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 Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
- olive oil
- kosher 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
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!
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!
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!
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
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!!
am i supposed to put any liquid in the bottom of my slow cooker?
You don’t add any liquid to your slow cooker.
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!
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
Love baked potatoes and will be trying this. Thanks.
I think you’ll love it, Lauralee!
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.