The Best Baked Potato Soup Ever! (crockpot)

(from Fix It and Forget It Cookbook)

4 large baked potatoes OR 1 bag of Steam ‘n Mash Potatoes

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

6 cups milk, whole or 2%

¾ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

4 green onions, chopped and divided

12 slices bacon, fried, crumbled, and divided OR 12 slices MICROWAVE bacon, cooked, crumbled, and divided

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream, plus some for topping

1. If using baked potatoes, cut potatoes in half. Scoop out pulp and put in a small bowl.

If using Steam ‘n Mash Potatoes, cook in the bag for 10 minutes.

2. Melt butter in large skillet. Add flour. Gradually stir in milk (sometimes I only add half of the milk and put the other half in the crock pot, set on LOW). Continue to stir until smooth, thickened, and bubbly.

3. Transfer milk mixture to crock pot and set on LOW.

4. Stir in potatoes, salt, pepper, and three-quarters of the onions, bacon, and cheese. Cook until heated. Stir in sour cream.

5. Cook on LOW until all well mixed and heated.

Serve with remaining onions, bacon, cheese, and sour cream.