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!
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 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!