This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
In the world of comfort food, nothing beats a warm and hearty bowl of Ham and Potato Soup in the crock pot. When it comes to comfort and convenience, the slow cooker is the ultimate kitchen tool. If you’re looking for a delicious and satisfying soup recipe that will please the whole family, look no further than this tasty cheesy ham and potato soup.
There are many ways to cook a good potato soup! Try a few of my other variations – Loaded Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot, Slow Cooker Steak and Potato Soup, and Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Ham and Potato Soup in the Crock Pot
When it comes to making a potato soup recipe, you want it to be easy and tasty, and this potato cheese soup is just that. It calls for cubed ham so hang on to your leftover Easter ham. It’s also pretty versatile, meaning you can use garlic powder instead of minced garlic, thyme salt and dried thyme for extra flavors, and cook it ahead of time.
If you’re looking for the perfect dish for soup season, you’ll love potato soup cooked with ham. Another great cheesy soup to make is Slow Cooker Kielbasa Potato Soup.
Recipe Ingredients
- Large Potatoes (peeled and diced): Hearty chunks of potatoes provide a satisfying and filling base to the hearty soup, adding a comforting texture. We also use large russet potatoes for our crockpot baked potatoes.
- Ham (diced): Delicious diced ham brings a rich and savory flavor to the soup, creating a delicious and protein-packed element.
- Celery Stalks (diced): Diced celery adds a refreshing and crisp component to the soup, contributing a subtle crunch and depth of flavor.
- Large Carrots (diced): The sweet and vibrant flavor of diced carrots enhances the soup with natural sweetness and a pop of color.
- Small Onion (diced): Diced onions provide a tasty and aromatic base contributing a huge amount to the overall flavor of the soup.
- Garlic: Minced garlic infuses the soup with a robust flavor.
- Chicken Bouillon: Chicken bouillon enriches the broth with a concentrated and savory taste, enhancing the overall flavor of the soup.
- Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika imparts a subtle smokiness, adding a hint of warmth to the soup.
- Bay Leaf: The bay leaf infuses the soup with an herbal aroma, contributing to a well-rounded and fragrant broth.
- Chicken Broth: Chicken broth serves as the flavorful liquid base, providing a comforting and creamy consistency for the soup.
- Milk: Whole milk Adds a creamy texture to the soup, creating a velvety consistency that complements the heartiness of the ingredients.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream contributes to the soup’s richness in both flavor and texture.
- Butter: Turns any simple soup into a dish packed with flavor. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese melts into the soup, providing a creamy and cheesy element.
- Green Onions & Parsley (for serving): Sliced green onions add a fresh and mild onion flavor while fresh parsley serves as a bright and herbal finishing touch.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add the potatoes, ham, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, paprika and bay leaf to the slow cooker.
Step Two – Stir in the broth, milk, and heavy cream. Add pats of butter to the top.
Step Three – Cover and turn the slow cooker setting on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours. When the potatoes are tender, the soup is ready. Add cheese and let sit with the lid on for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve with a sprinkle of onions and parsley. Enjoy!
How to Serve
- For classic serving, ladle the slow cooker ham and potato soup into individual soup bowls and serve hot. Garnish each serving with a sprinkle of extra cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a generous scattering of sliced green onions.
- You can also serve this creamy soup in hollowed-out bread bowls. Choose crusty artisan bread or hearty sourdough loaves for a delicious edible bowl. Pour a nice amount of the soup into each bread bowl, ensuring a balance between the creamy soup and the chewy bread.
- Create a well-rounded and balanced meal by serving the slow cooker ham and potato soup alongside a vibrant salad. Go for a fresh garden salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
Recipe FAQs
Use freshly shredded cheese for best results. Pre shredded bagged cheese is coated and doesn’t melt very well.
This is a great way to use your leftover holiday ham. But, if you don’t have any leftover ham, you can grab a bag of chopped ham.
To store leftover soup, allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
You can add extra veggies, use red potatoes, substitute half and half, and/or use sharp cheddar cheese. You can also choose from a variety of potatoes such as Yukon gold potatoes or Russet potatoes. Soup recipes like this are pretty versatile.
More Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipes
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 cups diced ham
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced green onions, for serving
- parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Add the potatoes, ham, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, paprika and bay leaf to the slow cooker. Stir in the broth, milk, and heavy cream. Add pats of butter to the top. Set on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours.
- When the potatoes are tender, the soup is ready to serve.
- Sprinkle with cheese and let sit with the lid on for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Serve with a sprinkle of onions and parsley.
Sarah’s Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best results. Preshredded bagged cheese is coated and doesn’t melt very well.
- You can omit the butter if you wish. It just adds more flavor and deliciousness to the soup.
- This is a great way to use your leftover holiday ham. But, if you don’t have any, you can grab a bag of chopped ham.
- To store leftover soup, allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.