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Looking to cook up some fun? Make Crock-Pot Baked Potatoes (or Sweet Potatoes) and serve them to your guests with an array of tasty goodies to load on top.
We have more than 25+ toppings ideas for a Potato Bar to get you started. Some of the toppings are vegan and others are meaty. There are options to please everyone!
The amazing crock-pot does it again!
I had 14 people at my house for a family gathering. (Yes...14!) And, baked Idaho and sweet potatoes were on the menu. How do you simply and easily get that many fluffy and delicious potatoes all done at once with minimal effort?
Package 'em up and cook them in your slow cooker!
How to Make Crock-Pot Baked Potatoes
Wash or scrub the outside of the potato and pat it dry. Poke a fork into the skin on the potato 3 or 4 times. Rub a little oil on the outside and sprinkle each potato with salt before packaging each one individually in aluminum foil.
Fill the crock-pot to the top, if necessary, stacking the potatoes on top of each other. I fit 14 smallish sized potatoes all at once in a 5-quart slow cooker.
Tip: Select similar sized potatoes so they finish at the same time.
Cook for about 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Using these ranges for cook time, larger potatoes take longer to cook. Sweet potatoes take less time.
That's how I do it! But, I've been told by some very smart readers, that they don't use foil and the process works just fine. Also, oil and salt is optional.
Toppings for Baked Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Go big...and make it a meal by serving hearty toppings (such as beans and ham) alongside traditional favorites (such as sour cream, cheese and chives.) Serve some "surprises" too, such as guacamole, pesto or chili for the adventurous diners.
If you plan it right, vegan, vegetarian and meat lovers will all be very happy.
It's fun to see what combinations people come up with.
Make everything ahead of time and dinner time (or party time) will be a breeze.
Here's a list of ideas for a topping bar to get you started:
- Butter (or substitute)
- Compound Butter, such as garlic butter (or substitute)
- Sour cream
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Shredded or crumbled cheese (including ones like feta, goat and pepper jack cheeses)
- Bacon
- Green onion or red onion
- Salsa
- Cilantro, basil and other fresh herbs
- Chili
- Easy guacamole
- Sauces, such as alfredo, marinara and pesto
- Easy Blue Cheese Sauce
- Hummus
- Chopped ham, chicken or other protein
- Crunchy items such as crushed tortilla chips, nuts or seeds
- Caramelized Onions
- Avocado
- Mushrooms
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Hot sauce, shredded chicken, jalapenos to make Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes by Peas and Crayons
- Any favorite vegetable, grilled, roasted or raw.
Guess how I topped mine? I made a Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potato.
Southwestern all the way...baby!
Would you like more easy, healthy, carb-conscious recipes?
📋 Recipe
Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 sweet potatoes or baking potatoes; any amount that will fit in the crock pot
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Sea Salt
Instructions
- Wash and scrub potatoes and pat dry.
- Pierce skin with a fork 4-5 times on all sides.
- Generously coat the skin of the potatoes with olive oil.
- Sprinkle sea salt on the potatoes.
- Place each potato in the center of a piece of aluminum foil and wrap so that no skin is exposed.
- Place potatoes in the crock pot, layering potatoes on top of each other if necessary.
- Cook on high for 4 ½-5 hours or on low for 8-10 hours or until tender. Sweet potatoes tend to cook a little faster. Large potatoes (or a full crock-pot) tend to cook a little longer.
- Unwrap, split open and fill with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
AliceK says
I was planning on a baked potato bar for an upcoming office party, so I did a trial run for my family's dinner tonight. I cooked 6 medium-large potatoes in the slow-cooker for 8 hours. They were steamed, not baked. They were soft, all right, but with a dense, gummy consistency and a yellow, not white, color. They were not fluffy, and nobody liked them. I will not be cooking baked potatoes in the Crock Pot again.
Marjory Pilley says
Hi!Thanks for your feedback, and I'm so sorry that they didn't work out. If you overcook potatoes, they become soggy and gummy. Be sure to cook at low-temp if using the longer cooking window. Also, newer slow cooker models seem to cook things a little faster. If unsure of the timing, lift and carefully unwrap one potato to check midway through.
Shellyjo says
Could you prep the potatoes the night before?
Marjory says
Hi! Great question! I have not tried this and still think the best result is to prep before cooking. But, since you are leaving the skin on, I think that you probably can.
Rachel says
Thanks for the topping ideas, we're having a family baked potato bar at a family gathering in a couple of weeks and I'm a simple cheese and bacon kinda gal, so I needed more ideas.
I've made baked potatoes in the crockpot a couple of times, but I don't use foil, no need.
Marjory says
Great tip on the foil! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sandy Driscoll says
Sounds like a good idea as we want to have a potato bar for a fund raiser to send church yuth group kids to camp.
Marjory says
Great idea! Good luck with your fundraiser.
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
LOVE the potato bar! So... I kinda want to use ALL THE TOPPINGS!! All of them - They sound delicious!!
Meseidy says
Great way to make an easy potato bar!
Connie | URBAN BAKES says
OMG so many choices!! Love it!
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
Thank you for such a great Crock Pot recipe and those toppings! I will definitely use this idea next time I make baked potatoes!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I love all the topping ideas!! Never would have thought to do potatoes like this!
Brenda@SugarFreeMom says
I use my crock pot frequently but never to just make some baked potatoes, I like the idea and I love all the toppings!
Rebecca {foodie with family} says
Whoa. I would be in hog heaven with this meal. I loved baked potato bars and these look wonderful!
Nutmeg Nanny says
This potato is totally stuffed and totally delicious!