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Cozy Loaded Crockpot Potato Soup with Bacon – Easy & Best

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This cozy loaded crockpot potato soup with bacon is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, rich, and packed with flavor. Made with simple ingredients like russet potatoes, cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and crispy bacon, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it meal that’s perfect for busy days and cold nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional garnishes: chopped green onions, extra shredded cheese, sour cream, more crumbled bacon

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Lay bacon strips in a large cold skillet. Turn heat to medium and cook until crispy, flipping occasionally (8-10 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble into small pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet with reserved bacon drippings, add butter and melt over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape mixture into crockpot.
  3. Assemble the soup base: Add diced potatoes, chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to the crockpot. Stir to combine. Broth should just cover potatoes; add more broth or water if needed.
  4. Slow cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Add the creaminess: Turn crockpot to warm or low. Add softened cream cheese, heavy cream, and sour cream. Stir gently until cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated. For thicker texture, lightly mash some potatoes with a potato masher (4-5 gentle mashes).
  6. Add the cheese: Gradually sprinkle in shredded cheddar cheese while stirring continuously until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Serve and load it up: Ladle soup into bowls. Top with crumbled bacon, extra shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and chopped green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip the bacon drippings—they add incredible smoky depth. Cube potatoes evenly for consistent cooking. Add dairy at the end to prevent curdling. Shred your own cheese for best melting. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot potato soup, loaded potato soup, bacon potato soup, slow cooker soup, comfort food, creamy potato soup

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