Potato and Leek Soup in the Slow Cooker

Name: Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Dinner
Ingredients: 4 medium to large potatoes, peeled (I peel, but this is optional); 2-3 leeks, sliced, white and light green parts only; 32 oz. chicken broth; kosher salt; pepper; Half-n-Half cream (optional)

September 24, 2020

I think this recipe is the easiest and healthiest version of potato leek soup in the slow cooker!

I’ve always been a fan of potato and leek soup.

Yet, as I got older (and wiser), I noticed that most restaurant versions of leek and potato soup were thick and creamy, which tasted great, but weren’t so good for the waistline.

I really wanted a healthy version for the slow cooker.

I was also working nearly full time in my pediatric nutrition private practice, so I also wanted a soup recipe I could make in the morning and come home to, ready to eat.

Yup, a soup I could throw together in the morning and forget about until I returned home.

So I began my research.

My recipe criteria:

a potato leek soup recipe I could make in the slow cooker or crock pot,
no cream (or cream optional),
a short list of simple ingredients,
and fast and easy to pull together.

Slow Cooker Potato and Leek Soup

What I came up with has stood the test of time and the sometimes picky palates of four kids.

This soup has been made so many times over the last 10 years, I cannot even count.

sliced leeks in a bowl — *I slice the leeks so I can rinse the dirt off of them easily.*

It is, by far, my most requested soup from my children and one of the easiest soup recipes to make.

I’m not kidding!

My kids request this soup all the time.

And they would tell you it’s the best soup they’ve eaten!

(And how many kids do you know who like potato leek soup?!)

They also love my Roasted Pork Shoulder in the Oven.

sliced leeks in water — *It’s important to remove all the sand and dirt trapped in the layers of the leek.*

An Irresistible Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup

I’m pretty pleased for the obvious reason: my kids love this leek and potato soup in the slow cooker.

But, I also love it because it’s an easy soup to make and it’s pretty healthy.

Making this soup is a quick production.

Just chop up some potatoes and leeks, throw them in the slow cooker with chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you want a potato leek soup vegan option), and walk away.

Yup.

Walk. Away.

diced potatoes for potato leek soup in the crockpot — *You can use a variety of potatoes for this soup!*

When you make this recipe, you’ll find that most of the effort is in rinsing the leeks, which I do quickly in a bath of cold water after I’ve sliced them.

Here are some of my other favorite soups I like to make:

chicken broth for potato leek soup in the crockpot — *I start with a low sodium chicken broth and add salt later to taste.*

Simple Soup Ingredients = Fast Prep

This recipe is savory and comforting, and only uses three main ingredients: leeks, potato and broth.

Yes, I said that right.

Only 3 ingredients.

Kind of like my rule for ingredients lists on food products: simple and succinct…and less than ten ingredients (all of which I can pronounce and recognize).

Or what I screen for when I’m looking through recipes.

If it’s got more than 6 or 7 ingredients, I’m looking for something else.

cooking potato leek soup in the slow cooker — *I layer the potatoes on the bottom, then add the leeks and cover with chicken broth.*

When to Serve Potato Leek Soup

Autumn and winter are the perfect times of year for this flavorful soup.

Once fall rolls in and the school year and activities are in full swing, you can bet this recipe makes a regular appearance on my meal plan.

I make it on those really busy nights (read = driving all over town picking up and dropping off kids) when it’s nice to have something ready and waiting.

Or, when I have a full day of kiddos in my office.

With only a little washing and chopping, this leek soup recipe will be a star player in your slow cooker soup category.

What Goes Well with Potato Leek Soup in the Crock Pot?

I always purchase a loaf of crusty French bread. Italian bread goes well with this soup, as well.

And, I always make a salad and add a bowl of fruit to the meal.

What’s your favorite soup in the slow cooker?

Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

A low fat, hearty and delicious Potato Leek Soup prepared in the slow cooker.

Ingredients

4 medium to large potatoes, peeled (I peel, but this is optional)
2-3 leeks, sliced, white and light green parts only
32 oz. chicken broth
kosher salt
pepper
Half-n-Half cream (optional)

Instructions

Rinse, peel and cube the potatoes into 1" pieces.

Slice the leeks and place in a bowl of water; swish them around to dislodge dirt and sand; let stand for 2-3 minutes (dirt/sand will sink to the bottom of the bowl).

Add potatoes, leeks and chicken broth to the crock pot (in this order).

Season with salt and pepper.

Cook on low heat for 6 hours.

Use an immersion blender or traditional blender to puree the soup.

Check flavor and season to taste.

Optional: If you like a creamier version, stir in 2 ounces of half-n-half cream.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 70Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 344mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g

This is an estimation of nutritional content.

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This post was originally published in 2013 | Updated in September 2020

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