Cheesy potato kielbasa crockpot soup is surely the slow cooker's liquid gold. This easy prep recipe puts the comfort in comfort food—a golden cheesy base loaded with potatoes you don't even have to cut up. That's because this recipe features frozen hash browns along with aromatic diced onion and sliced smoked kielbasa.
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When your crockpot is full of the cheesy sausage and potatoes in this delicious soup, everyone will be ready to come to the table and is sure to ask for seconds. And it all starts with a quick morning mix of ingredients that are easy to have on hand and need little prep.
When cheesy potato kielbasa soup is ready at dinner time, your evening self will definitely thank your morning self!
If you want a similarly easy comforting soup but need it in a hurry, try my easy potato soup with hash browns on the stove top. If you are looking for another crockpot soup using kielbasa, you might like my slow cooker lentil soup with sausage.
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What you need to make Crockpot Cheesy Potato Kielbasa Soup
- Frozen hash browns. I like frozen diced potatoes (I use the Great Value southern style hash browns) because they look more like fresh potatoes in the resulting soup, but you can use frozen shredded potatoes if you prefer. Peeled, diced fresh potatoes can also be used, but require extra water or chicken broth added.
- Condensed cheddar cheese soup. I have only ever used Campbell's canned soup, but if you have the time and energy, you can make a homemade alternative.
- Onion. I use yellow onions exclusively when cooking. If you prepare quick ingredients for the freezer, you can use a portion of frozen sautéed onion in place of chopped raw onion to save even more time (no need to thaw).
- Beef kielbasa.
- Milk. I find this soup is rich enough as it is, but if you prefer, you could substitute half and half or heavy cream for some of the milk.
- Salt & pepper.
- Optional, not pictured: shredded cheddar cheese and green onion for garnish.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Crockpot Cheesy Potato Kielbasa Soup
Slice the kielbasa lengthwise, then crosswise into bite-size pieces. Chop the onion (1).
Combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker, and pour the milk on top (2). Stir gently until well-mixed (3).
Cover and cook on low, stirring every couple of hours, for 6-8 hours on low or until cooked through (4).
Stir gently and garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and green onions if desired.
Crockpot tip
You'll need to adjust the cooking time of this recipe based on your individual appliance. Slow cookers give different results based on brand, size, and how full they are, so keep that in mind when planning your cook time. A 6-quart crockpot will cook the same recipe much faster than a 4-quart or 3-quart crockpot.
On top of that, not all crockpots cook at the temperature they are supposed to (you can use this method to test your crockpot temperature). The bottom line is that unlike oven cooking, there is no way to exactly predict the time needed to perfectly cook in a crockpot because they vary so much.
I use a 6-quart crockpot—the size is perfect for the recipes I make, and it gives me the options I need without needing to learn complicated programming modes. I like the ability to choose how long to cook at high or low. It automatically switches to the "keep warm" function after the cooking time ends.
Storage and freezing
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. If the soup needs thinning, add milk until it reaches the desired consistency.
If you would like to meal prep this slow cooker potato soup for the freezer, chop the onion and kielbasa sausage and combine it in a freezer container with the other ingredients. Freeze for up to six months, and label as follows:
Crockpot Cheesy Potato Kielbasa Soup Date____________________
Thaw overnight in refrigerator, then cook in slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low. Serve garnished with shredded cheddar cheese and sliced green onion if desired.
FAQ
How do I keep the potato from getting mushy?
If you are having trouble with the hash browns turning mushy, try adding them later in the cooking process. Also take care to stir gently to avoid breaking them down.
Recipe
Crockpot Cheesy Potato Kielbasa Soup
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen diced potatoes/hash browns, partly thawed
- 1 pound kielbasa, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 10 ounces condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 3 cups milk, plus extra for thinning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice 1 pound kielbasa and dice 1 onion.
- Combine 32 ounces frozen diced potatoes/hash browns, kielbasa, onion, 10 ounces condensed cheddar cheese soup, 3 cups milk, and salt and pepper to taste in a slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until cooked through.
Notes
- Nutrition data does not include salt and pepper.
- If your crockpot cooks on the hot side, you may need to add milk to thin the mixture after a few hours of cooking.
Cindy
Can I use Russets? I don’t have Frozen Hashbrowns & this recipe sounds delicious !
Mary Ann
Hi Cindy - You can but you will probably need to adjust the amount of liquid since hash browns are cooked and Russets are not. I would add some water or broth, or I'd cube and precook the potatoes before adding. I have not tried it with raw potatoes so I'd love to know how it turns out for you if you try it!
Amanda Beaty
I thought my 17yo was going to finish the whole crockpot on his own. (He only got through about 3/4 of it that night. "I was going to eat all of it, but it's a lot more than it looks like.") This was quick and easy to throw in the crockpot, and it tasted great!
Mary Ann
I'm glad your son enjoyed this so much! I struggle with setting serving sizes since portion sizes vary so much. Sounds like this was not 8 servings for your household. ;)