For a quick, easy, and ridiculously delicious dinner any night of the week, try this Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup. The creamy potatoes, salty ham, and tangy sour cream balance to make a tasty, comforting soup that’s perfect with any side dish. Whether you’re looking for a leftover ham recipe or need a hands free family dinner, this slow cooker soup recipe is a perfect choice!
If you love soup, easy dinners, and the flavors of ham and potatoes, this recipe is going to knock your socks off! It’s SO quick and simple, but develops the most INCREDIBLE flavor thanks to the classic combination of potatoes, salty ham, and sour cream.
Soup is always a winner in our house, it’s so comforting and filling on its own, but can also be served with different sides like bread, veggies, or salads. But this recipe truly stands out with the combination of incredible flavor, but it is just so easy to make!
Slow cooked potato and ham soup is SO good, so creamy, and so, so easy to make, even on busy weeknights. Just dump it into the crock pot, let it cook, then finish it with cream. It’s basically 100% hands off but you get the most satisfying, creamy soup at the end. I guarantee the entire family will love it.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy Ingredients – Every ingredient should be very easy to find at any major grocery store or already in your pantry!
- Hands Off Cooking – You can basically ignore the soup while it cooks and it’ll be perfect!
- Stand Alone Meal – Even if you serve nothing but a hearty bowl of this easy ham and potato soup, your family will have full, happy bellies.
- Easy Clean Up – Crock pot meals means you can skip scrubbing endless pots, pans, knives, and cutting boards!
Recipe Notes
This slow cooker ham and potato soup recipe is as simple as promised! Just your Crock pot and 10 minutes of prep for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make creamy ham and potato soup to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Potatoes O’Brien – These are the diced frozen potatoes that include peppers and onions. They’re available in the freezer section of most grocery stores. If you can’t find them, simply swap in a bag of regular frozen diced potatoes or hash browns. Then, also grab a bag of frozen bell peppers and onions to add in with it.
- Chicken Broth – Chicken stock or vegetable broth are always good substitutes.
- Ham – This is a great way to use leftovers from that Easter or Christmas honey glazed ham! You can also use a package of diced ham or even chopped up deli ham year round.
- Celery
- Salt & Pepper
- Butter
- Half and Half – You can swap in half heavy cream and half milk as a good alternative.
- Sour Cream – Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt is a great swap if you need one!
- Toppings – These are totally optional, but super tasty! We love to add shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, a dollop of sour cream, or chopped parsley. Choose your favorite, or add them all!
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Ham and Potato Cheese Soup– Follow the recipe as directed but add 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese in with the half and half and sour cream. Stir until melted. If it’s too thick, add 2 tablespoons of milk or half and half at a time until it’s your desired consistency.
- Ham and Potato Leek Soup– Wash and and slice the white and light green part of 1 leek lengthwise. Chop it finely. Add it to the slow cooker with the ham, potatoes, celery, broth, and butter. Continue with the recipe as directed.
- Ham and Potato Soup with Vegetables– In the last 30 minutes of cooking, add in 1 package of frozen mixed vegetables. You can use frozen peas or a combination of peas, carrots, and corn. Replace the lid and let the soup finish cooking, then stir in the half and half and sour cream and serve.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup.
- Step 1– Combine everything except the sour cream and half and half in the Crock Pot.
- Step 2– Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5.
- Step 3– Add in the half and half and sour cream and stir until well combined.
Recipe Tips
- Start with Frozen Potatoes – The key to making the best ham and potato soup recipe in the Crock Pot is frozen potatoes. They require no prep and they’re already partially cooked. That means they’ll leave you with the perfect creamy texture when they’re done cooking, no blender required!
- Let it Cook – It really is best to let the soup cook nice and slow. You can completely ignore it and go about your day! Make sure you give it at least my minimum recommended cooking times because rushing can lead to a less creaminess.
- Stir before Adding Final Ingredients – Before you mix in the sour cream and half and half give the soup a stir. That will help break down any remaining potatoes and help that super creamy ham and potato soup texture come together more easily.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Buy Pre-Diced Ham – Packages of diced ham are usually available near the breakfast or deli meats at your grocery store. Then you can just rip the package open and dump it right in, no need to chop anything. Or this recipe is great for using leftovers!
- Buy Chopped Celery – Check the prepared area of the produce section at your grocery store. You can often find celery that’s already been washed and chopped for you.
- Cook on High – The quickest way to cook the soup is to put your slow cooker on high heat and cook it for 4 hours. That’s 2-4 hours faster than it takes to cook on low!
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this slow cooker ham and potato soup recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Combine the diced ham, celery, potatoes, salt, and pepper in a freezer safe bag.
- Freeze.
- When ready to cook, empty the bag into the slow cooker with butter and broth.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Add in sour cream and half and half, stir, then serve.
How to Freeze Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup After Cooking
- Cook the soup according to the recipe up through step 2.
- Portion the soup into freezer safe bowls or containers and let it cool completely.
- Freeze.
- When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
- Add thawed soup to large pot or your slow cooker on high and let it cook until hot.
- Add in the sour cream and half and half and stir to combine.
What to Serve with Creamy Ham and Potato Soup
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of ham and potatoes, it will pair well with many of your favorite traditional side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Italian House Salad – This classic salad side dish is a light and refreshing option to serve next to your filling, comforting potato ham soup.
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower – Try this easy vegetable side for a quick way to add some healthy, delicious flavor to dinner.
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob – You only need 3 minutes to whip up this super easy side!
- Brown Butter Broccoli – The nutty flavor of brown butter makes this broccoli SO tasty, even to the kids!
- Oven Roasted Green Beans – Any of the 5 fantastic seasoning options would be delicious next to creamy potato soup with ham.
- Garlic Roasted Mixed Vegetables – This is the BEST vegetable side dish for busy families!
- Best Ever Garlic Bread – A simple loaf of French bread becomes a dynamite side in no time with this recipe.
- Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread – Serve this amazing, homemade cornbread next to a hearty bowl of ham and potato soup for a comforting dinner everyone will love.
- No Yeast Dinner Rolls – These simple homemade rolls are perfect beside a creamy soup and require no rise time!
- Mile High Buttermilk Biscuits – This classic, fluffy biscuit is a classic pairing with flavors like ham and potatoes.
Ham and Potato Soup Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
Is it better to cook Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup on high or low?
Low settings will allow your ham and potato soup more time to develop flavor, but high will work just fine if you’re short on time. Both will be delicious!
Why is my slow cooker ham and potato soup not thickening?
Make sure you give your ham and potato soup the correct amount of time to cook in the Crock Pot. Rushing it can prevent the potatoes from softening enough. The combination of the fully cooked potatoes with the half and half and sour cream is important for the right thickness.
Can I overcook ham and potato soup in the Crock Pot?
Crock pots are great for cooking over long periods, but you can overcook meals like this ham and potato soup if it’s left too long. For the right texture soup and tender ham, cook no longer than 5 hours on high and 8 on low.
Will sour cream thicken my ham and potato soup?
Yes, sour cream will help to thicken your Crock Pot ham and potato soup, as well as add an essential tangy flavor that’s a classic combination with potatoes!
More EASY Soup Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy Crock Pot recipes, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen potatoes o’brien, (1 bag)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 16 ounces ham, diced
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1.5 cups half and half
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Toppings (optional)
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced green onions
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Add the frozen potatoes, chicken broth, ham, celery, salt, pepper, and butter to the crock pot.
- Cover and cook for 4-5 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low.
- Once done, stir in the half and half and sour cream. Use a potato masher to mash some of the hashbrown potatoes into the soup and stir to thicken everything up. Add toppings as desired.
Recipe Notes
- Potatoes O’Brien – Swap in one bag of frozen diced potatoes or hash browns and one bag of frozen bell peppers with onions.
- Chicken Broth – Use chicken stock or vegetable broth
- Diced Ham – Use leftover roasted ham or deli ham.
- Half and Half – Mix ¾ cup of heavy cream with ¾ cup of milk.
- Sour Cream – Use unsweetened, plain Greek yogurt instead.
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