CREAMY SLOW COOKER POTATO CHEESE SOUP

Creamy Slow Cooker Potato Cheese Soup image

Soup for a crowd made in my 6 1/2 quart slow cooker. Hearty and flavorful. Serve with corn bread or your favorite crusty bread and a salad or other vegetable. For a 3 quart slow cooker, halve all ingredient amounts.

Provided by KATHYB

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Potato Soup Recipes

Time 5h30m

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
½ white onion, chopped
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups water
2 large carrots, diced
4 stalks celery, diced
1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons chicken soup base
1 cup warm water
5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 bay leaf
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
6 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

Steps:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in butter until translucent. Stir in flour until smooth, then gradually stir in 2 cups water, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper. Heat through, then stir in milk. Dissolve chicken base in 1 cup warm water, and pour into vegetable mixture.
Place potatoes in slow cooker, and pour heated vegetable mixture into potatoes. Place bay leaf in pot.
Cover, and cook 5 hours on High, or 8 hours on Low.
Remove bay leaf. Puree about 4 cups of the soup in a blender or food processor, and then stir pureed soup into contents of slow cooker. Stir in cheese and bacon until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 168.7 calories, Carbohydrate 26.6 g, Cholesterol 14.9 mg, Fat 5.2 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 320.3 mg, Sugar 2.4 g