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Cozy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with Bacon & Chives

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This creamy slow cooker potato soup is loaded with bacon, chives, and cheddar cheese. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it comfort food that even picky eaters will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
  • Extra sour cream for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place the bacon slices in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping once, until deeply golden and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble or chop into small pieces. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings.
  2. Prep the vegetables: While the bacon cooks, peel your potatoes and cut them into uniform 1-inch cubes. Dice the onion finely and mince the garlic.
  3. Build the base in the slow cooker: Add the cubed potatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to the slow cooker. Stir together. Drizzle in the reserved tablespoon of bacon drippings.
  4. Cook on low: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
  5. Mash a portion of the potatoes: Using a potato masher, gently mash about half of the potatoes right in the slow cooker. Leave some chunks for texture.
  6. Add the dairy: In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and sour cream until smooth. Slowly pour the cream mixture into the slow cooker while stirring gently. Add the softened butter and stir until fully melted and incorporated.
  7. Heat through: Cover the slow cooker again and cook on LOW for another 15-20 minutes, just until everything is heated through. Do not let it boil.
  8. Taste and adjust: Ladle a small amount into a bowl and taste. Add more salt, pepper, or smoked paprika as needed.
  9. Serve with toppings: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with crumbled bacon, fresh chives, shredded cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

Notes

For best texture, mash only half the potatoes. Use room temperature dairy to prevent curdling. The soup thickens as it cools; add a splash of broth when reheating if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker potato soup, creamy potato soup, bacon potato soup, chives, comfort food, easy soup recipe

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/cozy-slow-cooker-potato-soup-with-bacon-and-chives/