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Creamy Crockpot Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon

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A comforting, velvety slow-cooker potato soup made with simple pantry staples, rich bacon grease, and sharp cheddar cheese. This easy 5-ingredient dinner is perfect for cold nights and delivers soul-soothing flavor without heavy cream.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 lb thick-cut bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 medium yellow onions, diced finely
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 stalks green onions, sliced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp reserved bacon grease

Instructions

  1. Peel and dice the Russet potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes. Dice the onions and mince the garlic.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon strips until crisp (8-10 minutes). Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble into bite-sized pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
  3. Add butter to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Once melted, add the diced onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent.
  4. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme to the skillet, cooking for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. Transfer the sautéed onion mixture into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the diced potatoes, chicken broth, black pepper, and salt. Stir well to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the milk and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Cover and let heat through.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  9. Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

If the soup is too thin, mash some potatoes against the side of the pot to release starch. If too thick, add extra broth or milk. Always add dairy in the last 30 minutes to prevent curdling. For freezing, omit milk and cheese before freezing; add fresh dairy upon reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot potato soup, creamy potato soup, bacon soup, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, easy dinner, russet potato soup, cheddar cheese soup

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