Soul-Soothing Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe

Slow cooker potato soup transforms ordinary ingredients into a bowl of pure comfort that beckons you closer with its rich, velvety promise.

Kitchen magic happens when potatoes simmer gently, releasing their creamy potential into a warm, inviting blend.

Hearty and satisfying, this recipe speaks to the soul of home cooking with its simple yet profound flavors.

Russet potatoes provide a sturdy foundation for a soup that whispers of cozy afternoons and gentle warmth.

Crisp bacon adds a smoky depth that elevates the entire dish from good to unforgettable.

Each spoonful carries the essence of slow-simmered goodness, blending textures and tastes in a harmonious dance.

What Makes Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe So Cozy

• Craft Comfort in a Bowl: This slow cooker potato soup delivers ultimate comfort with minimal effort, transforming simple ingredients into a creamy, soul-warming dish that hugs you from the inside out.
• Hands-Off Cooking Magic: The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, allowing you to walk away and return to a perfectly developed soup without constant stirring or complicated techniques.
• Texture Adventure: Every spoonful offers a delightful contrast between smooth, velvety soup base and chunky potato pieces, topped with crispy bacon bits that provide satisfying crunch and robust flavor.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: The recipe allows endless personalization through garnishes like cheese, chives, and sour cream, making it adaptable for different taste preferences and guaranteed to please both kids and adults.

Everything You Need for a Comforting Potato Soup Recipe

• Bacon: Provides rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture, choose thick-cut for better taste and crunch.
• Chicken Stock: Delivers deep, savory base for the soup, low-sodium options work best for controlling salt levels.

• Potatoes: Main soup ingredient with creamy texture, use starchy varieties like Russet for best results.
• Celery: Adds subtle crunch and fresh vegetable flavor, select crisp and bright green stalks.
• Leek: Offers mild onion-like taste, clean thoroughly to remove dirt between layers.
• Garlic: Provides aromatic depth and robust flavor, fresh cloves recommended over pre-minced.
• Fresh Thyme Sprigs: Introduces herbaceous undertone, adds complexity to soup's overall profile.

• Sour Cream: Creates creamy, tangy richness, full-fat version provides best texture.
• Cheddar Cheese: Adds sharp, melty topping with extra flavor, sharp varieties recommended.
• Chives: Offers fresh, mild onion-like garnish with bright green color.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall seasoning, adjust to personal taste preference.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and traditional seasoning, freshly ground preferred.

How to Prepare the Potato Soup Recipe in the Slow Cooker

Step 1: Crisp Up The Bacon

Grab a skillet and cook bacon over medium heat until golden and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Set aside of bacon for topping and crumble the rest.

Step 2: Load The Slow Cooker

• Crumbled bacon
• Cubed potatoes
• Sliced celery
• Chopped leek
• Minced garlic
• Chicken stock
• Kosher salt
• Fresh thyme sprigs
• Ground black pepper

Step 3: Slow Cook To Perfection

• High setting: 4 hours
• Low setting: 6-8 hours

Check potato tenderness by piercing with a fork. Remove and discard thyme sprigs.

Step 4: Create Creamy Texture

Use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker. Blend until smooth but leave some potato chunks for hearty texture.

Step 5: Final Flavor Boost

Stir in sour cream. If soup seems too thick, add 1/4 to water to reach desired consistency.

Step 6: Serve With Style

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped chives
• Extra sour cream dollop
• Reserved crumbled bacon

Tips to Make Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe Even Creamier

• Select Starchy Spuds: Grab russet potatoes to naturally thicken your soup, creating a luxurious creamy base without adding extra calories.
• Crisp Bacon Technique: Fry bacon until perfectly crunchy before mixing into the soup, ensuring maximum flavor and ideal crispy texture throughout.
• Simplify Herb Infusion: Bundle thyme sprigs with kitchen twine for easy removal, allowing pure herb essence to permeate the soup without leaving behind stems.
• Personalize Soup Consistency: Control the soup's texture by blending more for silky smoothness or less for chunky heartiness, matching your exact preference.
• Create Flavor Explosion: Layer garnishes like sharp chives, melted cheese, and crispy bacon bits to transform a simple soup into a restaurant-worthy masterpiece.

How to Store the Leftover Potato Soup Recipe Properly

• Freezer Method: Preserve soup's peak flavor by storing in heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air before sealing to prevent freezer burn and maintain texture. Label each bag with date and contents using permanent marker for easy tracking.
• Container Selection: Choose wide-mouth glass containers with tight-fitting lids for refrigerator storage. Glass prevents flavor absorption and allows easy monitoring of soup condition. Opt for containers that stack neatly to maximize refrigerator space and keep soup fresh.
• Portioning Strategy: Divide soup into single-serving portions before storing. Smaller portions defrost faster and reduce waste. Use silicone muffin trays or ice cube trays to create perfectly sized servings for quick meals or individual lunches.

Creative Ways to Mix Up Your Potato Soup Recipe

• Southwestern Spice Splash: Add diced green chiles, cumin, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a zesty southwestern flavor profile that transforms the classic potato soup into a bold, warming meal.
• Vegetarian Herb Garden: Replace chicken stock with vegetable broth and substitute bacon with roasted mushrooms and smoked paprika, creating a rich, earthy vegetarian version that doesn't compromise on depth of flavor.
• Loaded Baked Potato Style: Stir in extra sharp cheddar cheese, increase bacon bits, and top with green onions and a swirl of ranch dressing to mimic the beloved loaded baked potato experience.
• Creamy Leek and Potato Elegance: Increase the leek quantity, add a splash of white wine during cooking, and finish with a drizzle of truffle oil for a more sophisticated, French-inspired potato soup variation.

The Last Spoonful on Potato Soup Recipe

Potato soup emerges as hearty comfort personified, blending rustic charm with slow-cooked perfection.

Midwestern kitchens whisper culinary magic through this soul-warming recipe, connecting generations around steaming bowls of creamy goodness.

Pioneer Woman’s approach transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary experiences, celebrating agricultural traditions with each spoonful.

Bacon’s smoky essence intertwines with tender potatoes, creating symphonic flavor profiles that dance across palates.

Winter’s chill melts away beneath layers of rich, velvety broth and delicate garnishes.

Salt-kissed memories and home-style elegance invite you to savor this classic dish, share its warmth with loved ones, double-tap this recipe’s charm, and spread potato soup passion across social networks.

Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe

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4.5 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Pioneer Woman Potato Soup delivers comfort straight from heartland kitchens. Creamy potatoes mingle with crisp bacon and sharp cheddar, creating a soul-warming meal perfect for gathering family around warm bowls.

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Ingredients

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Main Proteins:

• 6 slices bacon, chopped

Vegetables:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 large leek, cleaned and chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Liquid and Seasonings:

• 4 cups (960 milliliters) chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¾ cup (180 milliliters) sour cream, plus more for garnish

Garnishes:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped chives
• Reserved bacon

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Instructions

1. Transform crispy bacon into delectable garnish by sizzling strips in a skillet over medium heat until golden and crunchy, approximately 6-8 minutes (about 15 centimeters or 6 inches). Drain rendered strips on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons of crumbled pieces for final presentation.
2. Layer foundational components into a 6 to 8-quart (5.7 to 7.6 liters) slow cooker: incorporate crumbled bacon, cubed russet potatoes, sliced celery stalks, chopped leek rings, minced garlic cloves, chicken stock, kosher salt, fresh thyme sprigs, and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Activate slow cooker, programming on high temperature for 4 hours or low temperature for 6-8 hours. Validate potato tenderness by effortlessly piercing with a fork. Carefully extract and discard wilted thyme sprigs.
4. Utilize immersion blender to transform soup’s texture, creating a luxurious consistency while maintaining rustic potato fragments. Aim for creamy yet substantive mouthfeel.
5. Incorporate smooth sour cream, gently folding into heated mixture. Adjust liquid ratio by introducing 1/4 to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 milliliters) water if soup appears overly dense.
6. Elegantly portion soup into serving vessels. Embellish each portion with sharp cheddar cheese shreds, delicate chive segments, additional sour cream dollop, and reserved bacon crumbles for sophisticated presentation.

Notes

• Cooking on low or high settings offers flexibility for busy home cooks with varying schedules.
• Fresh ingredients and simple techniques make this potato soup a reliable go-to recipe for any skill level.
• This one-pot wonder works perfectly for meal prep, feeding a crowd, or enjoying cozy comfort on chilly days.
• Garnishing with fresh chives, crispy bacon bits, and shredded cheese delivers restaurant-quality presentation at home.
• Sour cream adds tangy richness and helps create a silky smooth consistency.
• Using an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker simplifies the recipe and reduces cleanup time.
• Thyme sprigs infuse subtle earthy aromatics that complement the potatoes’ natural buttery essence.
• Blending partially creates a luxurious creamy base while keeping some potato chunks for hearty rustic appeal.
• Bacon provides incredible smoky depth and crispy texture throughout the dish, elevating the entire soup experience.
• Slow cooking transforms humble ingredients into a comforting potato soup bursting with rich, deep flavors.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 405 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg