Slow Cooker Vegetable Beer Cheese Chowder
Ingredients
- 1 bag 20 oz Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Brown potatoes [in the refrigerated deli section] or use frozen hash browns
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup beer
- 1 cup chopped ham optional
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3 oz flavorful cheese like Manchego or Gruyere
- 3 oz shredded Parmesan
Instructions
- Saute onion in butter and olive oil until soft. Add ham, celery and pepper.
- When vegetables have softened add spinach and cover for several minutes until spinach wilts down.
- Put the broth in a sprayed or lined slow cooker.
- Add potatoes. Add cooked vegetables, ham and beer.
- Season well with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- 30 minutes before serving add cheese and additional beer if soup seems too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Cover and cook for 15-30 minutes to melt cheese and stir well before serving. Makes 4-6 servings