Slow Cooker Crack Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe – this soup should come with a warning label! It is SO good! LOADED with cheddar, bacon, and ranch!! Everyone went back for seconds! Frozen hash brown potatoes, cream of broccoli cheese soup, broccoli florets, cream cheese, chicken broth, cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch seasoning. Effortless to make - simply dump everything into the slow cooker and let it do all the work.
Combine hash browns, chicken broth, broccoli cheese soup, chopped broccoli, Ranch dressing mix, and bacon in a 6-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
15 minutes before serving, stir in cheddar cheese and cream cheese until melted.
Notes:
This soup uses fresh broccoli. I chopped my broccoli really, really small because I don’t like chunks of broccoli. Feel free to chop the broccoli into bigger chunks if that is your preference.
I haven’t tried this soup with frozen broccoli, but I think it would be fine. It would also be a time saver since you don’t have to chop it.
I suggest using low-sodium or no-salt chicken broth.
If you are sensitive to ranch seasoning, adjust the amount to your personal taste.
I find that Philadelphia brand cream cheese melts best in this recipe.
If you have problems incorporating the cream cheese into the soup, use a whisk.
We like the texture of the soup as is. If you want a smooth soup, use an immersion blender to blend the soup to your desired texture.
If pureeing the soup, you can decide if you want to add the bacon to the soup before or after blending.
If the soup is too thick, add more chicken broth or some heavy cream.
Can I make Broccoli Cheese Soup on the stove top? Yes! Combine frozen shredded hash browns, chicken broth, broccoli florets, bacon, ranch dressing mix, and a can of broccoli cheese soup in a Dutch Oven or large soup pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender and breaking down. Add cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Stir and cook until the cheese has melted.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.