Description
This Comforting Crock Pot Ground Beef Potato Soup is a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for cozy meals. Combining tender ground beef, tender potatoes, savory herbs, and rich cheddar cheese, this slow cooker recipe offers convenience and deep, satisfying flavors all in one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 1.25 lb ground beef (Lean 80/20 for flavor)
- 1 large onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 1.5 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
Liquids & Broth
- 3 cups beef broth (Swanson beef broth preferred)
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 10.5 oz cheddar cheese soup (Campbell’s)
- 1 cup milk
- 0.75 cup heavy cream
Seasonings & Spices
- 1.5 tsp dried basil
- 1.5 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
Cheese & Garnish
- 1.25 cups shredded cheddar cheese (from a block for smoother melting)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Begin by dicing the onion into 1/2-inch pieces and mincing the garlic cloves. Peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until cooked through and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep the soup from becoming greasy.
- Combine ingredients in the crock pot: Transfer the cooked ground beef to the crock pot. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, cubed potatoes, beef broth, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese soup, milk, dried basil, dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine all ingredients well.
- Cook the soup: Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for approximately 3 hours, or until the potatoes are tender and the flavors have melded together.
- Add cheese and cream: About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and heavy cream to enrich the soup and give it a creamy texture. Allow the cheese to melt completely into the soup.
- Final touches and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with fresh parsley before ladling into bowls. Serve hot for a comforting and hearty meal.
Notes
- Using cheddar cheese soup adds a rich cheesy flavor without the need for extra steps.
- For a thicker soup, reduce the amount of broth or mash a few potatoes in the crock pot before adding cheese and cream.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice color contrast and fresh flavor when sprinkled on top just before serving.
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to lighten the soup slightly.
- Lean ground beef 80/20 is ideal for balancing flavor and fat content.
- If preferred, use low sodium broth to decrease the overall saltiness.
