Crockpot Potato Soup (Cheesy!)

This cheesy crockpot potato soup recipe is delicious! Packed full of tender potatoes, ham and vegetables all mixed into a creamy base, the whole family loves this recipe. Make this cozy soup to warm you up on a cold night or rainy day.

Why We Love Cheesy Crockpot Potato Soup

• Cozy Soup– This delicious soup is so cozy to come home to on a cold or rainy day.
• Creamy And Hearty For Dinner – Honestly I can’t get enough of the creamy, cheesy deliciousness. This slow cooker soup is a thicker soup that is hearty enough that it can be dinner. It’s the ultimate comfort food for lunch for the whole family too.
• Great For You Budget– Soup is always a great meal to throw together when you are counting your pennies, and the slowcooker makes it even easier doing all the work!

I often in the winter make my favorite soup, this potato and ham soup on the stove top. This soup is a creamy potato soup but it isn’t cheesy. This cheesy version was a big hit with the entire family.

One of my crockpots has a keep warm setting, so if I’m out longer I can totally just finish up the soup with the milk and cheese when I get home. Perfect, and no cream of chicken soup in the can needed for this great recipe!

Ingredients For Crockpot Potato Soup

• 2 cups potatoes diced, I prefer yukon gold potatoes so they become creamy but still maintain their texture. Russet potatoes make a nice creamy soup that tends to be extra thick. Red potatoes are delicious too and hold their shape a little more in the soup.
• 1 1/2 cups ham diced
• 1 cup carrots diced, can use full carrots or baby carrots
• 2 cups corn I’ve used frozen corn, but canned corn that is drained and rinsed can also be used.
• ½ medium onion – diced
• 6 strips bacon diced, turkey bacon can also be used. The bacon gives a lot of extra flavor but it can be left out if you prefer.
• 2 cups chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, I prefer a sharp cheddar cheese for a good flavor, but mild cheddar can also be used.
• 1 1/2 cups milk – divided. Whole milk will give a creamier soup, or you can also substitute in 1/2 cup of heavy cream for 1/2 cup of milk for a creamier soup.
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Optional Garnish Ideas

OPTIONAL GARNISH

These are some of my favorite toppings!

• Extra Bacon- Diced and crisped up in a pan first is best
• Parsley
• Green onions
• Extra shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Crackers

How To Make Crockpot Potato Soup

• Dice the potatoes, ham and carrots into half inch, bite-sized pieces. Dice the raw bacon and set it to the side.
• To the crockpot add the ham, carrots, potatoes, bacon, chicken broth, salt and pepper.

• Cover the crock pot. Cook everything on low 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Check if it is ready by piercing a potato with a fork to see if they are tender.
• If you prefer a smoother soup, you can also use a potato masher or an immersion blender to quickly mash or blend the potatoes before moving to the next step.
• In a small bowl combine cornstarch with ¼ cup of milk. Mix well until the cornstarch is dissolved into a slurry mixture. Add the cornstarch slurry mixture to the Crockpot and mix well.
• Add 1 1/4 cup of milk to the Crockpot and stir.

• Add the shredded cheddar cheese a little at a time. Mixing well each time you add the cheese.
• Cover the crockpot again. Cook the soup on high for an additional 30 minutes to allow the soup to thicken.

• Add parsley and extra bacon for garnish if desired. Enjoy!

Variations And FAQ

• Swap The Corn– Our family really loves corn in potato soup, but if you prefer you can swap the corn out. You can actually add up to two cups more potatoes in the beginning of the recipe if you leave the corn out, or add in other vegetables such as celery or carrots.
• Add Green Peas– Adding peas gives a pop of color and flavor to this soup. When adding peas, I usually add about a cup of frozen peas right before serving. Sometimes I also add them to each person’s bowl, and it can help to cool off the soup a little bit right before we eat.
• Swap Shredded Hash Browns– Sometimes when I am short on time I’ll swap shredded hashbrowns, cup for cup from frozen in this recipe. While the soup doesn’t feel as rustic with chunks of potatoes instead of shredded, it does taste delicious! When I’m short on time before running out the door it can save me time slicing potatoes!

NOTE: Shredded potatoes do tend to cook a little faster than chunks of potatoes. I’ve usually run this swap on low in my slow cooker.

What To Serve With Potato Soup

This potato soup can be a meal all on it’s own! If you are looking for a good option to serve together, try some of these ideas.

• Sandwich – Turkey, ham, chicken and roast beef all are delicious with this soup. Use what you have and keep it simple!
• Green Salad– This soup is on the heavier side, so a simple green salad can help to balance your meal.
• Rolls – Rolls or some kind of chewy bread is perfect for dippiing in this creamy soup.

What Size Slowcooker Should I use?

This slow cooker potato soup recipe works best in a five or six quart crockpot.

How To Store Potato Soup

Store this hearty soup in an airtight container for three to four days. This soup does thicken with time. If the soup is too thick the next day, add a little water when reheating to thin it out.

Can I Freeze This Cheesy Potato Soup?

Sadly this cheesy soup does not freeze well, I really don’t recommend freezing it. The dairy in this soup will separate or become grainy when you reheat the soup after freezing.

Other Recipes You Will Love

Crockpot Chicken Tortellini Soup– Plump tender tortellini with tender in chicken in a savory tomato broth, this crockpot soup is amazing too!

Black Bean Salsa Soup– Quick and easy, this stovetop soup is so fast. Perfect for lunch!

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup– This fast soup uses pre-cooked chicken and is super tasty. This soup is perfect for cold days or for you’re under the weather.