Description
Hearty Tuscan potato and cheddar slow cooker soup combines creamy potatoes with sharp cheese for maximum comfort. Rich ingredients meld together, creating a satisfying meal that warms from within and invites you to savor each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) chicken broth
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 4 cups (600 g) potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) milk
- 1 cup (150 g) carrots, shredded or finely diced
- 1 cup (150 g) celery, diced
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream (optional)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling into small pieces until fully cooked and no pink remains.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté onions and garlic until soft and translucent, developing a rich flavor foundation.
- Slow Cooker Assembly: Transfer beef and aromatic vegetables to the slow cooker, then layer in potatoes, carrots, and celery, covering with chicken broth.
- Seasoning Blend: Integrate dried basil, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper throughout the mixture, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until vegetables reach perfect tenderness.
- Creamy Transformation: Craft a velvety roux by melting butter in a saucepan, whisking in flour, then gradually incorporating milk and heavy cream until smooth.
- Final Enrichment: Pour the creamy roux into the slow cooker, stirring to combine, then fold in cheddar cheese until completely melted and sour cream for added richness.
- Finishing Touch: Allow the soup to meld for a final 15-20 minutes, ensuring all ingredients harmonize into a luxurious, comforting dish.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Thoroughly cook ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces to ensure no pink remains, which enhances flavor and food safety.
- Vegetable Sautéing Tip: Don’t clean the skillet after browning beef; use the same pan to sauté onions and garlic, capturing delicious browned bits for extra depth of flavor.
- Slow Cooker Timing Strategy: Adjust cooking time based on your schedule – low setting for 6-8 hours works best for tender vegetables and rich flavor development.
- Creamy Texture Secret: Whisk roux carefully and add dairy gradually to prevent lumps, creating a silky-smooth base that transforms the soup from good to extraordinary.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg