Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Why We Love This Potato Soup

• Easy to Make – I love the convenience of making this soup in the slow cooker. I can start the soup in the morning and when everyone gets home, dinner is done.
• Customizable – This potato soup starts with the basic ingredients but adding the toppings makes it even better.
• Creamy Texture – Potato soup is the ultimate comfort food and delicious served for any occasion.
• This is one of our go-to soups when the weather turns cold — simple enough for a weeknight and hearty enough that everyone goes back for seconds.

Budget-Friendly Comfort Food

This creamy potato soup costs about $16.39 to make, or roughly $2.73 per serving — a fraction of what you’d pay for a bowl of loaded potato soup at a restaurant. Potatoes, broth, and cheese are pantry staples that stretch a long way, making this a great option when you need a filling, comforting dinner without stretching your grocery budget

What Makes This Potato Soup Different

This version skips the hash browns and extra add-ins and keeps things classic: real diced potatoes, a simple stovetop roux for thickening, and a hands-off slow cooker method. It’s the most straightforward, budget-friendly potato soup in our collection — perfect if you want a classic, no-fuss version with minimal ingredients.

Ingredients

• Potato Swap – Yukon Gold or red potatoes work in place of Russets for a slightly creamier, less starchy soup. The texture will be a little smoother either way.”
• Large Onion – See Best Onion Substitute if you are out
• Cloves Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
• Chicken Broth – You can also use vegetable broth
• All-Purpose Flour – We think flour works best to thicken the texture
• Whole Milk – Whole milk works best for rich and creamy texture
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – We like sharp cheddar cheese but mild cheese is great too

How to Make Potato Soup in the Slow Cooker

Follow along with my simple instruction to learn how you can make your own potato soup using your slow cooker in your own kitchen.

Step 1 – In a 6-quart crock pot, combine the diced potatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low or high until potatoes are tender.

Step 2 – About 30 minutes before serving, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer the mixture, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 5 minutes.

Step 3 – Pour the thickened milk mixture into the crock pot and stir to combine with the cooked potatoes.

Step 4 – Add the shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream to the crock pot, stirring until the cheese is melted and the soup is creamy.

• Step 5 – Garnish with your choice of toppings such as crispy bacon, sliced green onions, or additional shredded cheese.

Expert Tips

• Want it extra loaded? Cook 4-5 slices of bacon until crisp, crumble it, and stir half into the soup along with the cheese and sour cream. Save the rest for topping.
• Desired Consistency – If you prefer a smoother soup, you can use an immersion blender to puree a portion of the soup before adding the milk mixture and cheese.
• Cutting Potatoes – We recommend cutting the potatoes about the same size so they cook evenly.
• Cooking Time – I like to cook this soup on low so I can start it in the morning. But you can also cook on high for less time. The soup is ready to serve when the potatoes are fork tender and has a creamy texture.
• Too Thin or Too Thick – If your soup is thinner than you’d like, stir in a little extra shredded cheese or let it simmer uncovered a few extra minutes. If it’s thicker than you’d like, stir in a splash of extra milk or broth until it reaches the consistency you want.
• Make-Ahead Prep – Chop the potatoes, onion, and garlic the night before and store them in the fridge in an airtight container. In the morning, just dump everything in the crock pot and save yourself several minutes of prep time.

Variations to Try

• Add Ham or Chicken – Stir in 1-2 cups of diced cooked ham or shredded rotisserie chicken for a heartier, protein-packed soup.
• Veggie Boost – Add a cup of frozen corn or chopped broccoli during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Spicy Kick – Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce for extra warmth.

Soup Topping Ideas

When serving this for a weeknight dinner or to a crowd, I like to setup a soup topping bar for added flavor. Here are some of our favorite toppings.

• Bacon Bits
• Chives
• Parsley
• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Diced Avocado

Serving Suggestions

For the ultimate comfort food dinner, serve this soup with warm, buttery Homemade Dinner Rolls or a slice of Homemade Cornbread for dipping. If you want a lighter, crunchy side instead of a salad, this Creamy Broccoli Salad is always a hit.

Stretch It Further – Feeding a bigger crowd? Add an extra cup of broth and one more potato — it stretches the recipe further without watering down the flavor.