The Perfect Potato: Mastering The Crock Pot Method

Cooking potatoes in a crock pot is a convenient way to prepare a tasty side dish without heating up your kitchen. The cooking time depends on the number of potatoes you're preparing, the size of your crock pot, and your desired level of doneness. For example, if you're filling the crock pot with potatoes, you should cook them for 6 hours on high or 10 hours on low. On the other hand, if you're cooking 6-8 potatoes, you can reduce the cooking time to 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. It's important to note that the potatoes are done when they're soft, so you may need to adjust the timing based on your crock pot and the size of your potatoes.

How long to cook potatoes in a crockpot (4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low)

How long to cook potatoes in a crockpot (4–6 hours on high or 8–10 hours on low)

Cooking potatoes in a crockpot is a great way to save oven space and keep your kitchen cool. The cooking time will depend on the number of potatoes you're cooking and the temperature setting you use.

If you're filling your crockpot with potatoes, you should cook them for 6 hours on high or 10 hours on low. If you're cooking fewer than 8 potatoes, you can reduce the cooking time to 4 hours on high or 6–8 hours on low.

Regardless of the temperature setting, it's important not to overcook the potatoes, as they may become soggy. You'll know they're done when they're soft.

Here's a step-by-step guide to cooking potatoes in a crockpot:

• Start by scrubbing and washing your potatoes to remove any dirt.
• Dry the potatoes with a towel.
• Poke each potato several times with a fork. This step is important as it allows steam to escape during cooking.
• Drizzle or brush the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or dried herbs.
• Wrap each potato tightly in aluminium foil.
• Place the wrapped potatoes in your crockpot, making sure you can still close the lid securely.
• Cook on high for 4–6 hours or low for 8–10 hours, depending on the number of potatoes.
• Remove the potatoes from the crockpot and carefully unwrap them—they will be hot.
• Split the potatoes and add your desired toppings, such as cheese, chives, bacon, sour cream, or butter.

Prepping the potatoes (wash, dry, poke holes, brush with oil, wrap in foil)

Prepping the potatoes

Wash

Start by giving your potatoes a good scrub. You want to get rid of any dirt and grime.

Dry

Use a towel to dry the potatoes.

Poke holes

Use a fork to poke 3-4 holes on all sides of each potato. This will allow steam to escape while the potatoes are cooking.

Brush with oil

Drizzle or brush each potato with olive oil or vegetable oil. You don't need a lot of oil—just put a little in your palm and rub it all over each potato.

Wrap in foil

For each potato, tear off a piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap around the potato completely. Place the potato in the centre of the foil, then wrap it tightly.

The best toppings for crockpot potatoes (butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives)

The Best Toppings for Crockpot Potatoes

Butter, Sour Cream, Cheese, Bacon, and Chives

Crockpot potatoes are a convenient and tasty dish, perfect for feeding a crowd or as an easy weeknight meal. But what takes these spuds from simple to spectacular is the choice of toppings. Here's a guide to the classic combination of butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives, and why they work so well together.

Butter

Butter is a classic baked potato topping and for good reason. It adds a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a touch of saltiness. For the best flavour and texture, use unsalted butter at room temperature so it melts easily into the hot potato.

Sour Cream

Sour cream is another essential baked potato topping. Its tangy flavour and creamy texture complement the fluffy potato beautifully. For a healthier option, plain Greek yoghurt can be used as a substitute, as suggested by Well Plated. It has a similar consistency to sour cream but with a higher protein content and fewer calories.

Cheese

Cheese is a must-have topping for crockpot potatoes. A sharp cheddar is an excellent choice as its strong flavour means a little goes a long way. Other options include Monterey Jack, or for a more indulgent option, try a mix of cheeses like a four-cheese Italian blend.

Bacon

Bacon and potatoes are a match made in heaven. The salty, crispy bacon provides a delicious contrast to the soft, fluffy potato. For convenience, you can use uncooked bacon bits or imitation bacon bits, as suggested by Food.com. However, for the best flavour and texture, opt for cooking your own bacon until crispy and then crumbling it over the top.

Chives

Chives bring a mild onion flavour and a bright pop of colour to the dish. They pair particularly well with the other toppings, especially the sour cream and bacon. If you're using fresh chives, add them towards the end of the cooking process, as they can turn mushy if cooked for too long, as noted by CopyKat Recipes.

Putting It All Together

Once your crockpot potatoes are cooked, simply top with a pat of butter, a generous dollop of sour cream, a sprinkling of cheese and bacon bits, and a scattering of fresh chives. For an even more indulgent dish, try adding some extra butter or cheese during the last hour of cooking, as suggested by CopyKat Recipes. This will give your crockpot potatoes an extra layer of flavour and texture.

How to serve crockpot potatoes (as a side dish or a baked potato bar)

Crockpot potatoes are a super-easy way to bake potatoes without heating up your kitchen. They are a perfect side dish for BBQs, holidays, and everyday dinners. You can also serve them as a baked potato bar, where guests can choose from a variety of toppings to customize their potatoes. Here's how to make and serve delicious crockpot potatoes:

Cooking the Potatoes

First, scrub and dry 4-6 medium/large baking potatoes (russet or sweet potatoes). Prick the potatoes all over with a fork, then rub them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap each potato tightly in foil and place them in your crockpot/slow cooker. Cook the potatoes on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours, depending on their size and your desired level of doneness.

Serving as a Side Dish

Crockpot potatoes make a great side dish for a variety of main courses. Here are some ideas:

• Air Fryer Pork Chops
• Baked Chicken Breast
• Salmon Patty
• Grilled Chicken
• Pulled Pork
• BBQ Chicken
• Pork Carnitas

Creating a Baked Potato Bar

A baked potato bar is a fun and interactive way to serve crockpot potatoes. It's perfect for parties, potlucks, and tailgating events. Here's how to set up your bar:

• Choose your potatoes: You can use russet, sweet, or white potatoes.
• Prepare the toppings: The options are endless! Here are some popular choices:
• Cheese: Cheddar, pepper jack, goat cheese, mozzarella, or a combination of melting cheeses.
• Meats: Chili, ground beef, chicken, pulled pork, bacon, pepperoni.
• Vegetables: Scallions, steamed broccoli, grilled corn, caramelized onions, avocado, tomatoes.
• Sauces: Salsa, sour cream, butter, BBQ sauce, marinara sauce, gravy.
• Herbs and spices: Chives, basil, cilantro, seasoning salt, black pepper, cumin.
• Assemble the bar: Place the potatoes in the middle of a large tray, cookie sheet, or counter. Arrange the toppings in small bowls and bottles of various sizes around the potatoes. Add some fresh greenery, such as parsley, for a nice touch.
• Keep the potatoes warm: You can keep the potatoes warm in the crockpot on the "warm" setting or in an oven heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whether you're serving crockpot potatoes as a side dish or a baked potato bar, they're sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Other crockpot potato recipes (roasted, mashed, twice-baked)

Roasted

For a simple roasted potato recipe, scrub and dry 4-6 russet baking potatoes, then wrap each one in foil after drizzling with olive oil and sprinkling with salt. Place them in your slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Serve with grated cheese, chives, bacon, and Greek yogurt.

Mashed

For creamy mashed potatoes, cut 5 pounds of red potatoes into chunks and place them in a large pot with 3 cubes of chicken bouillon, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender, then drain, reserving the cooking water. Mash the potatoes with 1 tub (8 ounces) each of sour cream and cream cheese, adding the reserved water as needed. Transfer the mashed potato mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. Stir in butter and season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Twice-Baked

For twice-baked potatoes, start by rubbing 4 medium Russet potatoes with olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook in your slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until tender. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh, mixing it with sour cream, butter, and seasonings. Place the mixture back into the potato skins, top with shredded cheese, and return to the slow cooker for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Garnish with bacon and green onions before serving.

Frequently asked questions