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Creamy Slow Cooker Potato Bacon Soup

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A cozy, creamy slow cooker potato bacon soup with sharp cheddar and fresh chives, perfect for chilly days and minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 6–8 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup fresh chives, finely chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  1. Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
  2. In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant. Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker.
  3. Add peeled and diced potatoes to the slow cooker on top of the onion and garlic.
  4. Pour in chicken broth, sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until potatoes are fork-tender.
  6. Using an immersion blender, puree about half the soup directly in the slow cooker for a creamy base. Alternatively, transfer half the soup to a blender, puree, then stir back in.
  7. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese, heavy cream, and butter. Let sit with the lid on for 10 minutes to melt the cheese and thicken the soup.
  8. Stir in half the crispy bacon, ladle soup into bowls, and garnish each serving with remaining bacon and fresh chives.

Notes

Pre-cook bacon to avoid greasy soup. Blend half the soup for creamy texture while leaving chunks for contrast. If soup is too thick, add broth or cream to adjust consistency. Let cheese melt with lid on to prevent curdling. Fresh chives add a mild onion flavor that balances richness. Soup can be prepared on stovetop as an alternative.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, potato soup, bacon soup, creamy soup, cheddar soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, chilly day recipe

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/creamy-slow-cooker-potato-bacon-soup-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-chilly-days/