Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup – potato soup loaded with cheddar, bacon and ranch. This soup is SO addictive! I wanted to lick the bowl!!! Frozen hash browns, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, cheddar, bacon, ranch, cream cheese. Everyone RAVES about this easy soup recipe. All you need is some cornbread or biscuits and dinner is done!!! #slowcooker #soup #cheddar #bacon #ranch #potatosoup
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Pin This RecipeStop what you are doing and add the ingredients of this Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup to your shopping list. You must make this ASAP!! This soup is SOOOO good! I wanted to lick the bowl it was so good! Potato soup loaded with cheddar, bacon and ranch. I mean, how could this NOT be good! YUM!
This Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup is ridiculously easy to make. Just dump everything in the slow cooker and let it work its magic. We topped the soup with extra cheese and bacon because you can never have too much cheese or bacon. Am I right?!?!?! All you need is some cornbread or biscuits and you have a crazy delicious meal without any work.
This makes a lot of soup, so it is great for a crowd. We love it for tailgating or holiday get-togethers. Just let everyone serve themselves straight out of the slow cooker!
This is the best potato soup and so very easy to make. I made it for a soup cook off at work and won for best soup. Just recently made it for a Lenten dinner at church and it was a big hit.
Congratulations on the win!! It is the best potato soup recipe!
Not to be dramatic but this soup has changed my life! Lol. It was so so so good! Added a bit of hot sauce for my own personal tastes. Can’t wait to make again and again. I’ve told all my friends!
Love this recipe and have been making it for a few years. I don’t add the ranch packet since I’m not a fan of ranch. I also put in only half a block of cream cheese and a little less cheese than it calls for to make it a little lighter and it still comes out creamy and delicious. I use an immersion blender when it’s done to make sure it’s all incorporated and creamy. I don’t put the bacon right in either. I have bacon bits and pieces, extra shredded cheese and chopped scallions on the side to garnish the soup with.
My husband gave this five stars tonight. He’s not a huge fan of soups. The bacon and cheese made this a winner. I’m so glad you noted it can be frozen. It definitely makes a lot.
Easy soup! I love throwing all the stuff together and have dinner ready when I get home. Tonight I had leftover prime rib so I chopped it up and used it in place of bacon. Not bad!
this is my favorite recipe! i am not really a soup fan, but this – one of my favorite things to eat! delicious!
it makes a lot, considering i live alone. but i rarely have trouble finishing it. i am a bacon fan, so i add more most of the time. i also add more shredded hashbrowns sometimes. tried the cubed once, it’s fine, but i prefer the shredded. noticed some comments saying they have trouble with the cream cheese melting. i have too. i usually put it in sooner than it says, at room temp, smaller slices, and sometimes turn it up to high for a bit to really get it melted.
Kristi, I made it the first time like that and still had chunks. I pulled the cream cheese out about 3 hours before and it worked waaaay better! I’m excited to try it tonight!
This was delicious! I modified it by using 4 large potatoes cut up in cubes, adding onion, and bacon bits and it still came out delicious! Thank you for this recipe!!!!! My 2 year old son loved it!!
This is awesome! Just a few tweaks I made to enhance this already great recipe. I added 1/4 cup frozen chopped onion, 1/8 of a cup of diced carrots, peeled and cubed 1 fresh potato, 1 bag of simply fresh hashbrowns, about 28 ounces of broth and 1/4 of a teaspoon of black pepper. I will be making it again!
Excellent soup..used chopped ham instead of bacon and added onions .
Would taste good with chopped onions?
If you like onions, absolutely!
Delicious and rich and slightly salty …. I did not have frozen shredded hash browns so I used frozen tater tots….. very good. Next time I will use salt free broth Instead of 50% less sodium broth and maybe a different bacon to reduce the sodium.
Can you substitute cream of mushroom soup for the cream of chicken?.
sure! Any cream of soup should work fine.
Can this also be done on the stovetop?
sure!
How would you do this on stove top or in an instant pot?
i started it this morning when i left at 6 am, but my mom turned it off saying it was done, cooked about 6 hours, does it need the full 8 hours , i was going to wait til i got home to add the cheddar and cream cheese.
I am about to start this recipe and I just realized I have a 4 quart crock pot! Will it be ok? HELP!
Can I use regular potatoes with this? I have a lot of extra potatoes to use up and want to make this soup? Would I just peel them and cube them then put in crock pot or would I need to boil them first?
I would think that you can dice them up and use them raw. Afterall, the frozen ones are raw. I've even used the freeze dried shredded hashbrowns from Costco and it's great!
I made it tonight and added broccoli to it and it was delicious. Thanks for the recipe
I made this and it was wonderful. Going to try with red potatoes tonight.
I've made this recipe 3 times and love it. I am having a problem with getting the cream cheese to melt all the way. I've let it get room temperature every time and even cut it up into pieces and there's still a lot of chunks in it. Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong. Thank you.
Same issue here. The last couple times I made this I put the cream cheese in at the beginning with everything else..
I know it’s a bit late of an answer, but maybe someone else will have the same problem. I melt the cream cheese in the microwave before adding it. Takes about a minute and a half, stirring at 30 seconds intervals. It mixes right into the soup with no lumps then.
I left mine out for 3hrs + and then whisked it in and no issues!
Amazing! This recipe was easy to make and so good. My whole family loved it.
In the crockpot now! Will this thicken up a lot with the addition of the cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese?
It does thicken up as it cooks. Enjoy!
How long would you cook it if the hash browns are just refrigerated and not frozen?
Not sure if this posted already but can I use the frozen potato chunks? Found next to the frozen hash browns. Or would the hash browns be better?
I always use the shredded hash browns – they break up nicely as the soup cooks. You can try the potato chunks if that is all you have on hand. My guess is that it will just be chunkier soup and not as smooth.
I used the frozen cubed potatoes. It was great!
Do you think I could use the potato pieces (little potato chunks) that are also frozen? They are right next to the frozen hash browns.
I made this a few nights ago and have another pot on the stove now! My daughter loves it! I did not have frozen potatoes of any kind so I peeled 8-10 smallish potatoes and put them in my chopper. They were perfect! I brought the ingredients to a boil and then simmered for about 20 minutes on low. I also used bagged bacon from Sam’s. And tonight I used cream of bacon soup.
Have you ever done this with an instant pot? I want to eat it tonight but I only have 2-3 hours.
I haven't tried this in the instant pot yet. I'm sure it can be done. I just haven't tested it out yet.
Did you make it in the instant pot? I'm about to try it and wondering cook times.
Did mine in the insta pot for 10 minutes. Let steam out fast and then added cubed cream cheese and shredded cheese and let melt. Turned out great.
My husband is taking this to work she he add in the cheeses on his own?
Is he taking the whole crock pot or just a serving? If it is just a serving, add the cheese at home. If he is taking the whole pot to work, sure. Just add the cheese before serving.
What is your recommendation for reheating after freezing??? How should I reheat the soup?
I do it on the stove and add a little chicken broth if it is too thick.
When using bacon in recipes such as this one, I use pre-cooked bacon (Aldi's brand is our fave), cut it into desired pieces and add to crock pot. Tastes awesome, saves time, and no one's the wiser. I'm debating with myself to use the tater tots I already have…or put this off a day and get some hash browns. If this is my biggest dilemma tomorrow…yay! LOL
I usually use the Oscar Mayer or Costco pre-cooked bacon. We just had an Aldi's open – I'll have to check their brand out!!
How many packages of pre-cooked did you use? And do you microwave it beforehand or just add it? Thanks!
I originally used a full 16 oz of the costco pre-cooked bacon bits. It was too salty. I'll use less next time. Although it could also have been the sharp cheddar that made it extra salty as well.
Can broccoli also be added to this recipe?
I think that would be delicious!
My husband is gluten free. Can I eliminate the cream of chicken soup?
I haven’t made this without the soup. I think it needs it.
Hi, haven’t tried this one yet but it looks really good. But I have a question…when does the chicken go in? I’m thinking in the beginning, #1 in the instructions?
There is no chicken in this soup…….
I bought the cubed hash browns instead of shredded, will this be ok to use?
I think it should be fine. Probably only a little chunkier
I have it cooking now!! Cant wait to try it!
Can you make this in a regular pot, not a slow cooker?
Sure – not sure how long it would take since I haven't made it on the stove.
Yes, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
I do mine always on stove top.
How did you cook this on the stove top?
Can you use bacon pieces? I’m trying to make this before I leave for work and won’t have time to cook bacon. Will this affect the outcome?
Yes – it will be just fine with the precooked bacon pieces.
Can you use the Oscar Myer bacon pieces? I’m trying to make this before I leave for work and I won’t have time to cook bacon. Will it have a different affect on the out come?
It will be fine with the precooked Oscar Mayer bacon pieces/bits. Enjoy!
How many bags or ounces of the pre-cooked bacon pieces would be best?
A pound of cooked bacon is about a cup of chopped precooked bacon. I think it is around 4-oz.
I have made this in my slow cooker and on the stove. Both ways were fabulous my family loved it
Do you cook the bacon first? My husband and I are having a debate about it.
Yes – it is 1 pound of bacon, cooked and chopped
I have a phobia of using Ranch mix in recipes for fear it will taste too “ranchy”. Is the taste strong or subtle in this soup?
I have a phobia of using ranch mix in recipes for fear of it tasting really “ranchy”. Can you really taste the ranch or is it subtle?
It definitely isn’t an overwhelming Ranch flavor – it is a little ranch and a whole lotta other stuff. I think you’ll be fine
It's a subtle taste. I totally forgot it was even in the soup until I read your comment.
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I'm trying this out using a pressure cooker. We'll see how it turns out….
Is there a way to half this recipe?
Converting the original numbers you'd use: Half a bag of hash browns (approximately 15-16 oz), 1 1/2 cans chicken broth, 1/2 can Cream of Chicken soup, 1/2 packet Hidden Valley dressing mix, 1/2 lb. bacon, 1/2 package (4 oz.) cream cheese, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
IS there a way to half the recipe? THis looks delicious, but would be way too much for my family of 4.
Sure – the only way I know to half the recipe is to use half of each ingredient. You can also freeze the leftovers for later if you make the whole thing.
My family of 2 ate it for 3 days. Leftovers are great!
My family of 2 ate it for 3 days. Leftovers are great!
Just made this tonight, it was amazing!
I used low sodium chicken broth, and substituted neufchâtel cheese for the cream cheese for a bit less fat. It came out great. We also topped ours with green onions.
Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Hi, can I do this on high for less time?
I think that would work – try 3 to 4 hours on HIGH. Enjoy!
Nancy did cooking it on high for 4 hours work out for you?
Nancy did cooking it on HIGH for 4 hours work out for you?
I cooked it on high for 3.5 hrs and it turned out great.
Can’t wait to try this one!! I use hash browns whenever I make baked potato soup, so easy. But I’ve never used ranch and cream cheese. Yum Num!! Thank you for all the work and ideas!!
wow how about i use real potatoes can this work instead of hash browns we are people who like real potatoes , sorry and golden ones too.
Frozen hash browns are real potatoes
Clearly, you are not people who like correct punctuation.
I think the hasbrown idea is a great change. I like regular potatoes as well. Must we be such asses?
I love the crack chicken noodle soup…cannot wait to try this one too❤️❤️ I love that I can throw this in the crock pot!
Do you have a recipe that has a lot less sodium in it? This looks delicious but I am on a sodium restricted diet.
You can use low-sodium chicken broth, Healthy Request Chicken soup and turkey bacon.