Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
This creamy Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup has just 6 ingredients and cooks to perfection in the crock pot. The secret to the rich flavor is cooking the ham hock until it’s so tender that the meat falls off the bone. Customize with your favorite toppings on the side.
This Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup includes ready-made diced potatoes and onions, savory ham hocks, and a creamy base, the perfect blend of flavors and textures. It’s rich in flavor and so simple to make with a prep time of only 10 minutes!
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By combining these ingredients in a crock pot and allowing them to simmer low and slow, you’ll add tons of flavor and yield a super hearty soup. Adjust the seasonings and ingredients to suit your preferences and get creative with the toppings! It’s one of those meals my family loves because it makes the house smell delicious all day.
With only 6 ingredients, anyone can master this soup with ease. The slow cooker does all of the work for you! It’s one recipe that our family requests all the time on the weekend during the cold winter months.
Looking for more soups to warm you up? Be sure to check out my Easy Vegetable Soup, Lasagna Soup, and Crockpot Red Beans and Rice!
OMG, our family absolutely loved this soup! Using the crockpot was a win/win situation too! -Sue
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Minimal Recipe Prep: It only takes 10 minutes to prep this recipe since the slow cooker does the work for you.
- Creamy Texture: The slow cooking process in a crockpot allows the potatoes to break down and become tender, resulting in a naturally creamy texture without the need for excessive amounts of cream or butter.
- Easy 6-Ingredient Recipe: Once the ingredients are assembled in the slow cooker, minimal effort is required. All you have to do is get your toppings ready then dip up a bowl of that creamy soup! It’s perfect for busy weeknights!
- Family Favorite: This will be a recipe on weekly rotation during the colder months. It makes for a less stressful evening and everyone can make their bowl with their favorite toppings!
Ingredients
Scroll down for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card.
- Diced Potatoes and Onions: Serve as the base and bulk of the soup. Diced potatoes provide hearty texture and substance, while onions add savory depth and aroma.
- Ham Hocks: Add rich, smoky, savory flavor as well as meatiness. Add cubed cooked ham at the end of cook time if your ham hocks are meat sparse.
- Chicken Broth: Provides the liquid base and enhances the overall savory depth and richness.
- Garlic Powder: Introduces a subtle yet distinct garlic flavor.
- Evaporated Milk: Contributes creaminess and richness to the soup.
- Milk: Adjusts the soup to your desired texture.
- Optional Toppings: fresh chives, hot sauce, shredded cheese, cooked bacon crumbles, sour cream, fresh parsley
Laura Ashley’s Tip: You can use all different types of potatoes in this recipe. Russets are my go-to for a classic potato flavor. Yukon gold’s are also great for a creamier texture and a bit sweeter flavor.
Tools You’ll Need
How to make Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
- To a Crockpot, add the potatoes and onions, ham hocks, broth, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until combined.
- Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours, or until the potatoes are fork tender. Crockpot time and temperature can vary, so adjust according to your make and model. For optimal ham hock tenderness, cook on low.
- Transfer the ham hocks to a plate. Once they’re cool enough to handle, remove the meat and chop. Discard the fat and ham bone.
- Plunge a potato masher into the crockpot 15-20 times, or until half of the potatoes are mashed.
- Stir the ham and evaporated milk into the soup.
- Add milk to desired texture. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with garnishes on the side.
Expert Tips
- Low and Slow Cooking is Best for the Ham Hocks: For the most tender and flavorful ham hocks, cook on low heat for an extended period. This allows the meat to become fall-apart tender and infuses the broth with rich flavors.
- Add some Vegetables: Enhance the nutritional content of the soup by adding additional vegetables such as carrots, celery, or leeks. These vegetables add depth of flavor and complement the ham and potatoes beautifully.
- Spice It Up: Add a dash of hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. You can also experiment with different herbs and spices such as thyme, rosemary, or smoked paprika.
- Different Potatoes: While using pre-cut potatoes saves time, you can also cube potatoes from scratch if desired. Simply clean and peel (or not peel) 8 chop russet potatoes. You’ll need about 7 cups for this recipe. You can also experiment with Yukon Gold potatoes or red potatoes for a creamier texture and sweeter flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
- Creamy Base Alternatives: Instead of evaporated milk, consider using heavy cream, half-and-half, whole milk, or coconut milk. Each option will impart a unique flavor.
- Vegetarian Variation: Make a vegetarian version of this recipe by omitting the ham hocks and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add extra vegetables and seasonings to enhance the flavor.
- Cheesy Twist: Stir in freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese or grated Parmesan cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking for an added cheesy twist.
- Ham Hock Substitutes: You can use other types of meat such as smoked ham, diced ham, or even bacon in place of ham hocks. Adjust the cooking time and seasoning accordingly based on the type of meat you choose. It’s a great way to use leftover holiday ham! Also, you can add cubed cooked ham at the end of cook time if your ham hocks are meat sparse.
What to Serve with Crock Pot Potato Ham Soup
There are lots of toppings that can elevate the flavors and textures of a bowl of this crock pot potato soup! You can serve it with chopped bacon, additional ham, shredded cheese, chopped green onions or chives, sour cream or Greek yogurt, crushed tortilla chips or crackers, fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, dill), crispy fried onions, and hot sauce.
This delicious soup pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Cornbread, hoecakes, crusty bread, or warm dinner rolls are perfect for dipping into the creamy broth. Cooked vegetables or a simple side salad with crisp greens can also be a refreshing balance for the richness.
For a heartier option, serve the soup alongside grilled cheese sandwiches or toasted garlic bread.
Storage
Allow the slow cooker ham and potato soup to cool to room temperature before storing it. Transfer to one airtight container or divide into smaller portions. Consume it within 3-4 days to maintain optimal freshness and flavor.
For longer storage, freeze leftovers for up to 2-3 months. Ensure there is some space at the top of the freezer-safe container or bag to allow for expansion during freezing. When ready to use, transfer it to the refrigerator a day before to thaw slowly. Alternatively, you can thaw it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
Reheat refrigerated or thawed ham and potato soup on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Make sure the internal temperature reaches a safe level (165°F) before consuming. While it’s safe to freeze potato soup, repeated freezing and thawing can negatively impact the texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not necessary to soak the ham hocks before adding them to the crockpot. However, you can rinse them under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess salt or debris.
Yes, you can use different types of potatoes such as russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes. Each variety will impart a slightly different texture and flavor, so choose based on your preferences.
Cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours, or until the potatoes are tender and the ham hocks are falling off the bone. Cooking times may vary depending on your crockpot and the size of the ingredients.
The evaporated milk cornstarch slurry will thicken the broth. If you want it thicker, you can mix equal parts cornstarch and cold water and add it to the mixture. Alternatively, you can blend a portion of the soup and return it to the crockpot or use an immersion blender for a thicker consistency. Heavy cream or cream cheese can also be thickener options.
More Comforting Soup Recipes
- Copycat Dolly Parton’s Stampede Soup
- Easy Lasagna Soup
- Crockpot Green Enchilada Soup
- Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup (6 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 2 20 ounce bags diced potatoes and onions
- 1 pound smoked ham hocks
- 32 ounces chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 ounce can evaporated milk
- 1-1 1/2 cups milk amount as desired
- Optional Toppings: fresh chives, hot sauce, shredded cheese, cooked bacon crumbles, sour cream
Instructions
- To a Crockpot, add the potatoes and onions, ham hocks, broth, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until combined.
- Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours, or until the potatoes are fork tender. Crockpot time and temperature can vary, so adjust according to your make and model. For optimal ham hock tenderness, cook on low. If cooking on high, consider checking the potatoes tenderness at 2 hours to determine if you’ll need 1 or 2 more hours.
- Transfer the ham hocks to a plate. Once they’re cool enough to handle, remove the meat and chop. Discard the fat and ham bone.
- Plunge a potato masher into the crockpot 15-20 times, or until half of the potatoes are mashed.
- Stir the ham and evaporated milk into the soup.
- Add milk to desired texture. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Ladle soup in bowls and serve with garnishes on the side.
Video
Notes
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- Low and Slow Cooking: For the most tender and flavorful ham hocks, cook on low heat for an extended period. This allows the meat to become fall-apart tender and infuses the broth with rich flavors. If cooking on high, consider checking the potatoes tenderness at 2 hours to determine if you’ll need 1 or 2 more hours.
-
- Vegetable Additions: Enhance the nutritional content of the soup by adding additional vegetables such as carrots, celery, or leeks. These vegetables add depth of flavor and complement the ham and potatoes beautifully.
-
- Spice It Up: Add a dash of hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. You can also experiment with different herbs and spices such as thyme, rosemary, or smoked paprika.
-
- Creamy Base Alternatives: Instead of evaporated milk, consider using heavy cream, half-and-half, whole milk, or coconut milk. Each option will impart a unique flavor to the soup.
-
- Different Potatoes: While using pre-cut potatoes saves time, you can also cube potatoes from scratch if desired. Simply clean and peel (or not peel) 8 chop russet potatoes. You’ll need about 8 cups for this recipe. You can also experiment with Yukon Gold potatoes or red potatoes for a creamier texture and sweeter flavor.
-
- Onion: If opting out of the pre-cut potato and onion blend and chopping fresh potatoes instead, you’ll need to also chop 1 large onion (about 1 1/2 cups chopped) for the soup.
-
- Vegetarian Variation: Make a vegetarian version of the soup by omitting the ham hocks and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add extra vegetables and seasonings to enhance the flavor.
-
- Cheesy Twist: Stir in freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese or grated Parmesan cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking for an added cheesy twist.
-
- Ham Hock Tips: If your ham hocks don’t yield the desired amount of meat, add cooked and crumbled bacon or cubed and browned ham. You can substitute ham hocks with other types of meat such as smoked ham, diced ham, or even bacon in place of ham hocks. Adjust the cooking time and seasoning accordingly based on the type of meat you choose. It’s a great way to use leftover holiday ham!
-
- Refrigerating: Allow the potato soup to cool to room temperature before storing it. Transfer to one airtight container or divide into smaller portions. Consume it within 3-4 days to maintain optimal freshness and flavor.
-
- Freezing: For longer storage, freeze leftover soup for up to 2-3 months. Ensure there is some space at the top of the freezer-safe container or bag to allow for expansion during freezing. When ready to use, transfer it to the refrigerator a day before to thaw slowly. Alternatively, you can thaw it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
-
- Reheating: Reheat refrigerated or thawed ham and potato soup on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Make sure the internal temperature reaches a safe level (165°F) before consuming. While it’s safe to freeze potato soup, repeated freezing and thawing can negatively impact the texture and flavor. Also, you can add cubed cooked ham at the end of cook time if your ham hocks are meat sparse.
Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
How many servings does this soup make?And how do I pair it down for just two people?
It makes 18 cups 🙂 I would half it for my husband and I.
I’m planning on making this for our cold spell coming up. Can I sub a shank for the hocks? I love your recipes, they all come out as written perfectly! Thank you.
Oh yes! You definitely can 🙂 If there’s not meatiness, you can add some cooked ham or bacon at the end. I hope you love it and that you stay warm and cozy 😉