Slow Cooker Potato Chowder

No photo description available.

Here’s a detailed, step-by-step article on making Slow Cooker Potato Chowder:

Slow Cooker Potato Chowder: A Hearty, Comforting Classic

When it comes to cozy, satisfying meals, few dishes rival the creamy warmth of potato chowder. Slow Cooker Potato Chowder is the ultimate comfort food—rich, hearty, and packed with tender potatoes, vegetables, and smoky bacon flavors that meld together over hours of gentle cooking. Perfect for chilly evenings, this dish is as easy to prepare as it is delicious. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making it from scratch.

Ingredients

For a slow cooker recipe serving 4–6 people, you’ll need:

6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional for a subtle smoky flavor)
Salt and pepper to taste
6 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for thickening)
2 tablespoons butter
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prep the Vegetables

Start by washing, peeling, and dicing your potatoes into uniform cubes. Chop the onion, celery, and carrots, and mince the garlic. Keeping the pieces uniform ensures even cooking and a consistent texture in the chowder.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove it from the pan, crumble it, and set aside. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet for extra flavor.

Step 3: Sauté Aromatics (Optional but Recommended)

Add the butter to the skillet with the bacon fat. Sauté the onion, celery, and carrots for 3–4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. This step builds a deeper flavor base for the chowder.

Step 4: Layer Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the diced potatoes, chicken or vegetable broth, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to combine.