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Lightened-Up Creamy Crockpot Potato Soup with Bacon

lightened-up creamy crockpot potato soup with bacon - featured image
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A creamy, smoky, and comforting potato soup made in the slow cooker with simple ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 3 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Cook over medium heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more until fragrant.
  3. Layer the crockpot: Add the diced potatoes to the slow cooker. Top with the sautéed onions and garlic. Pour in the chicken broth and whole milk. Add the salt, pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Add the cream cheese: Nestle the cubed cream cheese into the liquid.
  5. Slow cook: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender and the cream cheese has fully melted.
  6. Blend for creaminess: Turn off the slow cooker. Use an immersion blender to blend about half the soup directly in the pot. If using a regular blender, let the soup cool for 10 minutes first, then blend in batches.
  7. Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper if needed. If too thick, stir in a splash of warm milk or broth. If too thin, let it cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes to reduce.
  8. Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with the reserved crispy bacon, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese if using. Serve hot.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, use full-fat canned coconut milk instead of whole milk and a dairy-free cream cheese alternative. For a gluten-free option, ensure broth is certified gluten-free. To reduce sodium, use no-salt-added broth and reduce added salt to ½ teaspoon. The soup thickens after refrigeration; add extra liquid when reheating.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/lightened-up-creamy-crockpot-potato-soup-with-bacon-easy-and-best/