Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
Yes, you can make perfect baked potatoes in the slow cooker! The easiest hands-off way to feed a crowd, create an effortless baked potato bar, or an easy side dish for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Includes 20 ideas for baked potato bar toppings, too!
about this slow cooker baked potatoes recipe
I’ll admit I was skeptical when I first tried cooking potatoes in my crockpot…
But they really come out SO surprisingly fluffy, light & delicious that now it’s my favorite hands-off way to cook potatoes of all kinds – I’m looking at you slow cooker potatoes with garlic!
This recipe couldn’t be easier to make and is one of my favorite side dishes for busy weeks or fun get-togethers with family & friends.
You can easily add your choice of protein to them to turn this into an easy, filling & hearty dinner option too.
Simply add your potatoes, olive oil, and salt to your crockpot, and then let your slow cooker work it’s magic.
After they’re cooked, you can slice them down the middle and add any fun extras that you want & you’re ready to dig in!
Speaking of toppings, don’t miss the 20 ideas I’m sharing below – the flavor combinations are truly endless and this list will help you put together the BEST baked potato bar at home!
process & tips
I love that these baked potatoes are cooked without foil because they don’t require any prep beyond a quick scrub.
And, in contrast to traditional oven baked potatoes, I don’t poke holes in these potatoes prior to cooking them.
These slow cooker baked potatoes require no water, so don’t add any to the slow cooker (or you’ll end up with mushy potatoes, and no one wants that).
If you’re wondering about the final texture, the skins on these potatoes do come out moderately crispy, which is the nature of cooking in a slow cooker.
If you prefer very crispy skins, just pop the cooked potatoes under a broiler for a few minutes until they crisp up (keeping careful watch, of course, to avoid burning them).
Instructions for how to cook this on high for a shorter cook time are also included in the recipe card below to help you keep your options open on busy weeks.
why the slow cooker’s a great choice for making vegetable side dishes
I love using the slow cooker because it completely simplifies the process of adding veggie sides to any meal.
And, because nearly all of my slow cooker vegetables are dump-and-go (meaning there is no pre-browning or sautéing required) the prep is fast and easy.
Just chop, stir and go!
As a bonus, the slow cooker takes the load off the oven and stove top, making it a fantastic option for potlucks, parties, and holiday meals.
20 baked potato bar toppings worth trying
Need some ideas for baked potato toppings? Here’s a list of twenty topping ideas, including plenty of vegetarian options, perfect for a baked potato bar with all the fixin’s, or if you just need a change from sour cream!
- Classic: sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives or green onion, crispy bacon
- Fajita: peppers, onions, and protein of choice – try this 5-ingredient slow cooker fajita chicken
- Enchilada: enchilada sauce, protein of choice, cheese, sour cream – try this slow cooker enchilada chicken
- Taco: black beans, protein of choice, shredded lettuce, salsa, cheese, sour cream – try this slow cooker taco meat
- Chili: chili of choice, chopped onion, cheese, sour cream – try this white chicken chili
- Vegetarian chili: chili of choice, chopped green onion, cheese, avocado – try this slow cooker vegetarian chili
- Southwest: black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, cheddar jack – try this black bean salad with corn
- Everything Bagel: smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, cappers, everything but the bagel seasoning
- Broccoli Cheddar: steamed broccoli, shredded cheddar, optional bacon
- Loaded Guacamole: guacamole, corn, cherry tomatoes, black beans – try this 4-ingredient guacamole
- Breakfast Burrito: scrambled eggs, green salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream
- Greek Inspired: chickpeas, bell pepper, tomatoes, feta, Greek yogurt
- Sausage and Peppers: sausage, bell peppers, onions – try this crockpot sausage and peppers
- Bruschetta: tomatoes, garlic, balsamic, basil, fresh mozzarella – try this balsamic tomato basil pulled chicken
- Spinach Artichoke: prepared spinach artichoke dip – try this homemade slow cooker spinach artichoke dip
- Nacho: black beans, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno, sour cream, nacho cheese sauce – try this instant pot dairy-free cheese sauce
- BBQ: pulled chicken, pork or jackfruit with barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese – try this slow cooker pulled bbq chicken
- Beans and Greens: white beans, sauteed greens, pine nuts, feta
- Buffalo: pulled Buffalo chicken, blue cheese dressing, with celery on the side – try this slow cooker Buffalo chicken
- Pizza: warm marinara, pepperoni, bell pepper, black olives, mozzarella
more serving suggestions
These healthy baked potatoes go with almost anything but we’re sharing a few of our favorite dinner ideas with you below. Be sure to check out our baked potato bar toppings list, above, for tons of other fun ideas!
5-Ingredient Instant Pot “Rotisserie” Whole Chicken
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Garlic Balsamic Chicken
Roasted Italian Sausage and Vegetables
You can also make twice baked potatoes by scooping out the cooked flesh, mixing with sour cream and cheese, stuffing back into the skins, and running them under the broiler.
Or even use the cooled cooked flesh to make homemade gnocchi (yum!).
ingredients & modifications
Russet potatoes: Medium-sized Russet potatoes are the classic choice for traditional oven-baked potatoes and they also work best for this recipe. You don’t need to peel or pierce the potatoes before adding them to your crockpot, just give them a good scrub, pat them dry and add them right on in.
Olive oil: I love the light, buttery flavor of the olive oil in this recipe. But you can also use any other neutral flavored oil in its place like avocado, vegetable or canola oil.
Kosher salt: Look for kosher salt with the regular iodized salt at the grocery store (it has a subtler flavor). Use less iodized salt if that’s what you have on hand.
more slow cooker vegetable recipes
this recipe is…
dairy free , egg free , gluten free , grain free , mayo free , nut free , paleo , soy free , vegan , vegetarian
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 medium Russet potatoes, scrubbed and dried
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a 6-quart slow cooker. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to evenly coat the potatoes.
- Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7, or until the potatoes are cooked through. Do not uncover during this time.
- To serve, carefully remove each potato with tongs, slice in half and add any desired toppings you prefer.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
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