Loaded Baked Potato Soup Bar

Waking up this morning to crisp 34-degree weather means two things:

1. Snuggling with my dog Finn makes it incredibly hard to get up in the morning.
2. It’s Soup Season!!!

Soups are the best. For real. For real for real. Whether you make them in a big stockpot, crockpot, or instant pot, soups are a big warm hug on a cold winter day. There’s a million ways to make them, you can use almost anything and everything you have on hand, and they come together in no time flat. Whether you’re a tomato purist or an avant-garde chicken noodle, soup heals all the day’s wounds to create a cozy cocoon of comfort.

I’m a tried and true potato girl myself. While I’ll eat most any soup, I’m the first to reach for a rich, creamy potato style loaded with tons of toppings. It’s also one of my go-to recipes to toss in the slow cooker for football game days! With only a few minutes of preparation and a few hours needed to do its thing, you have a delicious, bubbly potato soup ready for a crowd.

On a fall gameday, I love to wake up early and have my first cup of coffee on the back deck all wrapped up in my fleece pajamas and a big cozy blanket. I get to watch Finn run around the yard saying good morning to all the chipmunks and squirrels, and I get to listen to the birds chirping and the rooster down the street crowing. Yes, my neighbors have a rooster and no, it doesn’t always know what time it’s acceptable to squawk. Although in the mornings, it’s pretty wonderful. 

Watching the world come alive is a special moment. And the best part? It happens every day. Ferris Bueller was right – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Morning moments like these help me feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Especially with the prospect of enjoying a warm bowl of soup while watching the Dawgs play. Depending on the group you’re entertaining, you can personalize what kinds of toppings you want to pair it with. Here are some of my favorites:

• Bacon
• Crumbled Sausage
• Smoked Sausage
• Pepperoni
• Pulled Pork
• Scallions
• Chives
• Broccoli Florets
• Cheddar Cheese
• Pepperjack Cheese
• Sour Cream

And these are only a starting point! A baked potato soup bar is a fun way to get creative and jazz up a classic. I guarantee, there won’t be any leftovers whenever this is on the menu!  

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Bar

Serves 8|Hands-On: 5 Minutes|Total Time: 5.5 Hours

Ingredients

• 1 bag (32 oz.) diced hash brown potatoes
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 carton (32 oz.) chicken broth
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• Toppings (see idea list above)

Steps

1. Add first four ingredients to a 6-quart crockpot. Cook on low for 5 hours.
2. Stir in the cream cheese and sour cream and cook for another 30 minutes on low, stirring every 10 minutes until fully incorporated into soup mixture.
3. Ladle into bowls and add toppings of your choice.
4. Enjoy!