Cozy Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup
Nothing says comfort quite like a bowl of warm, creamy potato soup, and making it in the Crock Pot only adds to the ease! This Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup is loaded with tender potatoes, and creamy, cheesy goodness. Then each person can top it with their favorites like savory bacon, and rich cheese, making it the ultimate cozy meal. Plus, it’s easy to customize for different preferences.
Here’s everything you need to know to make this delicious soup, including topping ideas, storage tips, and reheating instructions!
Serve with Dinner Rolls or Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread for a fun side!
Why This Recipe is Great
- Ultimate Comfort Food: There’s nothing like a warm, creamy soup on a chilly day, and this loaded baked potato soup hits all the comforting notes—rich, hearty, and packed with flavor.
- Perfect for Busy Nights: Thanks to the crockpot, this soup is practically hands-off. Just add the ingredients, set the time, and let it cook while you tackle other tasks. It’s a life-saver for hectic evenings when you still want a wholesome, homemade meal.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: This soup is an excellent make-ahead option. You can prepare it earlier in the day and keep it warm until dinner, or even make it the day before and reheat. It also freezes well, making it ideal for meal prep.
- Holiday & Party-Ready: This soup can easily feed a crowd, making it a great choice for gatherings or holidays when you need a simple, comforting option that everyone loves.
- Versatility for Family Preferences: With a baked potato soup bar, you can offer a range of toppings so that everyone can personalize their bowl. From extra bacon and cheese to green onions and sour cream, each person can make their bowl exactly how they like it.
- Customizable for Dietary Needs: This recipe is easy to adapt based on dietary needs—opt for low-fat cheese, dairy-free alternatives, or even add extra veggies to make it lighter or more nutrient-dense.
How to Make Baked Potato Soup in the Slow Cooker
It is so simple to make this soup in the slow cooker. And takes only a few minutes of hands on time. Which is why this is the perfect soup for parties, busy nights, or gatherings with family or friends.
You start by peeling and chunking up the potatoes, and chopping the onion. Then add it to you crock pot with the garlic, salt and pepper, and chicken stock.
Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8.
Add the remaining ingredients, the cream cheese, cheese, and cream. Then blend it all together with either a potato masher or immersion blender.
Then top with your favorite toppings to make it custom for each person and serve!
Tips and Tricks for the Best Baked Potato Soup
- Use Russet Potatoes – Their starchy texture breaks down perfectly in the soup, creating that classic creamy consistency.
- Don’t Overdo the Dairy – Add milk or cream towards the end of cooking, so the soup doesn’t curdle.
- Blend for Creaminess – For an extra creamy texture, use an immersion blender directly in the Crock Pot. Leave some chunks of potato if you like a bit more texture.
- Add Toppings at the End – Top with crispy bacon, chives, and cheese just before serving to keep them from getting soggy.
- For Thicker Soup – If you prefer a thicker consistency, use a little less cream, half and half, or milk at the end. If you want it runnier, add more or add additional chicken stock.
How to Make It Bar Style
My favorite way to serve this recipe is “bar-style” where you set the soup up in the crock pot or a large pot, and then serve with bowls of various topping ideas, so each person can customize their loaded baked potato soup to their preference. Here’s how:
- Set Up Toppings in Small Bowls: Create a “toppings bar” by setting out small bowls of everyone’s favorite toppings. Options could include:
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella)
- Crispy bacon bits
- Sliced green onions or chives
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Chopped fresh herbs (like parsley or cilantro)
- Hot sauce or sriracha for spice lovers
- Roasted garlic or caramelized onions for a gourmet twist
- Easy Add-Ons for Variety: For extra protein, offer toppings like grilled or shredded chicken, or even diced ham. This way, each bowl can become as hearty and filling as each family member desires.
- Set Up a Soup Station: Keep the crockpot on a warm setting and let everyone serve themselves, adding their toppings as they go. This bar-style setup is perfect for parties or even just an easy weeknight dinner where everyone can grab a bowl as they’re ready.
- Accompaniments for a Full Meal: Pair the soup with warm rolls or a simple green salad to make it a complete meal. The variety keeps it interesting for family members who may want more than just soup. We love serving it with Cornbread, Garlic Bread Twists, and 7 Minute (Prep) Artisan Crock Pot Bread for a fun variety.
- Prep Ahead for Extra Ease: You can chop the toppings in advance and store them in the fridge, so all you have to do is pull them out at mealtime. This ensures a quick setup, especially helpful on busy nights.
Ease, Comfort, and Versatility
- Ease: With just a few minutes of prep and the convenience of the slow cooker, this recipe is practically foolproof. It’s perfect for nights when cooking from scratch just isn’t an option but you still want a homemade meal. Only 5 ingredients go into the crock pot at first, with very little required of you to get them ready, then before serving you stir in 3 more. It is just so simple.
- Comfort: This soup has that warm, indulgent “loaded baked potato” taste we all crave—ideal for cozy family meals or when hosting friends during cold weather.
- Versatility: The recipe’s simplicity and bar-style option make it adaptable for any occasion, whether it’s a regular weekday, a holiday gathering, or even a fun soup night with friends.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftover potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors will meld and even improve over time!
- Freezer: Potato soup can be tricky to freeze because potatoes sometimes get grainy after being frozen. However, if you plan to freeze it, consider undercooking the potatoes slightly. When you reheat the soup, the potatoes will cook a bit more, maintaining a better texture. Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions
- Stovetop: Transfer the soup to a pot and warm it over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If it has thickened too much, add a bit of milk or broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Microwave: Place a portion of soup in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a microwave-safe lid, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each. Add a splash of milk or broth if needed.
- From Frozen: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave using the methods above.
Other Great Crock Pot Recipes
- Crock Pot Philly Cheesesteak (Keto)
- Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
- Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
- Slow Cooker Korean Beef
- Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

Crock Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs Russet potatoes optional: peel the potatoes
- 1 yellow onion 1 cup
- 2 cups chicken broth More for a soupier consistency
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 4 oz shredded Mexican cheese blend about 1 cup
- 1.5 cups heavy cream half and half or milk will also work
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and chop the Russet potatoes into cubes. 1-2 inches works well.
- Peel and rough chop the onion, if you don't want to completely blend the soup, cut the onion pieces smaller.
- In a 5 quart or larger slow cooker, add the potatoes, onion, chicken broth, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours until onions and potatoes are tender.
- When cook time is up, remove lid, add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and cream. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes and blend the soup together until desired consistency is reached. You can also use an immersion blender for a super smooth loaded potato soup.
- Add more milk, cream, half and half, or chicken stock for a thinner soup.
- Top with your choice of garnish and toppings to make it "loaded"
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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