Creamy, rich, hearty Loaded Baked Potato Soup is simmered all day long in the slow cooker.  Easy to throw together in the morning for easy meals during the week.  Top with crumbled bacon, chopped scallions and shredded cheese for the ultimate cold-weather dinner.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup in a white bowl with a blue spoon on a wicker placemat.

LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

I’m in love with the Baked Potato Soup at Panera….it’s thick, creamy and filled with all the fixings of a loaded baked potato. It’s the perfect meal for cool fall night and I love that it’s hearty enough to stand alone as dinner with a crisp side salad.

Super easy to make, this one will be on repeat all season long.

Overhead shot of two white bowls with Loaded Baked Potato Soup with a bowl of scallions and bacon on the side.

How To Make Potato Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Soup recipe is super simple to whip up and I love to enlist the help of my trusty CrockPot. It’s just minutes of hands on time and then your crock pot or slow cooker does all the work while you clean the house or binge on Netflix.

  1. Peel and chop the potatoes into bite sized pieces.
  2. Saute the bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.
  3. Add the onions and celery to the bacon fat. Cook until softened.
  4. Place the potatoes in the slow cooker.
  5. Pour the chicken stock over the potatoes. Stir in the onions, celery, garlic powder, onion powder and dry mustard. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Cook the Baked Potato Soup on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
  7. Place 3 cups of the potato and broth mixture in a blender. Puree until smooth.
  8. Pour the potato puree back into the slow cooker and stir.
  9. Stir in the half and half, yogurt and cheese.
  10. Serve with shredded cheese, chopped green onions and reserved bacon.

If you don’t have a slow cooker to make CrockPot Potato Soup you can easily make this on your stovetop by making everything in a large pot or dutch oven. Just cover after you’ve poured all the ingredients in and simmer over medium low heat for 30-40 minutes or until your potatoes are fork tender.

Follow the remaining instructions for pureeing and serving.

Three white bowls with loaded baked potato soup and a blue spoon.

How To Make Potato Soup Creamy

It’s so simple to make potato soup creamy without ending up like mashed potatoes or without using a ton of heavy cream. Simply remove a couple cups of the potato mixture and puree in a blender until smooth. Stir the potato puree back into the soup and voila….creamy potato soup. YUM!

If you want to add a little more depth to your potato soup, a dash of half and half or heavy cream lends a super buttery note to the soup that won’t add a ton of calories.

Even better, plop a few tablespoons of cold butter into the soup and stir until it’s melted. This makes your soup velvety smooth.

Spoonful of Loaded Baked Potato Soup over a white bowl.

The Best Potatoes for Potato Soup

The type of potato you use for this Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is pretty important. I like to use a buttery Yukon Gold because the chunks will still hold their shape but they will puree nicely and provide enough starch to create a velvety texture into the soup.

Russets are great too because of their high starch content but any waxy potato I’ve found doesn’t work as well because they tend to get a little pasty and don’t break down as well.

And you can make this crazy, amazing Crock Pot Potato Soup recipe to chow down on for dinner during the week.  It’s so easy to make, you just throw everything into the slow cooker (minus the dairy items) and simmer all day.

Overhead shot of three white bowls with slow cooker loaded baked potato soup and a bowl of chives and bacon.

This is a lighter version of some of the Baked Potato Soups I’ve had…a few of them so thick they resemble watered down mashed potatoes.

This version has big chunks of potato floating in a light, creamy broth.  Bacon, scallions and shredded cheddar just toss this soup over the top.  This Healthy Loaded Baked Potato Soup makes a wonderful meal for chilly fall evenings or serve buffet style at a game day party.  Like when the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl…..now that was pretty SWEET!

three white bowls of slow cooker loaded baked potato soup on a wicker mat.

More Easy Soup Recipes

These are a few of our favorites here in our house!

For more quick, cozy dinner ideas, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Overhead shot of two white bowls with Loaded Baked Potato Soup with a bowl of scallions and bacon on the side.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins
Comforting and hearty this easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is a favorite for everyone in the house!
5 from 3 votes
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Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 celery stalk, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 4 cups peeled diced Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup low-fat plain greek yogurt
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish
  • Chopped scallions, for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp over med-high heat. Transfer to a paper towel using a slotted spoon and drain off all but two tablespoons of fat.
  • Return the pan to the heat and add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes and then stir in the celery. Cook the mixture until softened and then transfer to the slow cooker.
  • Add the potatoes, stock, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
  • Using a ladle, pour 2 cups of the potato/broth mixture to a blender. CAREFULLY, puree the mixture until smooth. (Cover the top of the blender with a towel, hot liquids in a blender can explode and the towel will protect you.)
  • Pour the pureed potato mixture back into the slow cooker and stir to combine. Add the half and half, yogurt and cheese. Stir to combine.
  • Serve topped with the reserved bacon, cheese and scallions.

Notes

Baked Potato Soup can be made up to 2 days in advance. When reheating, you may need to add a little stock to the mix because the potatoes will continue to absorb the liquid when sitting.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 289kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 503mg, Potassium: 765mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 282IU, Vitamin C: 25mg, Calcium: 185mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dinner, lunch, Soup
Cuisine: American