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Baked Potatoes make for such a delicious side dish or even a main dish. So comforting and perfect throughout the cooler months, baked potatoes are really one of my favorite things ever.
A few years ago, we were on a RV trip traveling for the day and we weren’t scheduled to arrive until nearly supper time. As you probably know by now, I love to use my slow cooker at home and on the road, so I thought I’d try “baking” my potatoes in the slow cooker while we were traveling that day.
I have to tell you, they reminded me of those tender, delicious, perfect baked potatoes you get at steak houses. The kind that are fluffy and just melt in your mouth like butter. The kind that you can absolutely make a meal of right by themselves they are so yummy. Bingo! I’ve not baked them in my oven since.
Let me show you how to make baked potatoes in the slow cooker. It will seriously rock your world.
First, choose your favorite potato for baking. Scrub them clean and then place them on a paper towel. I do not pat mine dry as I think the bit of moisture helps them in the slow cooker.
See, they are just a bit damp. You’ll then want a fairly large piece of aluminum foil that will wrap around your potato for baking and seal tightly.
Place your potato on the aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle on a bit of Kosher or sea salt.
Then, take additional pieces of aluminum foil and make balls out of them. Just wad them up to about the size of a tennis or baseball. Arrange them on the bottom of your slow cooker. I do this so that my potatoes aren’t resting directly on the bottom of the slow cooker insert. I’ve found that if they do, the bottoms of the potato tends to cook more than the rest of the potato and leave a brown spot on the bottom. If that doesn’t bug ya, then just skip this step.
Then, arrange the potatoes on top of the aluminum balls you just made.
Place the lid on your slow cooker and set the time for 6-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. I will tell you, I prefer them cooked on low more than the high setting.
Then, just let them stay warm until you are ready to serve them.
Here’s my recipe for Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes. Try them the next time you are planning to fix baked potatoes for your family or company. You’ll be hooked!
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-6 baking potatoes
- olive oil
- salt
Instructions
- Scrub baking potatoes clean and place on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap tightly with aluminum foil.
- Make balls, about 4-6, out of aluminum foil about the size of a tennis ball and arrange on the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
- Place foil-wrapped potatoes into slow cooker insert and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Leave on warm until ready to serve.
Nutritional Information
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Saw this on link on zite! Looks awesome and so easy! My whole family loves baked potatoes and this is such a good idea! Thanks!
Thanks so much, Dina. Making them this way is such a time-saver!
I have never heard of this technique. I will have to try it. Did you read my post about the baked French toast. Oh, Robin, what a hit that dish was!
I’m so glad y’all loved it, Mrs. Lou! One of my favorites, especially when we have company for the weekend!
This is genius! I like doing a baked potato bar and a chili bar when we have family visiting. Everyone can add their favorite topppings to their potato or bowl of chili…or both! I hate giving up the oven space for all the potatoes and trying to keep them hot is a challenge, so next time I’ll bust out the slow cooker for my potatoes. YAY for this great idea!
Hope you enjoy making it this way, MaryBeth! And what a fun idea for visiting family! Love it!
I have never made them in the slow cooker but I’ve seen a lot of people do it. I was wondering what the advantage waso of cooking them in the slow cooker instead of in the oven but I guess its the way they are cooked that makes them super tender. my husband love potatoes more than anything else so I know I’m going to have to try this
I am always amazed at how tender they are! I can’t wait to hear how you like it when you try it!
Great idea! I love my Crock Pot Hot Rolls recipe and this would be perfect to go with it (I have 2 slow cookers) and then grill chicken or steaks? Great hot weather cooking!
Thanks so much! And… great for those busy days and cool evenings. Hope you enjoy it!
Are the times reversed in the recipe? I’m looking forward to doing this!
Thanks so much for catching that, Sheri!!! I’ve updated to correct!
This is such a great idea! I know baked potatoes are easy, but I swear I can never cook mine for long enough in the oven, so this is perfect for me!
I thought I could cook a perfect baked potato in the oven, but it absolutely does not compare to how well they are cooked in the slow cooker. I think you will love it!
I think you have reversed the times for the high and low temps.
Thanks so much! I’ve updated to correct the times!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have my potatoes in my slow cooker now for dinner with friends tonight! Can’t wait.
Yay! Can’t wait to hear how you like it!
So smart to do this in the slow cooker, I love it!!
Thanks so much, Gaby!
Hi Robyn, don’t you have to poke the potatoes so they don’t explode?
I don’t, Debbie. When I cook them in a microwave, I have to pierce them, but I don’t when I cook them in my slow cooker.
Love baked potatoes and will be trying this. Thanks.
I think you’ll love it, Lauralee!
I don’t like using foil for any cooking. I avoid all aluminum to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Have you tried cooking the potatoes in the slow cooker without the foil or wrapped in parchment paper instead?
It’s also not great for the environment, both because of the mining and because of the trash. That’s my only hesitation about this recipe, too.
Hi Sabriel,
Debbie has a great idea of using parchment paper instead of aluminum foil. Let me know if that works for you!
Thanks,
Robyn
Hi Debbie,
I’ve not tried them with parchment paper, but that is a great idea. I have tried them unwrapped and didn’t like the texture of the potato skin as much. Let me know if you try it with parchment and how it works for you!
Thanks,
Robyn xo
I am diggin’ this idea! My slow cooker is feeling extremely ignored lately and these potatoes are the perfect reason to pull it out of the cupboard.
Thanks, Dara. It just makes them out of this world tender and perfect. Hope you like it!
am i supposed to put any liquid in the bottom of my slow cooker?
You don’t add any liquid to your slow cooker.
Made these for a big party Sunday and they turned out great! Everyone loved them and the baked potato bar we set out with all the fixins. So easy! Thanks!!
I made these yesterday and they were wonderful. I’m not a very good cook but thanks to you, I’m a rock star!
So glad you enjoyed them, Yolanda and thanks so much for trying my recipes! That is such a huge compliment!!! xo
Hey, I am going to try these today, thanks! I have that exact same crock pot and feel like it cooks very hot. I usually set it on low for high and on warm when I want it on low. Does yours cool hot also? Or did I just get a bad one?
Hi Tracy,
I actually have a few of the same slow cooker and they all cook about the same. But, I understand that newer slow cookers cook a bit faster than older models. Or so I’ve heard. Good luck!
If you wanted to avoid the foil “balls” that create a little platform for the spuds, how about thick slices of a big sweet onion instead? I do this when making pot roast or brisket in my slow cooker. Works great!
I love this recipe…It is my go to for family gatherings… and on the RV trip.. what a marvelous idea….:) Thanks for sharing…. new to your blog!
I’m totally trying this out! Thanks for the tip about the balls of aluminum foil in the bottom of the crockpot!
Hi, can I ask you what that delicious looking filling is?
Thank you
The filling is sour cream
Thank you for this, perfect for the HOT summers, i always want a baked potato all year, and I am always heating up my oven, this is perfect for summer and i think less expensive method,
So much better than heating up the kitchen with a hot oven! Pinning it!!
I have that same cooker on my counter right now!! One of my favorites!!
i can’t wait to try it when the kids come over i have my bake potatoes in the slow cooker because they enjoy barbecue bake potatoes thank you
I hope they love it!
Oh thank you! Finally I can make the magical baked potatoes I sometimes get at a steakhouse and wonder..”Why are mine never this flavorful and delicious?” They don’t even need butter. I may never bake or nuke another potato.
Haven’t tried this yet but I’m hooked already off to the shops to get some spuds
Since we live and travel in our RV year round when a meal calls for baked potatoes the slow cooker is the way to go. I agree the low and slow setting is the best way to go. When going to a potluck this is a great item to bring.And of course don’t forget all the condiments to go on the super spud.
Does the skin get crispy?
I tried this recipe last night, as we are having a heat wave here. With temperatures close to 90, there was no way inward baking potatoes in the oven in that heat!
This recipe was not only super simple, but tasty too. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. I wasn’t sure if the potatoes needed to be pricked before cooking, but I did just to be on the safe side. I wasn’t a huge fan of the texture of the skins, but I think I will broil them for a minute or so next time. I think that will help.
Thanks for helping with the baked potato cravings in summer!
Thank you for this recipe. I will be trying later this week. Have you ever tried with a sweet potato?
Hi Cary,
I have! The sweet potatoes are scrumptious, too! xo
I have done this for years but have never wrapped in foil. What is the benefit of the foil? Thanks!
Can I do this in a crock pot? Do you add water?
Hi Gail,
You can absolutely use a crock pot for this. I use the term slow cooker to cover any brand. Thanks so much!
How long do you think they can stay in the crock pot at the warm setting, after they’re done? I would have to start the cooking at 6AM before I leave to work and would they be okay to stay in there at eat at around 7:00PM?
Thanks so much for this. I will try this one. Love baked potatoes.