Craving something cozy, creamy, and wildly satisfying? This slow-cooker or stove-top baked potato soup recipe tastes like a loaded baked potato in a bowl - Luscious baked potato soup recipe loaded with bacon, cheese and sour cream. Also includes slow cooker loaded baked potato soup option.
👇 Let's make the coziest baked potato recipe soup ever.
Quick Glance: Baked Potato Soup Recipe
- ⏱ Hands on Time: 15 minutes
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Slow Cooker or Stove Top
- 🍪 Servings: 8
- 🥔 Main Ingredients: Potatoes, Bacon, Chicken Stock, Onion, Toppings
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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You may also love my Italian pastina soup, chicken corn chowder or the old-fashioned chicken and rice casserole recipes.
✅ Why this Baked Potato Soup Recipe Works
- The bacon gives the soup a smoky flavor, and the additional bacon on top gives it a great texture and garnish.
- Naturally thickened with potato starch
- Customizable toppings (like a baked potato bar)
- Works as stovetop OR slow cooker loaded potato soup
- Perfect for meal prep
✅ 🥔 What Goes Into This Recipe
- Russet potatoes: If you want to switch it up from russets, use Yukon Golds for a naturally buttery, creamy texture, or red potatoes if you prefer more defined chunks that hold their shape.
- Bacon: I love using thick-cut bacon in my slow cooker potato soup because it builds that rich, smoky flavor right into the base-and I always cook a little extra to sprinkle crispy pieces on top for garnish, since this recipe is absolutely worthy of entertaining and deserves to look as beautiful as it tastes.
- Onion: I use yellow onion, but white onion works as well.
- Chicken stock: Homemade chicken stock is always best, but if you don't have it on hand, add a ½ teaspoon per cup of Better Than Bouillon to the store-bought stock to give it that extra flavor.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream is ideal in soups because its higher fat content makes it rich and silky, and it's much less likely to curdle or "break" when heated compared to lower-fat milks.
🔁 Substitutions / Additions
- Swap cream for half & half
- Add cream cheese for thicker texture
- Stir in rotisserie chicken or cooked steak at the end for added protein
- Coconut Milk: he can substitute coconut milk for heavy cream and a recipe at a one-to-one ratio, making in an easy conversion.
👩🍳 How To Make This Baked Potato Soup Recipe
- Cook the Bacon
Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker
Place the bacon grease and potatoes into a 4-quart slow cooker.
- Season & Fold
Add shredded cheese, salt, pepper, and any mix-ins.
- Add Ingredients
Stir in cheese and heavy cream until smooth.
5. Garnish and Serve
Ladle into a bowl and garnish with all your favorite baked potato toppings.
🥣 Cream Soup Storage
Fridge:
Let the soup cool within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container. It will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer:
Cream-based soups can be frozen, but the texture may change slightly (they can separate or become grainy). Freeze in airtight, freezer-safe containers for up to 2-3 months.
Expert Tip:
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on low, stirring often. If it looks separated, whisk well and add a splash of broth or cream to bring it back together.
If this is for your blog, I can tighten it even more for a recipe card or FAQ section.
Baked Potato Soup Recipe FAQ
Russet potatoes are highly recommended because their high starch content breaks down and thickens the soup, while keeping some structure.
No, keeping the skin on adds texture, flavor, and extra nutrients (fiber, potassium, vitamin C) to the dish. But it's a personal preference.
Shredded sharp cheddar (grated by hand for better melting), crispy chopped bacon, sour cream, and chopped green onions or chives.
Yes! Cook bacon in a large pot until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve 3 tablespoons bacon grease. Add potatoes, chicken stock, onion, garlic, thyme, butter, and cooked bacon to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender (about 20-25 minutes).
Stir in cheese and heavy cream until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Add more chicken stock if needed to reach desired consistency.
Serve warm with your favorite toppings. Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days.
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Baked Potato Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 3 cups chicken stock
- ½ onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves or 1 Tablespoon fresh
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Sour Cream for topping optional
- Green onions for topping chopped (optional)
- Extra shredded cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- Slow Cooker Instructions: Stove top below. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy. ( see note) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 3 Tablespoons of bacon grease.
- Place the bacon grease and potatoes into a 4-quart slow cooker.
- Stir in chicken stock, onion, garlic, thyme, butter and bacon until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 7 hours or high heat for 3 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in cheese and heavy cream until smooth. Taste and add additional with salt and pepper, as needed
- Cover and cook on low heat until warmed through,. If the mixture is too thick, add more chicken stock as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve warm, garnished with desired toppings. Or, transfer to a container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Stove Top Method
- Cook bacon in a large pot until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve 3 tablespoons bacon grease. Add potatoes, chicken stock, onion, garlic, thyme, butter, and cooked bacon to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender (about 20-25 minutes). Stir in cheese and heavy cream until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add more chicken stock if needed to reach desired consistency.Serve warm with your favorite toppings. Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days.
Lauren says
This is the most creamy comforting delicious soup recipe. My friends ask for all the recipe all the time. I hope you love it.💕