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Easy Crockpot Potato Soup with Perfect Crispy Bacon

crockpot potato soup with crispy bacon - featured image
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This easy crockpot potato soup with crispy bacon is the answer to the question of how to get a soul-warming meal on the table with almost no work. It’s the kind of soup that makes you close your eyes after the first spoonful, not because it’s fancy, but because it just tastes right.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (for garnish, optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • ¼ cup sour cream (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Vegetables (10 minutes): Peel and dice your potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
  2. Build the Soup Base (5 minutes): Add the diced potatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, and chicken broth to your 6-quart slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to combine.
  3. Slow Cook (6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH): Place the lid on your slow cooker and cook. For the most tender, deeply flavored soup, cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. If you’re in a hurry, HIGH for 3-4 hours works.
  4. Cook the Bacon (10 minutes): While the soup is cooking, place the bacon slices in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook, flipping occasionally, until the bacon is deeply browned and shatteringly crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble or chop it into small pieces.
  5. Finish the Soup (10 minutes): Once the potatoes are fork-tender, turn off the slow cooker. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes right in the pot until you reach your desired consistency. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend about half of the soup until smooth.
  6. Add the Creamy Finish (5 minutes): Stir in the whole milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the butter to melt and the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
  7. Serve and Garnish (2 minutes): Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top generously with the crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkle of fresh chives. Serve immediately!

Notes

For the best texture, make sure your potatoes are cut into uniform ½-inch cubes. Don’t skip the step of mashing or blending the soup; this is what gives it a creamy texture without heavy cream. Cook bacon separately for maximum crispiness. Start with a lighter hand on salt, especially if using salted butter or broth. The soup tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/easy-crockpot-potato-soup-with-perfect-crispy-bacon/