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.
Ingredients for cheesy potato soup recipe on counter.

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

  1. PREP. Set a slow cooker to high.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  • 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

  1. Melt the butter in a large pot, and add the thawed diced potatoes, cream of chicken, cream of celery, and half and half.
  2. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer on low for 30-40 minutes (or until potatoes are tender).
  3. Add cheese, salt, and pepper before serving.
5 from 72 votes

Cheesy Potato Soup

Creamy cheesy potato soup is made with a handful of ingredients for a simple set-it-and-forget-it crockpot classic!
Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 5 minutes

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
  • 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.
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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.
Stovetop directions. Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat, then add hash browns, cream of chicken and cream of celery soups, and half-and-half. Bring to a gentle simmer and continue to cook over medium-low heat for 15-25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Add cheese, salt, and pepper before serving.
Make ahead. This soup can be easily made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or frozen for 2-3 months. Thaw, if needed, and reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently. Add a little extra milk as needed.
Store leftovers by dividing into individual containers and refrigerating for 2-3 days or freezing for 2-3 months. 

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. 

This recipe was originally published September 2018.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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5 from 72 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




127 Comments

  1. Connie says:

    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!

  2. Blair says:

    5 stars
    My favorite soup! This recipe is so easy and delicious.

  3. K shoe says:

    5 stars
    So yummy and easy to follow directions! We will be making it often this winter

  4. Tawnya Weaver says:

    Could you substitute cauliflower for the potatoes?

  5. Terri Langer says:

    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.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      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.

      1. Terri Langer says:

        I did use the crockpot on high. I would try again and use the half and half. Thanks.

  6. Nathan Bomar says:

    5 stars
    I always love potato soup it will get you warm real quick when it cold outside .

  7. Amy L Huntley says:

    5 stars
    This really is the creamiest and cheesiest soup ever!

  8. Barb Westermeier says:

    Simple, easy and very tasty! Will make this again.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay!! So glad you enjoyed the soup!

  9. Jennifer says:

    5 stars
    So so delicious!!!

  10. Britani Nunes says:

    5 stars
    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.