Print

Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with Bacon and Chives

easy slow cooker potato soup with bacon and chives - featured image
Print Recipe

This creamy slow cooker potato soup with bacon and chives is the ultimate comfort food. It’s thick, smoky, and loaded with flavor, made effortlessly in a slow cooker for a perfect weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (for serving)
  • Sour cream (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and dice them into ½-inch cubes. Rinse in cold water to remove excess starch, drain well, and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble into small pieces. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet.
  3. In the same skillet with the reserved bacon drippings, add the diced onion. Cook over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  4. Transfer the sautéed onions and garlic to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the diced potatoes, chicken broth, smoked paprika, dried thyme, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Add the heavy cream and butter to the slow cooker. Stir until the butter is fully melted and incorporated.
  7. Using a potato masher, gently mash about half the potatoes right in the slow cooker to achieve a creamy consistency. For a smoother soup, use an immersion blender with a few quick pulses.
  8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with crumbled bacon, fresh chives, shredded cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the creamiest soup, use firm, unblemished russet potatoes. Add dairy at the end to prevent curdling. If the soup is too thick, stir in a splash of warm broth or milk. If too thin, let it cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes on LOW. This soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/easy-slow-cooker-potato-soup-with-bacon-and-chives/