Description
Creamy crock pot crack potato soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending cheesy goodness with hearty potatoes. Simmered slowly with bacon and green onions, this soup promises a satisfying meal that warms souls and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Starches and Dairy:
- 6 cups diced potatoes, peeled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes:
- Extra cheese
- Bacon bits
- Chopped green onions
- Chives
Instructions
- Prepare a robust foundation by thoroughly washing and meticulously peeling potatoes, creating uniform cube-sized pieces to guarantee consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Transform your crock pot into a flavor vessel by strategically layering diced potatoes as the initial base, ensuring complete coverage of the pot’s bottom surface.
- Generously distribute ranch seasoning across the potato landscape, creating an aromatic flavor foundation that will permeate the entire dish.
- Cascade shredded cheese and crispy bacon fragments over the seasoned potatoes, establishing a rich, decadent flavor profile that promises depth and complexity.
- Gently cascade chicken broth over the layered ingredients, carefully submerging the components while maintaining a liquid level just sufficient to cover the potatoes.
- Secure the crock pot lid and initiate the slow cooking process, selecting either a low temperature setting for 7-8 hours or a high temperature setting for 4 hours until potatoes reach a tender, almost dissolving consistency.
- Upon completion of cooking, introduce heavy cream, stirring methodically to integrate and create a luxurious, velvety texture that transforms the soup’s character.
- Fine-tune the soup’s flavor profile by incrementally adding salt and pepper, tasting and adjusting until achieving a balanced, harmonious seasoning.
- Optional: Utilize an immersion blender to transform the soup’s texture, creating a smoother, more refined consistency if desired.
- Present the soup in warm bowls, adorning with additional cheese shreds, crisp bacon fragments, and delicately chopped green onions to elevate the visual and gustatory experience.
Notes
- Potato Perfection: Ensure uniform potato sizes for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Flavor Layering: Sprinkle ranch seasoning directly on potatoes to maximize flavor absorption and create a more intense taste profile.
- Texture Tip: Use an immersion blender sparingly if you prefer a chunkier soup, keeping some potato pieces intact for added mouthfeel.
- Diet Adaptation: Substitute regular cheese with low-fat options and use turkey bacon for a lighter version. Replace heavy cream with Greek yogurt or cauliflower puree for a healthier alternative.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg