Description
Healthy Crockpot Potato Soup with Chicken: A thick, creamy, and hearty potato soup loaded with tender chicken, vegetables, and rich flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 2 cups sliced celery
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Place a skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned, then add the onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes until softened. Transfer the mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Place the chicken breasts on top of the onion mixture. Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, chicken broth, thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8-12 hours, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are extremely soft. Check the chicken after 7 hours and remove if fully cooked to avoid overcooking.
4. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Stir the soup vigorously to break apart the potatoes and naturally thicken the broth. For a creamier texture, partially puree the soup with an immersion blender or blend 1 1/2 cups and return it to the pot.
5. Shred or chop the chicken and return it to the soup along with the fresh parsley. Stir well and serve warm, optionally topped with cheese.
Notes
For extra flavor, add 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon, 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Reduce the salt by half if using these additions.
Stovetop Method: Brown the bacon, onions, and garlic in a large pot. Add the remaining ingredients with 12 cups broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken, continue simmering until potatoes are very soft and thicken the broth, then finish as directed.
Serve warm and garnish with cheese if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 314
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1084mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 61mg