Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes are the perfect side dish for busy weeknights. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Aloo Keema Recipe with Ground Meat and Potatoes and Easy Sweet Soy Butter Korean Rice Cakes Recipe.
Why This Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside
- Ready in just 4 hours
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
What You'll Need for Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Russet potatoes
- Water
- Salt
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Optional: Bacon bits
- Optional: Chives
- Optional: Green onions
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Russet potatoes: Scrub potatoes clean but do not peel.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Cooks potatoes evenly and hands-free → See on Amazon
- Potato Masher — Mashes potatoes to perfection → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
- Prepare Potatoes: Scrub potatoes clean, prick with a fork, and place in slow cooker with 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook on high for 4 hours.
- Mash Potatoes: Carefully remove potatoes from slow cooker. Cut off the top, scoop out the flesh, and mash with butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper.
- Load and Serve: Load mashed potatoes back into potato skins, top with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings. Serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Undercooking can lead to tough skins. Ensure potatoes are cooked through by piercing with a fork.
- Tip: For extra crispy skins, broil potatoes for 5 minutes after loading.
- Tip: Make ahead and reheat in the oven for best results.
Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Potatoes can be cooked ahead of time and reheated before serving.
Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute shredded cheese for crumbled blue cheese for a flavorful twist.
- Make-ahead: Potatoes can be cooked and loaded a day ahead. Reheat in the oven before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If potatoes are not cooking through, add more water and cook for an additional hour.
Want to level up this recipe?
Potato Ricer — Ensures perfectly fluffy mashed potatoes → Check price on Amazon
Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Russet potatoes
- Water
- Salt
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
Optional Toppings
- Bacon bits
- Chives
- Green onions
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes: Scrub potatoes clean, prick with a fork, and place in slow cooker with 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook on high for 4 hours.
- Mash Potatoes: Carefully remove potatoes from slow cooker. Cut off the top, scoop out the flesh, and mash with butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper.
- Load and Serve: Load mashed potatoes back into potato skins, top with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute shredded cheese for crumbled blue cheese for a flavorful twist.
- Make-ahead: Potatoes can be cooked and loaded a day ahead. Reheat in the oven before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If potatoes are not cooking through, add more water and cook for an additional hour.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: Potatoes can be cooked ahead of time and reheated before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 10g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 60g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can cook the potatoes ahead of time and load them with toppings just before serving.
Overcooking can lead to dry potatoes. Ensure potatoes are cooked through but not overcooked.
Yes, this recipe is perfect for cozy winter meals. The slow cooker does all the work for you.
Yes, you can use sweet potatoes for a sweeter flavor. Cooking time may vary.
Ensure potatoes are cooked through and loaded carefully to prevent sinking.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
