Description

This rich, cheesy, and bacon-loaded potato soup is pure comfort in a bowl, made effortlessly in the slow cooker. Perfect for potlucks, parties, or cozy family dinners, it’s a crowd-pleasing side that disappears fast.

Ingredients

Scale

32 oz frozen hash brown potatoes (shredded or diced)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
1 cup sour cream
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Green onions, chopped (for topping)

Instructions

Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and chop green onions for topping. Shred cheddar cheese if using a block. Cook bacon until crisp, then crumble.
In a 6-quart (or larger) crock pot, combine frozen hash browns, chopped onion, minced garlic, and chicken broth. Stir gently.
Add softened cream cheese (cut into chunks), sour cream, ranch seasoning, salt, and pepper. Reserve cheddar and bacon for later.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours (or HIGH for 2-3 hours), until potatoes are tender and flavors meld. Stir halfway through to help cream cheese blend in.
For a creamier soup, use a potato masher or immersion blender to blend about half the mixture in the crock pot. Leave some chunks for texture.
Stir in shredded cheddar until melted and creamy. Fold in most of the crumbled bacon, saving some for garnish. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Ladle soup into bowls or serve straight from the crock pot. Top with extra cheddar, reserved bacon, and green onions.

Notes

For vegetarian, skip bacon and use vegetable broth. For dairy-free, substitute vegan cream cheese, plant-based cheddar, and coconut yogurt. If soup is too thick, thin with milk or broth. Shred block cheddar for best melting. Only blend half the soup for ideal texture. Soup can be made ahead and reheated; flavors improve overnight. Freeze leftovers up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4-5 hours (LOW) or 2-3 hours (HIGH)
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup (about 250ml)
Calories: 350
Sugar: 3
Sodium: 800
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 2
Protein: 11

Keywords: potato soup, crock pot, slow cooker, crack soup, party side, potluck, bacon, cheese, comfort food, easy soup, creamy soup