Creamy, cheesy potato soup is the ultimate comfort food – perfect for a cozy night in. This crock pot recipe makes it even easier to enjoy, plus it happens to be the kids’ favorite soup recipe.
This soup is hearty enough to be a main dish, especially when served with a crusty dinner roll recipe or nestled inside a warm, hollowed-out Bread Bowl Recipe. Top it with a sprinkle of fresh herbs or crumbled bacon for an extra burst of flavor.
Can’t say enough how delicious and EASY this recipe is, and we think you’ll agree too!
For more comfy and creamy soups, try Panera’s Broccoli and Cheese Soup, Cauliflower Soup, and Creamy Ham and Bean Soup.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Easy crockpot dinner idea. The crock pot does most of the work, allowing you to set it and forget it for a stress-free meal.
- Filling and satisfying. This crockpot soup recipe is hearty and packed with flavor. It’s a complete and satisfying meal in itself.
- Endless variations. Crockpot cheesy potato soup is a great base for customization! Add your favorite vegetables, spices, proteins, or different cheeses.
Cheesy Potato Soup Ingredients and Substitutions
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (32-ounce) package frozen diced hash browns – thawed
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup – or make your own Cream Soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 3 cups half-and-half or heavy cream – add more as needed
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided – extra sharp cheddar cheese, regular, or mild all work.
- salt and pepper – to taste
- optional mix-ins – 1 (14.75-ounce) can creamed corn or 2 cups chopped ham
- optional toppings – sour cream, bacon crumbles, chives, or green onions
How to Make Cheesy Potato Soup
- PREP. Set a slow cooker to high.
- COOK. Add butter to the slow cooker and let it melt. Add hash browns, cream of chicken, cream of celery soup, and half-and-half and mix to combine. Stir in any other desired mix-ins, then cover and cook on high for 3–4 hours.
- SERVE. Add 1 cup cheese, salt and pepper to taste, and stir to mix. Add more half and half if needed to reach the consistency you prefer.
- Garnish with the remaining ½ cup cheese along with any other desired toppings (like a dollop of sour cream) before serving.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- For the creamiest soup, we use half and half or heavy cream. In a pinch, whole milk can be used.
- To use fresh potatoes, peel and dice 2 pounds of Russet or Yukon gold potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Add to the crock pot along with the soup. Increase the cooking time to high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
- This creamy soup is perfect to serve inside a Bread Bowl.
- For a vegetarian soup, replace the cream of chicken soup with an equal amount of cream of mushroom soup.
Stovetop Directions
- Melt the butter in a large pot, and add the thawed diced potatoes, cream of chicken, cream of celery, and half and half.
- Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer on low for 30-40 minutes (or until potatoes are tender).
- Add cheese, salt, and pepper before serving.
Cheesy Potato Soup
Creamy cheesy potato soup is made with a handful of ingredients for a simple set-it-and-forget-it crockpot classic!
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (32-ounce) package frozen diced hash browns, thawed
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 3 cups half-and-half, or heavy cream, plus more as needed
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- salt and pepper, to taste
Additional mix-ins
- 1 (14.75-ounce) can creamed corn or 2 cups chopped ham, optional
Toppings
- sour cream, bacon crumbles, chives or green onions, optional
Instructions
- Set a slow cooker to high. Add butter to the slow cooker and let it melt. Add hash browns, cream of chicken soup, celery soup, and half-and-half. Mix to combine. Stir in any other desired mix-ins, then cover and cook on high for 3–4 hours.
- Add 1 cup cheese. Salt and pepper to taste and stir to mix. Add more half and half if needed to reach the consistency you prefer.
- Sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup cheese along with any other desired toppings before serving.
Notes
Recipe tips.
- For the creamiest soup, we use half and half or heavy cream. In a pinch, whole milk can be used.
- To use fresh potatoes, peel and dice 2 pounds of Russet or Yukon gold potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Add to the crock pot along with the soup. Increase the cooking time to high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
- This creamy soup is perfect to serve inside a Bread Bowl.
- For a vegetarian soup, replace the cream of chicken soup with an equal amount of cream of mushroom soup.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 256kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 197mg, Potassium: 139mg, Fiber: 0.004g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 709IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 249mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
How to make a freezer meal?
Cook the soup as directed and allow it to cool. Store in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw and reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently, and add a little extra milk as needed.
How to store?
Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) in the fridge for 2-3 days or freezer for 2-3 months.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Potato Soups
Potato Bacon Soup
40 mins
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup
45 mins
Ham and Potato Soup
30 mins
Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup
4 hrs 25 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published September 2018.
Can you use diced russet potatoes, or red potatoes instead of frozen diced hashbrowns on the stovetop?
To use fresh potatoes, peel and dice 2 pounds of Russet or Yukon gold potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Add to the crock pot along with the soup. Increase the cooking time to high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
So good. We eat it up but we do stop short of licking the bowl!
I am considering making this soup this weekend. If I wanted to cook it on low, how long do you recommend cooking it? Also I need more than what the recipe makes, have you done 1 & 1/2 or doubled it? Please let me know. Thank you!
Super easy in the slow cooker- great for busy fall nights! So yummy!
I absolutely loved the cheesy hash brown crock pot potato soup. it was delicious and easy to make. I added Velveeta cheese and the cream corn. The family loved it! I will defense it again!
My favorite soup! This recipe is so easy and delicious.
So yummy and easy to follow directions! We will be making it often this winter
Could you substitute cauliflower for the potatoes?
Made this today and for some reason it curdled. Could it have been that I didn’t thaw the potatoes first and used whole milk instead of half and half? It tasted good though. Just was a weird texture.
Sometimes the milk will curdle if it is boiled for too long… so perhaps just keeping it on a bit lower heat. Did you do it in the crockpot or on the stovetop? If in a crockpot, maybe try cooking it either on low or for not quite as long on high.
I did use the crockpot on high. I would try again and use the half and half. Thanks.
I always love potato soup it will get you warm real quick when it cold outside .
This really is the creamiest and cheesiest soup ever!
Simple, easy and very tasty! Will make this again.
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed the soup!
So so delicious!!!
I love easy yummy recipes. This one is one of those! I sever it in bread bowls to look fancy. If your looking for a crowd pleaser, give this a try.
Yumm!! The whole family loved this soup, it was delicious!
Love this soup! It’s so easy. I make it often for friends and different functions. It’s always the first to go!!!
I have had this pinned on Pinterest for many years now. I like to substitute some red potatoes and russets (leaving the skins on since I’m usually in a hurry) instead of using the hash browns, and I add crumbled bacon on top for a little extra flavor! It’s SO good!
Mmm I bet the variety of potatoes in the soup makes it top notch! And you can never go wrong with some bacon on top. YUM!! Thanks for sharing what you do. So glad you enjoy the soup recipe!
Made this yesterday! I did tweak by adding diced onion and 1 cup velveeta cubes the last 45 minutes. This was super easy and my family loved it!!
Ooh I bet your additions tasted great. Glad to hear your family loved the soup! Thanks for giving the recipe a try.
Looks delicious with your soup. I’d like to cook one of ’em.
I’m Japanese but I love America food, bc I have host family in Pennsylvania and Texas, and they cook for me such meals like you show here.
They’re delicious so I love.
Thank you. I’ll try to cook one of ’em.
How awesome!! That makes me so happy! I hope you find other recipes to try 🙂
This recipe was a game changer! Mom of 6 with NO time to peel a million potatoes. Love the hashbrowns instead! So creamy and delicious. Thank you!
I know how you feel! Glad you liked it! Thank you!
This was so yummy!
New favorite soup. Nothing else will do now. So easy ans yummy!!
Best potato soup! Easy and delicious!
You really can’t go wrong with potato soup. Thank you for making yummy recipes but also making a website that is easy and quick to navigate! ❤️
Easy and sooo cheesy, what more could you want?! Perfect with homemade bread bowls and cold winter nights 🙂
I loved the convenience of using frozen hash browns!!
This recipe is seriously amazing…comfort food at it’s finest! It has become one of my favorite go-to soups.
So, are we to assume hash browns only come in one size bag? I would think not. I’ve never bought them, but would assume there’s 1 lb bags and 2 lb bags, and maybe other sizes.
Also, there’s no mention as to whether I would just dump everything in the crockpot and leave it, or if everything should be stirred together.
I added that it is a 32 ounce bag & I usually give a quick stir.
Love the bread bowls paired with this soup – the perfect combo!!
I’ve been looking for a good potato soup recipe. This one is great. I love putting dinner in the crockpot in the morning and boom it’s done when you get home.
Currently my mom’s favorite recipe, thank you!
I have made this recipe over and over and it is so easy and good. We love this soup!
This is everything a gourmet soup should be and then some! Looking forward to warming up with this on a cool evening!
I love this time of year and all the yummy soup recipes! This ones is a KEEPER! Can I say AMAZING!!!
This was so tasty and easy!! Thanks you!!!
Glad to share 🙂 Happy you liked it! Thank you!
I made this a few weeks back and my almost 13 year old was asking for it AGain! He at first was not wanting to try iT and had two bowls! DEFINITELY a win at our house!
Yay!! Tell him thank you for trying it & liking it 🙂
I have made this probably 5 times since saving it 2 months ago. It is my go to and our favorite recipe weve tried. The bread bowl tip from panera was spot on and makes thenperfect addition to this soup. Although its amazing without them. And the best part is it is So easy!!
I am so glad to hear that!! We love this soup, too! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂
AnoTher fan favorite soup! That is not only good but so simple to make. You will be thinking how could sonething so simple be sooo good.
This soup is perfect for fall time! so rich in flavor!
This is one of my favorite soups ever!! I love how cheesy, smooth, & creamy it is! Adding it in a bread bowl is such a comforting food!! Best of all, the crock pot does all the work!
Easy, creamy, cheesy, and YUMMY!!! its barely hitting “soup weather” here in SoC, but i just HAD to make this! Super easy and super delicious!!
Yay!! I am so glad you think so! Thank you so much for trying it!
Soo easy and soo good! Thanks!
This is my favorite!! I am glad you liked it! Thank you!
After reading the comments that the soup was very thick, I went ahead and made the soup but added two can fulls of milk right away. It came out creamy and not too thick or runny. I also took about 3 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the pan and mixed them in. It was perfect! I love all of the recipes on this blog and I recommend them to all of my friends who ask for dinner recommendations. Thank you, Lil Luna!
Awe, you are so nice!! Thank you for sharing all the recipes 🙂 And, thank you for sharing what you did!
Am so anxious for the Chili’s receipe for enchilada soup.
Have you ever cooked this soup on Low for 6-8 hours? I’m wondering if I can start it in the morning, before the work day. Thank you!
Should work fine 🙂 Enjoy!
My boyfriend and I LOVE this soup! It’s dead easy to make and it reheats perfectly!
That’s why I love it!!! Thanks so much for letting me know!!
Thursday nights supper sorted for this week, thank you for sharing the recipe. I love soups too.
Hi there. I was also curious as to what size bag of hash browns. Im assuming the cans of cream of celery are the normal size, 14.5 ounces or whatever it usually it? lol. If you could let me know that Id appreciate it! Looks delicious by the way 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. I questioned how “baked potato soup” with condensed chicken and celery soup would be, but it couldn’t have tasted any better. Fantastic recipe. Thanks for sharing 🙂
When making this do you add the water the cream soups call for?
No, but if you do want to thin it out you can add water or chicken broth. 😉
I have made a variation of this soup that uses a brick of cream cheese in the last 30 minutes of crock-pot cooking (in lieu of cream of celery and half&half). I usually add a package (16 oz) of diced ham cubes as well. Oh, and if I can find them, I use the Potatoes O’Briend (frozen hash browns with peppers & onions). SO good and super simple!!
Its the first really cold day here in Ohio and I just put this on for dinner tonight. (Can’t wait!)
We couldn’t find “cubed” hashbrowns. We could only find the patties. Did I get the wrong ones or will that work?
How did this work out?
I tried this recipe and it was delicious!! the only thing i found was that it was really thick like stew almost… has anyone tried it with just 2 % milk rather than half and half? Wanting to make it again but want it a little more runny.
Yes, it is pretty thick, so if you want it more runny I suggest adding double the amount of milk/half and half. 😉
Hi, what is the 1 pint Half and Half? Is it milk? I’m from UK many thanks x
Wikipedia gives this definition: In the United States, the dairy product half and half is a mixture of one part milk and one part cream.[1] I have also substituted evaporated milk in some recipes. Or if you want to cut down on the fat content, just use milk. Some people added more milk and water as the soup was too thick for their taste.
I added bacon and green onions to this as well. It turned out super thick so I added 1/2c milk and 1c water to thin it a little. Still tastes great!
Can you tell me how much a cup is in ounces please?
1 cup is 8 ounces.
This was really good. I had a 32 oz bag of cubed hashbrowns. I thought it was going to be too thick once I mixed it together so I added about a cup of 1% milk. It still turned out plenty thick. I put all the cheese on side, along with some crumbled bacon and chopped green onion. Super good, will definitely make this again.
So glad it was a hit – and bacon is definitely a great addition. 🙂 Such an easy and delicious soup!
I am going to make this tmr and have a couple questions!! 🙂
-how much butter do you melt in the crock pot?
-I got a package of frozen hashbrowns (they look like what you would get from McDonalds) how many of those do i use? put them in whole or break them up?
-can i cook on low for 8 hours instead of on high for 4 hours?
I made this soup the other night and it was delicious. I switched it up a little by adding some frozen chicken breasts and a can of chicken broth at the beginning. A few minutes before I was going to serve the soup, I shredded the chicken with two forks and added some steamed broccoli. A very tasty, easy meal!
Oh yum – Steamed broccoli sounds delicious!!
Hi im trying this recipe tonight except im going to use dried chives in it and also add bacon ill let yall know how it turns out
Ooooh, sounds delicious! Let me know how it ends up. 😀
It is amazing and i didnt even add the cheese salt or pepper yet!! Must try this
SO glad to hear that you liked it Peggy. We made it for dinner last night and I was reminded how easy it is, as well as how yummy it is too! 🙂
Does the recipe require a small round crock pot or a large oval one? I seem to burn too many recipes because I have a large crockpot and no one tells you which is needed. Thanks!
I’ve made it in both kinds and both have worked fine. 🙂
Favorite soup is. Copy cat Olive Garden Minestrone…I don’t follow recipesverywell, especially the amount of veggies, I usually double them, for thicker better for you soups.
I’d love to see a link for a Copycat recipe for this if you have one. 🙂
So yummy; definitely going in menu rotation!!! Thank you for sharing
I made this yesterday for my wife and myself, It is so easy to make and very very delicious.will be making this again. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
How big is the bag of hashbrowns? The only thing I need to know. I have all the ingredients and I want to cook this for dinner tomorrow. Thanks!
We made it for dinner tonight, but instead of using hashbrowns we used a few cans of sliced white potatoes that we had for food storage since they were getting ready to expire. We will definitely be making it again! It was delish! 😀
Im makin this right now and it looks so yummy!! cant wait to try it!!
I tried this soup last night and it was awesome AND easy! Right us my alley!
The weather turned nasty today and I thought it would be the perfect time to try this soup. OMG it was sooooo yummy! I did add some crumbled up bacon and a little green onion, but honestly I don’t think it really needed either (was yummy w/ the bacon though!). The soup was really thick and hearty, and the texture of the hash browns was perfect. Hubby loved it too, and he is not easily impressed. I will definitely make this, again and again! I did use fat free half and half. Maybe next time I’ll use the low fat cheddar (when I start my diet after the 1st).
So glad it was yummy and was perfect for your cold day!! Thanks for leaving a comment. Made my day! 😀
I made this for supper tonight and my family just finished eating it. The verdict: this was a very tasty soup recipe, however, even after subbing our some of the half and half for 1% milk, it was very heavy (in fact, it was kind of solid–I dipped a fairly large piece of steak into it and it came off of my fork and ended up sitting on top of the surface). Tasty, though!!
I made this last night for the family and it was absolutely delicious! The lid on my crock pot broke (for the 2nd time!), so I just made it over the stove. I brought the soup to a simmer, and left it on low for 2 hours. SO YUMMY!!!
Mind if I post this on my site??? I’ll link to you of course!
Thanks, Cait
I had to write this recipe down. I love potato soup and anything in a crockpot. Love your blog!
Hi this recipe sounds amazing ive been looking for a potato soup recipe for awhile. Any ideas to switch out the cream of chicken im a vegetarian n i dont eat that just wondering if maybe cream of brocolli will work ?
Theres tons of soup op. HOPEFULLY you trIed it and will let us know how it worked. Campbells makes all kindS of Cream of VEGETABLE soups. I like cream of POTATO. Good lUCk!
How many people does this feed?? My daughter is thinking this is definitely worth making one cool day and watching nothing but Chick Flicks!
So… one package of hashbrowns… does that mean about 30 ounces? SO excited to make this!
Well fortunately for me this week it’s not soup weather as its supposed to be in the 60’s this week in Annapolis, Maryland so no soup for me this week :). Oh darn … I’ll keep the warm weather :). But when the weather turns and Lord knows it will to my dismay, I’ll be making this soup :). Looks soooo yummy!!!
Now we just need a whole grain bread bowl recipe to go with the soup! :O)
The ultimate comfort food made simple. That is seriously ingenious of you to use already prepared items so that you don’t even have to peel or cut up the potatoes, which is time-saving for busy people. Your photos look so inviting and the soup looks incredibly luscious. Oh no; now I feel like I need to make this today. The weather is chilly. It’s raining outside and what goes perfectly with that kind of scenario? Cheesy Potato Soup!
Hi. How much butter did you use for this recipe? What brand of hash browns did you use?
Yummy Yummy. Can’t wait to try it. I too am curious about how much butter to use? Thanks for sharing!
Its almost soup weather here in Colorado. I can’t wait to try this recipe.. Looks so yummy and better yet super easy to make in the crock pot. Thanks for sharing!
How much butter did you use? Looks delicious!
I never even thought of using hashbrowns! Ingenious! …no spices though beyond salt & pepper?
Nope!! I promise, it is SO good!! I think the Cream of Chicken and Cream of Celery, along with the cheese and butter make it so lots of spices aren’t necessary. 🙂 Let me know if you give it a try!