go to this link and scroll down to the bottom:
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Slow-Cooker-Loaded-Potato-Soup-1018524?columns=4&position=48%2F65
You can adjust the serving amounts as well. 🙂
It is to salty,is there anything I can do to fix it?
Hi Tracy, I’ve never found it to be too salty so my only suggestion would be to leave out the bacon or to use reduced sodium chicken broth. Hope that helps. 🙂
Could you add the bacon in with the soup while it’s cooking in the crockpot? We love bacon in our house, and I think it would add a good flavor! I’m making this tomorrow while I’m at work, and I’m so anxious to see how it turns out!
Hi Kassie! I’d say as long as you cook and chop the bacon beforehand, I don’t see why you couldn’t throw it in there with everything else! Maybe even save some for topping at the end. 🙂 Hope y’all enjoyed it!
This was yummy for the first cold week here on the Baja coast (yes, it even gets chilly in Mexico!). We can’t get cream of celery soup here, so I substituted cream of squash blossom (never saw that in the States), with great results. I was thinking about trying it with lobster instead of ham next time. It seems like all the ingredients would work. Cream of corn soup could be substituted too, I should think, with lobster. This one’s a keeper–thanks!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Patricia! Lobster sounds like it would be an amazing addition! I make this with cream of chicken soup a lot, so if you have access to that one, you could try that also!
I found your recipe on Pinterest and made it for dinner tonight. I followed your recipe exactly and it was AMAZING! AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Thank you!
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!! We love this recipe so much, too!
Loved this recipe! Will definitely be making again, it was perfect for a cold snow day!
Do you cook the ham before you put it in the crockpot?
I really don’t think there is anything more comforting on a winter night then a bowl of soup. This one looks delicious!!
You are so right, Ashley! Winter nights and soup go together like peanut butter and jelly. 🙂
Love this! There is nothing better than a big bowl of potato soup! So comforting on a cold day!
I totally agree, Annie! It’s perfect for cooler weather. 🙂
This looks so good! I also live in Michigan. My husband and I both work full-time, and we have a toddler, so I am always up for trying a good slow cooker recipe.
Yay Kat! Slow cooker recipes are perfect for when you’re busy working, and with kiddos! 🙂