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three crockpot baked potatoes arranged in a row and loaded with toppings
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4.89 from 9 votes

Crock Pot Baked Potatoes

Perfect baked potatoes have never been easier than when prepared in the bowl of your slow cooker. Let your crock pot do the work, top them with your favorite fixings, and sit down to a delicious easy dinner at the end of the day.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • russet yukon gold, or sweet potatoes (you don't want to fill your crock pot more than 3/4 of the way full to prevent under/over cooking between the potatoes on top and the ones on the bottom)
  • olive oil optional
  • salt & black pepper to taste (optional)
  • aluminum foil

Instructions

  • Wash and scrub your potatoes thoroughly. Remove any eyes or bad spots if necessary. Let the skins dry before proceeding (only takes a few minutes).
  • Prick each potato with a fork 6-8 times per potato. Do NOT skip this step! The holes allow steam to escape as they cook. Exploded baked potato isn't fun to eat or clean up.
  • Drizzle a little olive oil onto each potato. Using your hands, rub into the skin all over the potato. Repeat for each potato. You can omit this step, but I like the extra crunchy skins the olive oil creates.
  • Salt and pepper, to taste, the skins of the potatoes.
  • Wrap each potato individually in aluminum foil, sealing them up tightly.
  • Place the wrapped potatoes in the slow cooker, foil seam side up. There's no need to grease the crock pot or add any liquids. Cook them 'dry'.
  • Cook them on low for 8 hours, or until tender when pressed with fingers. Slow cooker times may vary a little.
  • Remove the potatoes. Remove the foil. Cut a slit in the top along the center of each potato to open them up, and serve with topping of your choice.

Notes

  • This same technique works great for sweet potatoes too! Loaded sweet potatoes have now become a new fall favorite of mine.
  • Do NOT skip poking holes in the potatoes. The holes allow steam to escape as they cook. If you skip it, the steam will cause the potatoes to explode and, trust me, exploded baked potato isn't fun to eat or clean up.
  • You don't have to use olive oil on the skins, but it will make them nice and crispy and so delicious!