Delicious Crock Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup

If it's getting a little cooler in your neck of the woods, here is a simple, yet delicious, soup you can make...Loaded Baked Potato Soup.  This recipe takes a few extra steps before adding to your crock pot, but it is well worth it.  Your family will love it!


INGREDIENTS:

6 - 7 large baking potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1/2 to 3/4 inch
9 slices of bacon, cooked & chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 1/2 TBS flour
1 box (32 oz) broth ( I normally make my own and freeze it until needed)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (8oz) pkg Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1/4 cup fresh chives

Begin with cooking bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, leaving at least 2 TBS of the bacon drippings and place on paper towels to drain and then refrigerate until ready to use. Add onions to the pan and cook approx. 5 minutes, then add the flour, cooking another minute. Add 1 cup of broth and cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens (approx 2-3 minutes).

Add this to the crock pot along with the potatoes and the remaining broth.  Place lid on crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low 6-8 hours.

Remove about 4 cups of the potatoes with slotted spoon and smash until you get a smooth consistency in a medium size bowl.  Add 1 1/2 cups of cheese to the remaining soup, in the crock pot and stir until it's melted.

Stir in the milk and the potatoes you just mashed and cook an additional 6-7 minutes.

Remember that bacon you stored away until ready to use?  Place the bacon on a microwave safe plate, lined with paper towels and microwave for approximately 30 seconds, just until it's heated.  Top your soup with the chopped bacon, sour cream, cheese and chives.