Easy 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe for Busy Days

Key Takeaways

Celebrate the simple things with 5 ingredient crock pot potato soup! This minimalist take provides a cozy and gratifying dish that’s simple to make.
Bring out the natural flavors of each component to your soup, and let the potatoes really sing. Reaching that perfect balance of flavors makes your taste buds dance!
Save on grocery bills with budget-friendly ingredients and pantry staples, all while enjoying a satisfying meal. This inexpensive plan is ideal for families who want to eat tasty!
When choosing your staple five ingredients, focus on quality and flexibility to pump up the taste. Do what you like with your soup and then it will be a hit with everyone!
Use different blending methods to make your soup perfectly creamy. Experiment with cooking times and liquid-to-solids ratio for a velvety finish that enhances the eating experience.
How to store and reheat your soup Refrigeration and freezing tips – eat your homemade soup at its best, even days later!

5 ingredient crock pot potato soup is easy and oh so good! With only five simple ingredients, this soul-satisfying recipe is loaded with delicious fork-mashed potatoes and deliver big-on-flavor creamy deliciousness — a welcome addition to your hectic weeknight dinner rotation.

Thanks to the magic of a slow cooker, you can set and forget it, letting the flavors meld beautifully. In this post we’ll dive into how to make this simple soup, and throw in some variations to spice up your meal.

Why Five Ingredients Succeed

Putting the emphasis on just five ingredients takes your potato soup from ordinary to both uncomplicated and fulfilling. Not only does it save time in the kitchen, it saves the darn experience.

The Minimalist Philosophy

Taking an extreme minimalist cooking style enables you to make the quality angle your priority. Less ingredients = less clutter in your cooking space, allowing you to concentrate on each one.

This simplicity makes meal prep easier, particularly for the busy people who love simple recipes. With less to choose from, you can experience easy cooking — without stress.

Simple but comforting recipes make for a cozy vibe. The five-ingredient method encourages even kitchen newcomers to give a robust meal a shot, without the threat of kitchen disaster.

Flavor Purity

When you keep the ingredients to a minimum, each ingredient’s natural flavor shines. In potato soup, this translates to the soul of the spuds taking center stage.

Five ingredient soups are all about balance, maximizing your soup experience. By savoring the simplicity of these ingredients alone, you fashion a plate that is inherently decadent.

Recipes with fewer ingredients typically result in a more balanced dish as there is limited room for dominant flavors. After all, simplicity doesn’t sacrifice flavor, it enhances it.

Budget-Friendly

Since it’s made with inexpensive ingredients, this recipe is budget-friendly, too! By choosing pantry staples and fresh produce, you can whip up a satisfying feast without breaking the bank.

It’s an approach that optimizes worth and provides delight for families to indulge in a ‘scrumptious plateful’, easy on the budget, perfect for mid-week meals.

Selecting Your Core Five

Picking your core five ingredients is crucial when making an easy crockpot potato soup! This method enables the busy cook to easily handle meal preparation while still delivering bold flavors and hearty textures. The beauty of the core five is that a small number of key ingredients can make a satisfying meal.

The Potato

Potatoes are the soul of your soup. Choose canned or fresh to make a creamy base. Don’t be afraid to try different varieties, like Yukon Gold or Russet, for added flavor and texture.

Prep right — make them tender before you cook ’em for the ultimate result.

The Liquid

A seasoned broth is key to richness. Chicken broth or veggie stock is great, but play with the quantity to get your desired consistency.

For a creamier soup add milk or cream. Low-sodium broth is fantastic if you’re after something a little healthier.

The Allium

Onions or garlic take the savouriness of your soup to another level. Diced onions provide a nice sweetness that pairs perfectly with potatoes.

Venture into other alliums, such as shallots or leeks, for interesting flavor nuances. Sautéing these just prior to adding to the crock pot adds an additional level of flavor.

The Fat

A fat, like bacon or butter, takes the taste to another level. Bacon grease, used here, gives it that smokey undertone that just takes this dish to the next level!

For a lighter touch, olive oil is good as well. Offset the fat so that your soup remains creamy but healthy.

How to Make 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup

This simple recipe for crock pot potato soup is comfort food at its finest. Easy steps, yet it creates such a delicious meal with minimal effort and the bliss of hands-off cooking!

Prepare Ingredients

All you need to do is grab these five core ingredients before cooking. Here’s what you need: frozen diced hash brown potatoes, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, cream cheese and optional bacon bits or diced onion.

Be sure to chop or dice any extra ingredients for even cooking – onions, more specifically. Pour liquids and seasonings out with intention for exact flavor control.

Get any toppings you’re using, such as chives or shredded cheese, ready to go to finish your soup off when serving.

Combine and Cook

Layer the ingredients in the crock pot for maximum flavor. Begin with the frozen hash browns, then cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. If you’re substituting, try Potatoes O’Brien!

Place in the crock pot on low for 6 to 8 hours, so the flavors can meld beautifully. Stir occasionally.

Keep an eye on the cooking time for just tender potatoes.

Create the Creaminess

For a creamy soup, mash or blend some of the potatoes after cooking. Add milk or cream until it’s the consistency you desire.

Stir well to incorporate all ingredients for a silky finish. Use your own blend magic to create a velvety soup that’s just perfect!

Final Seasoning

Season with salt and pepper as needed, taste then adjust the seasoning before serving. A pinch of salt or pepper will really bring out the taste just before serving.

Fresh herbs add such a bright note to a dish. Serve warm for a soul-warming comfort food feast.

Achieving Perfect Creamy Texture

A creamy texture is key to a comforting potato soup. When you know what you’re doing, your dish can turn out velvety and satisfying. Below are techniques to master that creaminess.

Blending Techniques

Employing the right blending method makes all the difference in your soup’s texture. A potato masher leaves a rustic vibe, ideal if you like a bit of chunkiness. The immersion blender is your tool for pureeing your soup to perfection, creating that oh-so-creamy texture.

If using a traditional blender, blend in small batches or it will overflow, scrapping each portion. Blending can add air to the soup making it lighter. This air infusion creates a velvety finish that feels luxurious.

Vary your blending time for as many lumps as you desire to a truly silky soup.

Natural Thickeners

Mashed potatoes, the classic thickening agent that brings creaminess without additional components. As a quick fix, boxed potato flakes give an instant creamy lift, dissolving easily into soup.

Pureed vegetables like carrots or cauliflower boost thickness yet maintain low calories. If you’re searching for a gluten-free alternative, a cornstarch slurry is just as effective at thickening your soup without sacrificing taste.

Avoiding Graininess

To avoid graininess, make certain your potatoes are thoroughly cooked prior to mashing. Under-cooked potatoes will cause lumps. Whisk well to get rid of any residual clumps.

It’s important not to overcook dairy, as this will cause it to separate and get gross. By stirring it constantly during warming, you keep the texture uniform and prevent the soup from breaking.

Smart Ingredient Substitutions

Smart substitutions help you craft a comforting dish that pleases a variety of palates but maintains those foundational flavors.

Dairy-Free

For a dairy-free variation, replace the milk with almond or coconut milk! Both lend creaminess without the lactose.

Cashew cream is another great option with its rich, cream-like texture. Make sure all ingredients–like broth and seasonings–are dairy-free to keep your soup compliant.

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor and depth, making your soup feel indulgent.

Gluten-Free

For your potato soup, swap out gluten-free broth and watch the canned goods! Cornstarch or gluten-free flour can be used as thickening agents and give a nice smooth consistency.

It’s important to make sure that all seasonings are gluten-free, as well. Then you can savor a hearty meal that’s perfect for those with gluten sensitivities.

Vegan Options

For a vegan version of the soup, just ditch any bacon and sub in plant-based fats like olive and avocado oil.

Cream can be swapped out for coconut milk or cashew cream for that richness. Made with a vegetable broth base, it’s vegan-friendly, too.

Don’t be afraid to play with some extra spices and herbs; they can really take your soup to a new level of deliciousness.

Storing and Reheating

How to Store and Reheat Your 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup By following these tips, you’ll preserve taste and consistency, and your every bowl will be a delight.

Refrigeration

Allow the soup to cool before putting it in the fridge. This is key as it avoids condensation that causes spoilage.

Store the soup in airtight containers – these keep your soup from absorbing smells from other foods in your fridge. For best quality, use refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days. This time frame guarantees you partake in the soup experience while the flavors are fresh.

When it’s time to eat, reheat the soup well. This not only adds flavor, but heats food to a safe temperature, killing any bacteria.

Freezing

If freezing, divide soup into freezer safe containers. This is convenient, since you can pull out the perfect serving size.

Let soup cool completely before closing containers. This keeps ice crystals from forming, which can change the texture. Label every container with contents and frozen date.

This makes it easy to identify and really helps you use the oldest soup first. For optimal flavor and texture, we recommend thawing the soup overnight in the refrigerator and then reheating.

Reheating

Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, if you’re in a hurry. If heating on the stove, no problem, just pour your soup into a pot and stir often as it warms.

This makes sure it heats evenly, and doesn’t stick to the bottom. If the soup thickens upon reheating, splash in some milk or broth to bring back the creaminess.

Serve it piping hot, adorned with your favorite toppings, for an elevated experience.

Conclusion

Easy comfort…5 ingredient crock pot potato soup. Select your base ingredients carefully to make a flavor powerhouse. Just follow the easy cooking steps and get that creaminess we all love. As always, don’t be afraid to rotate ingredients for your preference or availability. Any leftovers are easy to store, and reheat just as tasty!

So good, so warming, so satisfying – perfect for a crazy weeknight or a casual get together. Celebrate the art of five ingredient cooking and flavor liberation. Give this one a whirl today and see what magic it conjures on your table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the five main ingredients for potato soup?

Potatoes, broth, onion, garlic and cream is the basic 5 ingredient lineup. These make a tasty start for your soup.

Can I use different types of potatoes?

Yes, ANY potato. Russet, yukon gold or red potatoes all work well for a creamy texture.

How long does it take to cook in a crock pot?

Cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 on high.

Can I make this soup dairy-free?

Totally! Replace the cream with coconut milk or a dairy free cream alternative for a tasty dairy free version.

How do I achieve a creamy texture?

Puree some of the soup after cooking. This gives it a nice smooth creamy texture.

What can I substitute if I don’t have broth?

Mixed with water and seasonings or vegetable broth. It will still be full of flavor.

How should I store leftovers?

Keep any remaining soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Warm prior to serving.