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Cozy Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup: Easy Bacon Recipe

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This thick and creamy loaded potato soup with bacon is the ultimate comfort food, made effortlessly in a slow cooker. It’s packed with chunky potatoes, tangy cream cheese, and all the classic toppings for a hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes (about 3–4 large potatoes)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place bacon slices in a cold skillet, turn heat to medium, and cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping once, until deep golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Once cool, crumble into small pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
  2. Prep vegetables: While bacon cooks, peel and dice potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Dice onion and mince garlic.
  3. Layer in slow cooker: Add diced potatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir to combine. Liquid should just barely cover potatoes; add a splash more broth or water if needed.
  4. Cook: Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Add cream cheese and milk: Add cubed cream cheese and milk. Stir gently until cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated, about 2-3 minutes.
  6. Partially mash: Using a potato masher, mash about one-third of the potatoes right in the slow cooker to release starch and thicken the soup.
  7. Let rest: Turn slow cooker to warm and let soup sit for 10-15 minutes to meld flavors and reach final creamy consistency.
  8. Ladle and top: Serve soup in bowls and top with crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and sliced green onions.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to prevent curdling. The soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of milk when reheating. This soup tastes even better the next day. For a thicker soup, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir in; cook on high for 15 more minutes.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/cozy-crockpot-loaded-potato-soup-easy-bacon-recipe/