Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Loaded baked potato soup is hands down the best potato soup that I have ever had. Creamy and delicious with all the goodness of a baked potato, made right in your slow cooker!

Fall is THE time for soup!! The crisp air just calls for me to make it at least once a week. This means I need a lot of recipes on hand! If you love soup, you have to try this Minestrone Soup, this delicious Tomato Basil Soup, and this family favorite, Award Winning Cheeseburger Soup!

Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (1)

Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Loaded baked potato soup recipe is one of my very favorites! Slow cooker soups are just what is needed to stay warm inside when it is cold outside. It is my favorite all-time soup that is so simple to make, and the slow cooker does all the work. Soup is one of my favorite go-to recipes in the winter, and this loaded baked potato soup recipe is at the top of that list. Soup is comfort in a bowl!

The recipe really is a home run. It’s simple and easy AND loaded with tender, diced potatoes in a creamy soup broth with so much flavor from the bacon and onions. This soup is perfect for dipping, which is why you need some dinner rolls or french bread to go with it. If you like a really smooth texture, then you can also just blend this up in your food processor! It comes out so delicious and creamy.

Baked Potato Soup Ingredients

Loaded baked potato soup is perfect for adding on all of the toppings. Pile it on with cheese, bacon, and green onions, and you are good to go! Best. Soup. Ever. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Potatoes: You can use russet potatoes, yellow golden or red potatoes for this soup. They hold together and don’t become mushy in the slow cooker.
  • Onion: Chopped up to your preference. I like them smaller so then I can have a little bit of that flavor in every bite!
  • Chicken Broth:Add in for a smooth, flavorful broth. You can also use vegetable broth or beef broth if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour works the best for this soup. It is used to help thicken up the base of the soup.
  • Sour Cream: This adds a delightful flavoring that creates a rich and creamy broth.
  • Heavy Cream: If you would like a lighter soup, try half and half instead. You can make it from home using this simple recipe!
  • Salt and Pepper: Add these in to your liking to enhance all of the flavors in the soup!
  • Optional Toppings: Bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onions are really what take this from regular potato soup to baked potato soup!

How to Make Baked Potato Soup

This loaded baked potato soup recipe is perfect for an easy dinner meal. Once it’s done cooking, then you can add in the best part… The toppings! Your family will love how they can make it their own.

  1. Combine and Cook: Add potatoes, diced onions, and chicken broth to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 3-4 until potatoes are tender.
  2. Make the Roux:Melt the butter in a medium saucepan about 30 minutes before it is done. Whisk in flour and cook until bubbly. Slowly add heavy cream and sour cream. The mixture should be thick. Add this to the soup and stir. Continue to cook in the crockpot for 20-30 more minutes.
  3. Serve warm:Add on some toppings, serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (2)

Additional Toppings

It is fun to add toppings to make soup just the perfect combination. Mix and match your favorite toppings to make the best and ultimate slow cooker loaded potato soup recipe.

  • Bacon bits: If you prefer to buy the bacon bits instead of cooking your bacon beforehand, you can! It’s a great way to simplify the recipe.
  • Shredded cheese:Instead of cheddar, you could try Colby Jack, American or even mozzarella!
  • Sour cream: Add an additional drop of sour cream to the top of your soup. It’s delicious!
  • Diced avocado: This is perfect for adding that extra texture and flavor.
  • Cooked Corn Kernels:Such a fun way of adding a southern twist to the soup.
  • Croutons: These add in a delicious crunchy texture. You can even make them at home with this recipe!
  • Chives:Green chives never looked so good on this creamy baked potato soup.
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (3)

Tips for Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Check out a few ways that you can make substitutions in this soup to make it work better for you and your family.

  • For a creamy potato soup:Cook the potatoes ahead of time until they are tender. Once they are tender, blend or mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Add to the slow cooker.
  • Mashingpotatoes:Use a fork, blender or a potato masher to blend potatoes together.
  • Gluten Free:This loaded baked potato soup can be made gluten-free by substituting the flour mixture with cornstarch to thicken the soup.
  • Less salt:Substitute low-sodium chicken broth and bacon as a topping to help control the amount of salt in the soup.
  • Low Fat:Instead of using heavy cream you can substitute half and half for a low-fat option.
  • How to thicken soup: Using flour and butter to make a roux helps thicken the potato soup at the end of its cooking time. Simply add the roux to the ending of the soup and let cook for another 20 to 30 minutes to thicken.
Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (4)

Storing Leftovers

This loaded baked potato soup makes fantastic leftovers! You can even double the batch and freeze some for a later day!

  • In the Refrigerator: Once your soup has cooled, then you can store it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. It will last about 3-4 days.
  • In the Freezer: You can make this soup ahead of time and freeze it for later! Once it has cooled, then you can place it in a ziplock bag and lay it flat. It will last for about 3 months!
  • To Reheat: If you are reheating from frozen, then take your soup out the night before and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, you can either reheat it on your stove or in your slow cooker until it is warmed through

More Delicious Slow Cooker Soup Recipes

Cooking soup in a slow cooker is the way to go! They are so great to bring to any gatherings or parties because they are easy to transport, stay warm and feed a lot of people! Here are some more favorites that I love!

Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

6 hrs 20 mins

Soup

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4 hrs 10 mins

Soup

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

7 hrs 50 mins

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Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup

5 from 21 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Loaded baked potato soup is hands down the best potato soup that I have ever had. Creamy and delicious with all the goodness of a baked potato, made right in your slow cooker!

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours

Total Time: 6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 People

Equipment

  • Alyssa Also Recommends:

  • Want to make this even easier? Here are a few products that I LOVE:

  • Utopia Kitchen Cooking Knives

  • Calphalon Cookware Set

Ingredients

Optional toppings:

Instructions

  • Add potatoes, diced onions, and chicken broth to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 3-4 until potatoes are tender.

  • About 30 minutes before it is done, In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in flour and cook until bubbly. Slowly add heavy cream, and sour cream. The mixture should be thick. Add this to the soup and stir. Continue to cook in the slow cooker for 20-30 minutes.

  • Serve with toppings, or you can also stir them all into the soup. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Updated on September 29, 2022

Original Post on January 22, 2015

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 7gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 525mgPotassium: 91mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1090IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 193mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

Why does my potato soup have no flavor? ›

Perhaps the simplest approach is to flavor your soup with salt throughout the cooking process. Instead of waiting until the end of cooking to realize your soup lacks taste, you can add a bit of salt during each phase of cooking. Doing so will help bring out the flavors of each of the ingredients.

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Why isn't my potato soup creamy? ›

One trick to make your potato soup a little less grainy is to add some form of dairy –- cream, milk, or even cheese. Because dairy is generally creamy in texture, that characteristic will carry over into your soup.

What potato holds up best in soup? ›

ANSWER: Waxy potatoes or those called boiling potatoes stand up well in soups and stews. These have thin skin and are high in moisture and low in starch. Potatoes that are low-starch and high-moisture hold together better. Yukon Gold potatoes are on the medium-starch side and will hold their shape in soups.

What can I add to potato soup to add flavor? ›

Add milk, potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, allspice, celery seed, thyme, seasoning salt, dry white wine, cayenne pepper and chicken granules. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring frequently, until the potatoes are cooked through, approximately 25 minutes.

How can I make my potato soup taste better? ›

Once the potatoes are nice and soft, stir in the cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt (or sour cream), salt, pepper and cooked bacon bits. Taste and season with extra salt and pepper, if needed.

Does cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

How do you make loaded baked potato soup thicker? ›

Yes, adding heavy cream or milk can be a great way to thicken your potato soup while also adding richness and creaminess. Simply pour in a small amount of cream or milk while your soup is simmering, then continue to cook until it reaches the desired thickness. Be sure to stir frequently to avoid scorching.

Does sour cream thicken soup? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

How do you thicken potato soup in the crockpot? ›

Add a slurry at the end.

A slurry is a mixture of flour and water, whisked together until smooth and added towards the end of cooking; it's a super-simple way to thicken any soup. For slow cooker soups, add your slurry with at least 30 minutes of cook time left so that the raw flour can cook and thicken the soup.

How do you doctor up bland potato soup? ›

To serve it up, sprinkle on a little extra parsley before adding some of the grated cheese… And—you'd better believe it—some of the crispy bacon. You can also add sliced green onions, a dollop of sour cream—anything you want! This soup will warm your ever-loving heart and soul.

Why is potato soup gluey? ›

If you've ever tried potato leek soup and found it to have a gluey texture, it's because the potatoes released too much starch from being over handled. This is unfortunately easy to do with a food processor or blender (heck, it can even happen when making mashed potatoes, which is why I avoid using an electric mixer).

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes. Acidic Ingredients: If your soup contained highly acidic ingredients (e.g., tomatoes), it could have affected the texture of the potatoes. Acidic ingredients can slow down the softening process of potatoes.

Are Russet potatoes good for soups? ›

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

Why doesn't my soup have flavor? ›

If you find that your homemade or store-bought broth is thin and bland, you can concentrate its flavors by cooking it a little bit longer." Make sure to remove the lid or tilt it slightly to let the steam escape. Reducing your broth to two-thirds of its original volume should result in two times the flavor," she says.

What can I add to flavorless soup? ›

Suggestions to improve the flavor:
  1. Celery salt or celery seed (preferably ground). ...
  2. White wine vinegar (for acidity and a richer flavor, and pairing with the cabbage and onions)
  3. Dry vermouth or white wine. ...
  4. A jigger of sherry or cooking sherry (the latter has salt, so add it before salting the soup).
Jun 21, 2011

Why is my leek and potato soup tasteless? ›

Although leeks are known for its powerful taste, your potato and leek soup can occasionally come out bland. The reasons are usually two: you didn't season your soup at all, worrying it might be too salty because of the leeks; or you added to much water for the stock.

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