Imagine coming home to the most incredibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth baked potatoes without ever turning on your oven. This Easy Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes recipe is about to revolutionize your meal prep, transforming ordinary spuds into crispy-skinned, fluffy-centered delights with minimal effort. Whether you're a busy professional, a home cook looking for foolproof side dishes, or someone who wants maximum flavor with minimum work, this recipe is your ultimate kitchen hack!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the russet potatoes under cool running water, scrubbing gently with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt or debris. Pat the potatoes completely dry with clean paper towels.
- Using a fork, pierce each potato 4-5 times around its surface. This allows steam to escape during cooking and prevents the potatoes from potentially bursting.
- Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and use your hands to evenly coat each potato, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper evenly over the oiled potatoes, gently rubbing the seasonings into the skin.
- Wrap each seasoned potato individually in aluminum foil, making sure the foil is sealed but not too tightly compressed to allow some steam circulation.
- Place the wrapped potatoes into the slow cooker, arranging them in a single layer. Avoid stacking to ensure even cooking.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 7-8 hours, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully remove potatoes from the slow cooker using tongs. Unwrap the foil and let potatoes rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve hot with optional toppings like butter, sour cream, chives, cheese, or bacon bits as desired.
Tips
- • Choose medium to large russet potatoes for the best texture and even cooking. • Always pierce potatoes before cooking to prevent potential steam buildup. • Don't skip wrapping in foil - this helps create a steamy, even cooking environment. • For extra crispy skin, consider unwrapping and broiling for 2-3 minutes after slow cooking. • Experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, rosemary, or paprika for varied flavor profiles. • Check potatoes at the 7-hour mark to prevent overcooking, as slow cookers can vary in intensity. • Let potatoes rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow internal moisture to redistribute.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 278kcal
Carbohydrates: 63g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
