Description
A comforting and easy-to-make Crockpot Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup featuring tender potatoes, lean ground beef, and a rich creamy broth. Perfect for busy days or cozy weekends, this hearty soup is packed with flavor and customizable to your taste preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb lean ground beef
Vegetables
- 4 cups russet or Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
Liquids & Dairy
- 4 cups beef broth
- 4 oz cream cheese or ½ cup heavy cream
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (add near end of cooking)
Instructions
- Brown the Hamburger: Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat to keep the soup rich but not greasy.
- Prepare Vegetables: Chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces, dice the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the carrots. Uniform sizes help ensure even cooking and texture.
- Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: Place browned hamburger, potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, and seasonings into the crockpot. Pour in the beef broth, making sure everything is well covered for slow cooking.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until potatoes are tender and flavors meld beautifully.
- Add Creaminess: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in cream cheese or heavy cream, allowing it to melt and thicken the broth into a dreamy, creamy consistency. Add fresh parsley at this time.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve with optional garnishes such as shredded cheddar cheese, crispy bacon bits, or freshly chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use starchy potatoes like russet for natural thickening without mushiness.
- Don’t skip browning the beef to build deeper flavor and reduce grease.
- Add herbs like thyme early and fresh parsley near the end for layered flavors.
- Add cream cheese or heavy cream last to avoid curdling.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving for best flavor balance.
- This soup is naturally gluten-free if using gluten-free beef broth.
- For vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and plant-based crumbles.
- This soup freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Crockpot soup, creamy potato soup, hamburger soup, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, easy dinner
