Creamy potato soup is the ultimate comfort food! This Cheesy Pesto Potato Soup is a lighter twist on the classic with all the bowl-licking flavor of the original! Instant Pot + Slow Cooker

OMG WE HAD OUR FIRST COLD FRONT!

Laugh all you want, but this is the highlight of the year for us Floridians who run the risk of heat stroke through most of Fall.

We don’t wear flip flops in the Fall solely to make Northerners cringe, it’s out of sheer necessity people! Wearing them in Winter is an entirely different story… don’t judge my hoodie and flops!

Now that there’s officially a chill in the air, the soup kick that I’ve been on since August is exponentially more acceptable.

To celebrate the need to crank the heat and bring my basil indoors, I made soup. Potato soup! And since my fresh basil was snuggled up next to the stove, I decided to let it in on the fun.

Just looking at that bowl-o-deliciousness makes me want to grab a spoon and dive in!

Cheesy Pesto Potato Soup – Instant Pot + Slow Cooker

Let your slow cooker or Instant Pot do all the work! This super simple soup is a set it and forget it type of deal and can be whipped up with minimal effort. Some quick peeling and chopping and you’re on your way to a delicious bowl of soup with leftovers that taste even better the next day!

5 from 1 vote Print Cheesy Pesto Potato Soup - Instant Pot + Slow Cooker Creamy potato soup is the ultimate comfort food! This Cheesy Pesto Potato Soup is a lighter twist on the classic with all the bowl-licking flavor of the original! Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 5 hours Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes Servings 6 servings Calories 332 kcal Author Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons Ingredients 3 lbs yukon gold potatoes

1 medium onion (yellow or white)

3 celery ribs/stalks

2-3 TBSP butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups vegetable or chicken broth plus 1 cup extra if desired

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup grated sharp white cheddar cheese

2-3 TBSP pesto plus extra for topping

2-3 TBSP chopped green onion

salt and pepper to taste

2-3 TBSP pesto plus extra for for topping (see post for recipe)

grated cheddar cheese for topping GARLICKY CROUTONS: 2 slices whole grain bread

2 tsp olive oil or butter

1/8-1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp paprika

salt to taste TASTY TOPPINGS :: Choose your favorites! red peper flakes

chopped green onion

cheddar, gouda, or parmesan cheese

sour cream or greek yogurt

crispy bacon

veggie bacon bits

garlicky croutons

extra pesto Instructions SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS: Scrub and peel your potatoes and roughly chop. Chop your onion and celery and toss all your veggies in the pot! Next add veggie broth, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Set your slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 4-5 hours, or, if you're gone for the day, set it to LOW for 8 hours. For a silky smooth soup, an immersion blender to blend fully, or leave it a bit chunky by only blending about 2/3 of the soup. Ready to eat? Simply mix in your milk, cheese, and green onions. Taste and re-season as needed. Pile on your choice of toppings from the list above, including lots of tasty pesto, and dig in! INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS: Scrub and peel your potatoes and roughly chop. Chop your onion and celery and toss all your veggies in the pot along with the veggie broth. Adjust valve to seal, lock lid, and set Instant Pot to 10 minutes. Once finished, quick release the pressure by carefully switching the valve to vent. For a silky smooth soup, an immersion blender to blend fully, or leave it a bit chunky by only blending about 2/3 of the soup. You can also use a potato masher for an extra thick and chunky soup - anything goes! Next add garlic, butter, salt, pepper, milk, cheese, and green onions. Season to taste (add any extras your heart desires) Swirl in 2-3 TBSP of pesto, to taste, and top soup with all your favorite toppings from the list above. Enjoy! Recipe Notes FOR THE CROUTONS: pre-heat oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees F. Chop bread into small cubes, drizzle with melted butter or olive oil and toss to coat. Top with paprika, garlic powder and salt, to taste. Toast until golden brown. Nutrition Facts below are estimated for soup with pesto and croutons using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed based on extra toppings chosen and enjoy! Nutrition Facts Cheesy Pesto Potato Soup - Instant Pot + Slow Cooker Amount Per Serving Calories 332 Calories from Fat 144 % Daily Value* Fat 16g 25% Saturated Fat 7g 44% Cholesterol 32mg 11% Sodium 828mg 36% Potassium 1043mg 30% Carbohydrates 36g 12% Fiber 6g 25% Sugar 4g 4% Protein 14g 28% Vitamin A 850IU 17% Vitamin C 28mg 34% Calcium 297mg 30% Iron 8mg 44% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Need a pesto recipe? No problem!

Simple Basil Pesto

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups fresh basil leaves, stems removed

1/4 cup walnuts (or pine nuts!)

2 large cloves of garlic

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to taste

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

(optional) salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

My go-to trick for pesto that stays vibrant green (even when frozen) is blanching before blending! Toss your basil leaves in boiling water to blanch briefly. Once they turn bright green, remove leaves with a slotted spoon and add to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process. Pat the leaves dry with a paper towel then follow the steps below. This is optional but my absolute favorite technique and well worth the effort for gorgeous green pesto!

Combine basil, walnuts, and garlic in a small food processor. While it runs, slowly pour in your olive oil. Add your parm cheese and puree for about a minute or so more. Swirl into this soup or serve over pasta, pizza, or anything your heart desires!

You can also use an immersion blender to make the pesto, score!

This pesto tastes great with the cheesy pesto potato soup recipe above, and goes great with everything from pasta to pizza!

Pesto Par-tay!

There are a million and one ways to make this gorgeous green sauce and even more uses for it! For this slow cooker potato soup with pesto, feel free to use your family’s favorite method, a sassy store-bought sauce, or try something new and adventurous with my Roasted Garlic Kale Pesto or Pistachio Arugula Pea Pesto!