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    Home » Recipes » Soup & Chili

    Published: Sep 28, 2021 · Modified: Sep 28, 2021 by Danielle · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Easy 4-Ingredient Potato Soup (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Bacon, cheese, and onions, on a bowl of potato soup with graphic overlay.
    Bowls of potato soup with toppings with graphic overlay.

    This Easy 4-Ingredient Potato Soup transforms pantry basics into a creamy, comforting bowl of goodness in the slow cooker or on the stovetop. Add bacon, cheese, and green onions to make it taste like a loaded baked potato or serve as is for a classic soup everyone will love.

    A spoonful of potato soup. this recipe
    This is an easy soup that's made with just a few ingredients and requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time. Plus it's absolutely delicious!
    Skip to:
    • 🥇 Why It’s Great!
    • 🥔 Potato soup ingredients
    • 🥓 Best toppings for potato soup
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd
    • 🥣 Variations
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • 📖 Other Great Recipes
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 👋🏻 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    I have fond memories of my grandma making this easy potato soup recipe when I was a teenager. Thanks, Grandma! 🥰 I have always been under the impression she got it from her mother who was of German heritage, but wherever she got it, it's a classic!

    She made the original recipe on the stovetop, but I made it work in the crockpot (affiliate)as well. This is one of my all-time favorite soup recipes for a cold day! If you love soup, be sure to check out the soup and chili page for even more delicious recipes.

    I serve this with a simple roll or salad when I am in a time crunch or have very little on hand. However,  when I want to earn real mom points I serve it with these BELT sandwiches… it’s a BLT + a fried egg. 😋

    🥇 Why It’s Great!

    • With only 4 ingredients it's a great way to stretch your grocery budget.
    • It’s an easy, homemade soup with only 15 minutes of prep time. 
    • It is made without flour so it is naturally gluten-free.
    • It can be made in either a crockpot or a large pot (or Dutch oven) on the stovetop.
    • Awesome recipe to serve to a crowd of people! See the section below on tips for serving a crowd.
    Ingredients for Easy 4-Ingredient Potato Soup on the counter.
    These simple ingredients get transformed into an easy dinner in either the slow cooker or on the stovetop.

    🥔 Potato soup ingredients

    Potatoes: The best potatoes to use when making potato soup are russet potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes will work as well, but the texture will be different.
    Onion: Yellow onions are the best for this although white will work as well. Stay away from red onions because they will turn the soup a color that isn’t very attractive.
    Milk: Any milk you have on hand or half and half will work, although my favorites are 2% milk or whole milk.
    Butter: Adds richness to the soup. Don’t skip this ingredient.

    🥓 Best toppings for potato soup

    Optional: These are my favorite toppings.
    Bacon: A couple strips of cooked bacon are all that is needed to really make this soup something special. Bake the bacon in the oven, microwave it, or fry it on the stove top while you prep the potatoes. Then when it is time to serve the bacon is ready.
    Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite but any cheddar will do.
    Green onions: Just a quick slice and you have the perfect touch of freshness.

    🔪 Instructions

    How to make potato soup in the crock pot instructions.
    The key to creamy potato soup is to cook the potatoes until they are falling apart. Then use an immersion blender until the soup reaches the consistency you prefer.

    Slow cooker instructions

    Begin by chopping the potatoes and onions. Then add them to the slow cooker along with the water. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

    Once the potatoes are falling apart, remove 1 cup of the cooking water. Add in the butter along with 1 cup of the milk, then carefully put in the immersion blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Add in additional milk if necessary to reach the desired consistency.

    If you want more of a chunky soup or don't have an immersion blender on hand, feel free to use a potato masher. The texture won't be exactly the same, but it will still be a delicious bowl of soup.

    Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve as is or with the optional toppings. If you opt for bacon as a topping, try baking your bacon according to this recipe. It's life changing!

    Stovetop instructions

    After chopping the potatoes and onions, add the raw potatoes and onions to a large pot along with the water. Turn the pot on to medium-high heat and cook until the potatoes are falling apart. Continue preparing according to the slow cooker instructions. Once the soup is smooth, continue warming over medium heat until hot.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd

    This inexpensive, easy crockpot potato soup recipe makes an easy recipe for a crowd. The best way to do this for a crowd is to have several slow cookers at your disposal. When serving a crowd I like to build in a little flex time by starting the slow cookers an hour or two earlier than usual. Once the soup has been blended, then the slow cookers can be set to “warm” for a couple hours. Stir the soup occasionally or it will form a skin on the side of the crock.

    Note:
    A 6 qt. slow cooker should fit 1 ½ recipes and a double batch will fit in a 7 qt. slow cooker. It may take several more hours to cook a double recipe in 1 slow cooker.

    Up close picture of a bowl of Easy Potato Soup.
    This is an easy soup to serve to crowd. All you need are a few extra crockpots.

    🥣 Variations

    • Loaded Baked Potato Soup: Use bacon, cheddar cheese, chives and sour cream for a fully loaded potato flavor.
    • Use up leftover ham for a protein boost.
    • Play around with different seasoning. A little bit of thyme or even cajun seasoning would be a fun twist.
    • For a lower calorie version use skim milk and skip the toppings.
    • For a richer soup, use heavy cream in place of the milk.

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    Can I potato soup be made ahead of time?

    Potato soup can be made a few hours in advance. However, it will thicken as it cools so be sure to have some extra milk on hand to thin as necessary.

    How to store leftover potato soup?

    Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat according to the instructions below.

    How to reheat potato soup?

    The best way to heat potato soup in on the stovetop thinning with a little more milk as needed. However, the microwave works as well. Just be sure to stir the bowl often of the edges of the soup will over cook. Thin with milk to the consistency you prefer.

    Can I freeze potato soup?

    I do not recommend freezing potato soup. Once frozen it can develop a grainy texture that is quite unpleasant.

    Two bowls of gluten free potato soup and spoons on a counter with a blue napkin.
    Topping this easy soup with bacon, cheese, and green onions make this crockpot meal taste like your favorite loaded baked potato.

    📖 Other Great Recipes

    • 🍲 This amazing Tortilla Soup and this famous White Chicken Chili and this Carroll Shelby Chili are all warm and comforting additions to your winter rotation. 
    • 🥔 Extra potatoes to use? This freezer-friendly Twice Baked Potato Bake is busy chef's friend and the ultimate comfort food.
    • 🥃 This Ice Tea Concentrate recipe is an easy way to serve homemade iced tea to a crowd. 
    • ❄ Fall Apart Roast in the crock pot is a great option during cooler weather.
    • 🍫 Don't leave without trying this Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe. It’s chocolate comfort on a plate. Truly perfect. Every. Single. Time.

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • Test one of the larger potato pieces before blending. When you touch it with a fork it should break apart effortlessly. It should be super soft!
    • Don’t turn on the immersion blender until you have put at least 1 cup of milk or the potatoes will become gummy.

    👋🏻 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!

    📋 Recipe

    4-Ingredient Potato Soup in a bowl with option toppings.

    4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Potato Soup

    This Easy 4-Ingredient Potato Soup transforms pantry basics into a creamy, comforting bowl of goodness in the slow cooker or on the stovetop. Add bacon, cheese, and green onions to make it taste like a loaded baked potato or serve as is for a classic soup everyone will love.
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 312kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3 lb russet potatoes peeled, chopped, and rinsed (8-9 cups cup into 1-inch pieces)
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 5-6 cups water
    • 6 tablespoon butter
    • 1 cup milk may need an additional cup to reach desired consistency
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Optional Toppings

    • bacon cooked and crumbled
    • cheddar cheese shredded
    • green onions thinly sliced
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Slow Cooker

    • Chop potatoes and onions. Add to slow cooker with water. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. (May take several more hours if doubling the recipe)
    • Once potatoes are falling apart, remove 1 cup of water. Add butter and milk, then carefully place immersion blender in the slow cooker and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can place contents in a blender until smooth. Add additional milk if necessary until desired consistency is reached.
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve as is or with toppings.

    Stovetop

    • Chop potatoes and onions. Add to large pot or dutch oven along with water. Cook on medium-high heat until the potatoes are falling apart.
    • Once potatoes are falling apart, remove 1 cup of water. Add butter and 1 cup of milk, then carefully place immersion blender in the slow cooker and blend until smooth. Alternatively, you can place contents in a blender until smooth. Add additional milk if necessary.
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve as is or with toppings.
    • We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    • Test one of the larger potato pieces before blending. When you touch it with a fork it should break apart effortlessly. It should be super soft!
    • Don’t turn on the immersion blender until you have put at least 1 cup of milk or the potatoes will become gummy.
    Reheating:
    The best way to heat potato soup in on the stovetop thinning with a little more milk. However, the microwave works as well. Just be sure to stir the bowl often of the edges of the soup will over cook. Thin with milk to the consistency you prefer.
    Making ahead:
    Potato soup can be made several hours in advance, but will thicken as it sits. Use extra milk as needed to thin to correct consistency. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 1026mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!
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    Comments

    1. dakota says

      April 21, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      what if i don't want " mashed" potatoes... potato soup is meant to be chunky, so what if i just left them as chopped potatoes instead of blending them?

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        April 21, 2022 at 4:40 pm

        Well this isn't mashed potatoes because it is a much looser texture. It is a velvety smooth soup, but that is just personal preference. If you want it too be a little chunky there are two options: 1 - If using an immersion blender stop blending about halfway through. 2 - Place half of the cooked soup, milk, and butter into a standup blender and blend until smooth. Add that back in and stir thoroughly. If you do not blend at all, the soup will not have the correct texture. I hope that helps you get it the way you prefer. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    2. Aspen says

      April 13, 2022 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Sooooo easy, sooooo good! I always ruin my mashed potatoes, so this is the next best thing (especially with all the toppings you suggested) but way easier. And really good with BLTs. Thank you for this recipe! I even took this to a potluck dinner, and people there loved it!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        April 13, 2022 at 8:29 pm

        Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    3. Mary Ann Conway says

      April 05, 2022 at 6:23 am

      I'm a nervous cook...always need to do "exact" measurements. How much in "teaspoons" or partial teaspoons would you add to this recipe of salt ....and pepper....to get the "right" or average amount of flavor. Sorry to ask such a silly question but I'm sooo new to cooking and would appreciate your

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        April 05, 2022 at 10:47 am

        It's ok to be a nervous cook. Just keep at it and your confidence will grow. To be honest I do not measure, rather I go by taste. I would say start with a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper. Then taste it. If it doesn't taste good add more. The golden rule to remember about seasoning your food is that you can always add but you can't take out. So add less than you think and slowly add more until it is where you want it. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    4. Sara says

      February 23, 2022 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome!!! I just made this potato soup in the crockpot. I’ve made other potato soups and they were more complicated but this is just as good if not better. We’ll be loading on the goodies. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        February 23, 2022 at 6:07 pm

        So glad you liked it! Simple is best with potato soup 🙂

        Reply
    5. Amanda says

      December 10, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is so delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I enjoy cooking in the crockpot and this was a big hit with my 4 kids.

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        December 10, 2021 at 7:25 pm

        That is the best compliment! We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know.

        Reply
    6. Jen says

      December 03, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      I admit my initial confusion about how much water to add for cooking the potatoes, but reading the recap at the bottom of the scroll really helped. I enjoy "easy" options, and look forward to giving this one a try this month. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        December 04, 2021 at 6:47 am

        So glad you found what you needed. Once you try it, we would love to hear how it turned out!

        Reply
    7. Michael Brodnik says

      November 18, 2021 at 8:14 am

      When do you add the bacon, cheese and green onions to the crockpot ?

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        November 18, 2021 at 9:18 am

        The bacon, cheese, and green onion are toppings that are added to the bowl when serving. They are not added during the cooking process.

        Reply
    8. Phyllis says

      November 06, 2021 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, just finished eating this soup and the family gave it a 100% A rating. Easy to make and so good. Thanks

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        November 07, 2021 at 3:10 am

        Happy to hear how much you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking time to let us know!

        Reply
    9. Julie says

      November 02, 2021 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      So freaking easy and so very yummy! I followed the recipe but did have to add a few spices to make it mine. I added a few tsp. of chicken bouillon powder, about a tsp. of onion powder, about tsp of garlic powder, and a teaspoon of dried parsley flakes. After bowling it up, I added a pinch of cayenne pepper to my bowl. The bacon, cheese, and green onion just took it to the next level of goodness. We had garlic bread on the side. Yummy, yummy, yummy!

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        November 09, 2021 at 4:04 pm

        So happy to hear you made it your own! We love to do that.

        Reply
    10. Jennifer meeks says

      June 02, 2021 at 7:49 am

      Do you have to mash the potatoes?

      Reply
      • Misty says

        June 04, 2021 at 2:25 pm

        Hi Jennifer! Definitely make sure to mash them some because that's where all the creaminess comes from. But if you want to leave a little bit of chunky texture in the soup that's fine!

        Reply
    11. kim says

      February 10, 2021 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      How would you prepare this on stovetop?

      Reply
      • Misty says

        February 11, 2021 at 9:45 am

        You would follow the same instructions, but simmer on the stovetop for 30-45 minutes, depending on how large your potato pieces are. You want them to be super soft. If you have a chance, I would love to hear how it turns out!

        Reply
    12. Theresa D. says

      January 16, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      So delicious and easy, my picky eater loves it too!!!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        January 16, 2021 at 3:49 pm

        That's awesome! So glad you liked it.

        Reply
    13. Darcy says

      November 09, 2020 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      I am always looking for easy recipes that don’t require a lot of ingredients. This one fit the bill perfectly. I like that you really don’t need very much cheese or bacon on the top. A little bit will do.

      Reply
    14. Phyllis Miller says

      November 05, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh man, this was really terrific soup! Got to share it with our family who has been sick and we are eating again for our second night and so excited. Good job Borrowed Bites. This is a definite do again meal.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        November 06, 2020 at 9:21 am

        That's wonderful, so glad you got to share it with others. Thanks for the review!

        Reply

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    Hi! We are Danielle and Misty: a mom and daughter with a serious passion for seeking out the best recipes to serve again and again to those we love. With a mix of everyday favorites and indulgent weekend fare there is something here for you and yours as you develop your own family traditions.

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