There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm bowl of potato soup, especially when it’s as fuss-free as this Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe. Perfect for busy days or chilly evenings, this cozy soup combines tender potatoes, vibrant veggies, and rich cheddar cheese—all slow-cooked to creamy perfection without any stress. It’s like a hug in a bowl that you can walk away from and come back to a delicious, hearty meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe plays a key role in balancing flavors, textures, and colors. From the sweetness of carrots to the earthy depth of fresh rosemary, these simple essentials come together to create a soul-satisfying dish that’s easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil: Provides a smooth base for sautéing and adds subtle richness.
- 1 cup onions, diced: Adds natural sweetness and depth when softened.
- 1 cup carrots, diced: Brings a hint of sweetness and vibrant color.
- 1 cup celery, diced: Adds a mild aromatic crunch and balances the soup’s flavor.
- 4 cups potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces: The hearty backbone of the soup that creates a creamy texture when cooked.
- 4 cups vegetable broth: Builds a flavorful liquid base without overpowering the vegetables.
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese: Delivers a creamy, tangy finish that melts beautifully into the soup.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder: Packs a punch of savory flavor without being too intense.
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped finely: Adds a fragrant, herbal note that brightens the soup.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Enhances all the natural flavors subtly.
- ½ teaspoon pepper: Adds just the right hint of warmth and spice.
- 2 cups milk of choice: Contributes creaminess and mellows all the flavors together.
How to Make Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe
Step 1: Sauté Vegetables (Optional but Worth It)
Although you can skip this step if you’re really pressed for time, sautéing the onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until the onions turn translucent (about 10 minutes) adds a wonderful depth of flavor. This step helps awaken the veggies’ natural sweetness and starts building a rich base for your soup.
Step 2: Add Ingredients to Crock Pot
Once your veggies are prepped (sautéed or raw), transfer them into your crock pot along with the chopped potatoes, vegetable broth, garlic powder, rosemary, salt, and pepper. The layering of these fresh ingredients ensures each spoonful will be packed with wholesome goodness.
Step 3: Cook Low and Slow
Set your crock pot to cook either on low for 8 hours or on high for 6 hours. This slow-cooking method allows the potatoes to soften perfectly and the flavors to meld together beautifully without any need for constant stirring or checking.
Step 4: Blend and Add Creamy Touches
When your soup is ready, stir in the milk and grated cheddar cheese. Then, use an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a regular blender) to puree the soup to your preferred smoothness. This final step transforms the chunky veggies into a luxuriously creamy soup that feels indulgent but is so simple to pull off.
How to Serve Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe
Garnishes
Elevate your Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe with toppings like crispy bacon bits, fresh chopped chives, shredded extra cheese, or a spoonful of sour cream. These garnishes add texture and bursts of flavor that make every bite exciting and personalized.
Side Dishes
Pair this soup with crusty bread, warm dinner rolls, or even a crisp green salad to balance the creaminess. The robust flavors of the soup stand up perfectly to simple, fresh sides that round out the meal.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve the soup in rustic bread bowls for a cozy presentation or drizzle a swirl of herb-infused olive oil on top just before serving. You can also sprinkle toasted nuts or seeds to add a surprising crunch that contrasts delightfully with the smooth texture.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This soup keeps beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Its flavors even deepen overnight, making it a fantastic leftover that tastes just as wonderful reheated.
Freezing
You can freeze any extra soup in portioned containers for up to 2 months. Just be sure to leave some space at the top of the container to allow for expansion as it freezes, and thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If it’s too thick, add a splash of milk or broth to return it to the perfect creamy consistency without losing any flavor.
FAQs
Can I use any type of potato for this soup?
Absolutely! While russet potatoes work best for their fluffy texture, Yukon Golds or red potatoes also create a lovely creamy soup. Just make sure to cut them into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
Is it necessary to sauté the vegetables first?
Sautéing the veggies is optional but highly recommended because it brings out deeper flavors. However, if you’re short on time, adding raw veggies directly to the crock pot will still yield a tasty soup.
Can I make this soup dairy-free?
Yes! Substitute the milk and cheese with your favorite plant-based alternatives like almond milk and vegan cheese to keep it creamy while making it dairy-free.
How thick should the soup be?
The thickness depends on your personal preference. Using an immersion blender lets you control the soup’s texture, whether you like it chunky with some potatoes intact or completely smooth and creamy.
Can I add other vegetables or proteins?
Definitely! Feel free to mix in corn, peas, cooked bacon, or shredded chicken to customize your soup. Just add any proteins toward the end of cooking to keep their texture and flavor fresh.
Final Thoughts
Whipping up a batch of this Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe is like inviting comfort and warmth into your kitchen without any complicated steps. Whether you need a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy meal to savor on a weekend, this soup delivers all the heartiness and flavor with minimal effort. Give it a try—you’ll wonder how you ever lived without this hearty, creamy classic made simple.
Print
Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup recipe offers a creamy, comforting bowl of soup made with simple ingredients like potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. Cooked slowly in a crock pot, it’s perfect for busy days and yields a deliciously smooth texture when blended with milk and cheddar cheese. Optional sautéing of vegetables adds an extra depth of flavor, making this soup both hearty and flavorful, ideal for a cozy meal.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 4 cups potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 1 lb or 5–6 medium-sized potatoes)
Liquids & Dairy
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups milk of choice
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Seasonings & Oils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped finely
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables (Optional): In a sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. While the oil heats, chop the onions, carrots, and celery. Add them to the pan and cook until the onions become translucent, about 10 minutes. This step is optional but enhances the flavor considerably.
- Add Ingredients to Crock Pot: Transfer the sautéed vegetables (or raw if you skip sautéing) along with potatoes, vegetable broth, garlic powder, fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper into the crock pot. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Cook: Set the crock pot to cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8 hours to allow the vegetables to soften and flavors to meld.
- Add Dairy and Blend: After cooking, stir in the milk and grated cheddar cheese into the soup. Use an immersion blender directly in the crock pot or carefully blend the soup in batches using a regular blender until smooth and creamy.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with your choice of garnishes such as additional cheese, chopped bacon, or fresh chives. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Sautéing the vegetables before adding them to the crock pot is optional but adds a richer flavor.
- Use milk alternatives like almond or oat milk for dairy-free options, but choose a mild-flavored cheese or omit to keep it vegan.
- If you prefer a chunkier soup, pulse the blender fewer times.
- Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper to taste after blending.
- Leftover soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
