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    Home » All-Recipes

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

    Published: Mar 18, 2015 · Modified: Jan 2, 2022 by Margaret · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

    This slow cooker sweet potato soup recipe features a simple combination of wholesome plant-based ingredients. It's vegan, gluten free, smooth and delicious.

    Sweet Potato Soup

    Sweet Potatoes

    Did you know there are over 400 varieties of sweet potatoes? As I explain in Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams, they range in color and firmness.

    The potatoes we often call yams in the U.S. are actually soft, deep orange sweet potatoes.

    Soft sweet potatoes become tender and moist when cooked. I love to keep baked sweet potatoes in the fridge for quick meals, but they also make great soup.

    The Convenience of Slow Cooking

    By the end of the day, I often don't feel like cooking. Tossing ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning is a great coping mechanism for lazy cooks like me.

    I don't always follow a recipe. More often than not, I experiment with what I have on hand. Then, if I create a winner, I write it down.

    I encourage you to do the same!

    Using an Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker

    Instant Pot - all in one slow cooker, steamer and pressure cooker

    When I first created this recipe, I was using my twenty-five-year-old Crock-Pot. I sent that ancient contraption off to college with my son.

    Now, unless I'm making an extra-large batch of soup, I use my Instant Pot as a slow cooker. It works great!

    If you are not familiar with this all-in-one appliance, check it out. It has replaced my old Crock-Pot and my rice cooker! And, it pressure-cooks beans and grains beautifully!

    Instant Pot Glass Lid

    I bought the Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid so I can see ingredients when I use the slow cook setting.

    Pressure Cooker Option

    I developed this recipe for my slow cooker. But if I want to have it for lunch, or forget to set it up in the morning, I cook it in my Instant Pot on the Soup pressure cooker setting.

    Refer to the Recipe Notes below for more information.

    Save A Step with an Immersion Blender

    An immersion blender with a mixing cup

    An immersion blender is another handy tool. If you don't have one, I encourage you to get one. I use mine all the time.

    You can read why it's worth the storage space in this article. But the short answer is, ladling hot chunky liquids into a blender can be tricky.

    I appreciate being able to puree soup in its cooking pot.

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

    Sweet Potato Soup

    I’m quite pleased with the results of this experiment.

    My husband, who actively avoids eating sweet potatoes, was even willing to give the recipe a try. He declared this slow cooker sweet potato soup delicious.

    Then he persuaded our daughter – who also claims to be a sweet potato hater – to have some. She grudgingly agreed it was tasty. So, the recipe made the winning cut!

    Sweet Potato Soup
    Print Pin

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 5 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time 5 hours 35 minutes
    Servings 6 -8

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups low sodium vegetable broth
    • 3 large sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
    • 1 cup onion chopped
    • 2 stalks celery chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic crushed
    • 1 cup plant milk (I use cashew or coconut milk)
    • 1 tsp. dried tarragon
    • 1 tsp. McCormick Pinch Perfect Salt Free Seasoning
    • 2 cups baby spinach
    • 6-8 Tbsp. sliced almonds
    • sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Add broth, sweet potatoes, onion, celery, and garlic to a 4-quart slow cooker.
    • Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-5 hours (or until potatoes are soft).
    • Turn off slow cooker and add plant milk, tarragon, and Pinch Perfect Seasoning and blend 1-2 minutes with an immersion blender until soup is smooth. *
    • Stir in baby spinach, cover and let sit for 20 minutes until spinach is soft.
    • Ladle into soup bowls.
    • Sprinkle each bowl with 1 tbs sliced almonds, sea salt and ground black pepper to taste.

    Notes

    *If you do not have an immersion blender, carefully ladle ⅓ of the soup into a blender and mix until smooth. Pour mixture into a warm holding pot and repeat until all of the soup is blended, then return mixture to the slow cooker.
     
    **If you are short on time, add the broth, sweet potatoes, onion, celery, and garlic to an Instant Pot and cook on the Soup pressure cooker setting for 20 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally (about 30 minutes) - then follow steps 3-6 above.

     Note: I do not include nutrition information with my recipes because I subscribe to the theories presented in the book Whole and believe we should focus on eating a variety of whole foods instead of counting calories or keeping track of individual nutrients. Also, this page contains affiliate links. I earn a commision if you use the links. I only recommend items/brands I use and trust.

    Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup - this tasty vegan and gluten-free recipe features a simple combination of wholesome plant-based ingredients. | VeggiePrimer.com


    « Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams
    Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Spinach »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie

      October 09, 2015 at 9:18 pm

      What was great about this recipe was besides its great taste was it called for ingredients I all ready had in my kitchen !

      Reply
      • Margaret

        October 09, 2015 at 9:23 pm

        Those are always the best kind! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Lis

      August 17, 2016 at 12:44 pm

      If using dairy milk, would it be an equal amount to the plant based milk?

      Reply
      • Margaret

        August 17, 2016 at 1:43 pm

        Hi Lis - yes, I imagine the amount of milk would be the same. I have not made the recipe with dairy milk so I can't say for sure, but it shouldn't be an issue.

        Reply
    3. Asha Egenvall

      November 06, 2016 at 5:07 pm

      Hi, what's in the salt free seasoning? I live in Sweden and might need to sub this for something similar if possible.

      Reply
      • Margaret

        November 07, 2016 at 9:06 am

        The ingredients include onion, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper, garlic, lemon peel, celery, and paprika. Hope this helps! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Ceara

      November 16, 2017 at 10:28 pm

      Could you blend first and then put in slow cooker?

      Reply
      • Margaret

        November 17, 2017 at 9:20 am

        Honestly, I'm not sure what kind of results that would yield.

        Reply
    5. Stephanie

      July 03, 2018 at 11:51 am

      Can you use water instead of milk? I'm doing Paleo.

      Reply
      • Margaret

        July 05, 2018 at 4:45 pm

        Yes, you can use water - the soup with just be a little less creamy.

        Reply
    6. Jeannette

      December 23, 2018 at 9:36 am

      If making the day before, should I hold on adding the spinach until just before serving time?

      Reply
      • Margaret

        December 26, 2018 at 3:32 pm

        Adding the spinach before serving would be fine - so long as the soup is sufficiently heated and the spinach has time to wilt.

        Reply
    7. Sheree

      December 31, 2018 at 2:03 pm

      I didn't have tarragon, so supplemented it for paprika and cinnamon. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Margaret

        January 08, 2019 at 10:19 am

        Sounds like a yummy substitute! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Alex

      January 08, 2022 at 10:14 am

      Does this soup freeze well?

      Reply
      • Margaret

        January 08, 2022 at 11:54 am

        Hi Alex - I think I've frozen it before and didn't have an issue, but I'm not certain. It might depend on what kind of milk you use. Rice milk should be fine. A higher fat milk like cashew or coconut milk might change in texture a bit. And, you may also want to hold off on adding the fresh spinach until it's thawed and reheated. If you try it, let us know how it goes—and I will do the same. 🙂

        Reply

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