Slow Cooker Jacket Potato (2024)

Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan

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A Slow Cooker Jacket Potato couldn't be easier! Just a couple of minutes of prep time and a few hours in the slow cooker and you have yourself soft and fluffy potatoes that are ready to be loaded with your favourite toppings. A fuss free family favourite, these are delicious and seriously fool proof.

Whether you called them baked potatoes, or jacket potatoes, we all know them as being cooked in the oven for hours and heating up the whole kitchen. It's SO much easier to do them in the slow cooker.

Very little prep time, cheaper than cooking in the oven and you still get the light and fluffy centres. The best thing is, you can put them on and then head out and leave them cooking.

For some more jacket potato recipes, take a look at our quick Microwave Jacket Potato or our easy Air Fryer Jacket Potato.

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Why you will love it
Ingredients needed
How to make slow cooker baked potato - Step by step
What potatoes to use for jackets
Health benefits of potatoes
Seasoning
Baked potato toppings
Frequently Asked Questions
Extra tips
More potato recipes
Recipe
Feedback

Why you will love it

Great for batch cooking
So cheap to make
No need to heat up your kitchen by putting the oven on
Easy to adapt with different toppings
You can go out and leave them cooking

Ingredients needed

Potatoes - You can basically use any potatoes you have, making this a great budget friendly meal. But we find that starchy potatoes work best to get light and fluffy potatoes.
Oil - We used olive oil. However, add some extra flavour with infused oil like garlic or chilli oil.
Seasoning - Keep it simple with sea salt and black pepper, or add a little paprika and cayenne for smokiness.

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

How to make slow cooker baked potato - Step by step

One: Wash and dry the potatoes and then rub them with oil, salt and pepper. Individually wrap them in foil.

Two: Put them in the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours.

What potatoes to use for jackets

Whilst you could use any potatoes for this recipe, making it great for a budget friendly meal where you use whatever you have, certain potatoes will give you the perfect slow cooker baked potato.

We find that King Edwards, Russets and Desiree potatoes are the best. Firstly, their skin doesn't hold moisture very well, and Russet skin is nice and thick, so they get nice and crispy. Whilst slow cooker jacket potatoes don't get as crispy as they would in the oven, using this potatoes will help them to crisp up.

Also, these variety of potatoes have a higher starch content, which means that they get nice and soft and fluffy on the inside, especially when they are cooked low and slow like this.

Health benefits of potatoes

White potatoes have so many nutrients in them, they really shouldn't get a bad reputation. They are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, they have nearly half of your daily vitamin C and they are a great source of potassium - even more than a banana.

They are full of fibre and magnesium, and they are filling too. On top of this, they are also suitable for almost any diet, from vegan to gluten free. I am not sure what more you could want?

We have just cooked them in a little oil, and seasoned them to taste. So, as they are they are very nutritious. You could just eat them like that, or load them with toppings - but this is where you can add a lot of calories and fat. We have some topping suggestions below.

Seasoning

We have kept it simple and just seasoned these slow cooker jacket potatoes with sea salt and black pepper. However, there is no reason why you couldn't go a bit crazy with the seasoning.

Why not sprinkle a little smoked paprika or cayenne over them. You could also give them an Italian flavour boost with some dried oregano and basil rubbed over them.

You could also add flavour with the oil you use. Why not use an infused oil like garlic oil or chilli oil.

Baked potato toppings

We went with the classic topping of sour cream, cheese, bacon and chives. Some spring onions would add some nice crunch too. But there are so many options! Why not check out our post on 10 Healthy Baked Potato Toppings. Also, all of these would be delicious on a slow cooker baked potato:

Chili con Carne
Slow Cooker Bolognese
Turkey Chilli
Lentil Bolognese
Bean Chilli
Mushroom Bolognese
Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a jacket potato and a baked potato?

They are the same thing. In the UK, we call them jacket potatoes, simply because they are potatoes with the skin left on, like a jacket. But, they are still potatoes that have been baked.

Do you get a really crispy skin cooking potatoes in the slow cooker?

Sadly, no. That's the one downside to this recipe. You will get parts of the potato that have little crispy bits, but you don't get that all over crunch that you would from baking them in the oven. But, the positives of this recipe far out weight that small negative. If you did want to have a crispy skin, you could always put them in the oven for 20 minutes to crisp up. But, we honestly didn't miss the crispy skin. Also, see our extra tips below for getting crispier potatoes.

Does the size of the potato matter?

Yes, the size of the potato makes a difference when it comes to cooking time and them all cooking evenly. We used large potatoes that were about 350g each. At this size, they take 5 hours on high to cook, or 8 hours on low. If you use smaller potatoes, then you could probably get away with just cooking them on high for 4 hours. Don't worry too much about the cook time of these, as you can't overcook them - slow cookers are really forgiving that way. Having evenly sized potatoes means they will all be cooked at the same time too.

Do I have to add oil?

No, you don't have to add oil. We find that it adds flavour and helps to brown the skin, but you could leave it off. This would change the nutritional information.

Can you freeze slow cooker jacket potatoes?

Yes, if you have too many potatoes cooked, then you can store the leftovers in the fridge of freezer. Wrap them in foil and they will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days and up to 3 months in the freezer. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge for 24 hours and then heat them up in the oven.

Extra tips

• When the potatoes have been washed, used kitchen paper to wipe them dry.
• When putting your foil wrapped potatoes in the slow cooker, the part that has the extra foil bunched up should be the part that touches the bottom of the slow cooker. This will help them not to burn.
• Make sure that the slow cooker isn't overcrowded. The potatoes shouldn't be laying on top of each other, and each potato should be touching the bottom of the slow cooker bowl - this helps them to get crispy.
• If you do want to give your potatoes a little extra browning/crispiness, then turn them over half way through cooking. This isn't essential though. You can also skip the wrapping in foil step, and lay them on a couple of pieces of baking paper in the slow cooker.

More potato recipes

Super Greens Loaded Potato Skins
Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Four Herb Roasted Potatoes

If you’ve tried these slow cooker jacket potatoes, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Slow Cooker Jacket Potato

By: Dannii Martin

Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes couldn't be easier! A fuss free family favourite, these are delicious and seriously fool-proof.

Gluten Free

Low Fat

Vegan

4.91 from 41 votes

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Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American, British

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 hours hrs

Total: 5 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 195kcal

Ingredients

▢ 4 Potato - (about 350g/12oz each)
▢ 1 tablespoon Olive oil
▢ Sea salt and black pepper - to taste

Instructions

Wash and dry the potatoes and then rub them with oil, salt and pepper. Individually wrap them in foil.
Put them in the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours.

Recipe tips

When the potatoes have been washed, used kitchen paper to wipe them dry.
When putting your foil wrapped potatoes in the slow cooker, the part that has the extra foil bunched up should be the part that touches the bottom of the slow cooker. This will help them not to burn.
Make sure that the slow cooker isn't overcrowded. The potatoes shouldn't be laying on top of each other, and each potato should be touching the bottom of the slow cooker bowl - this helps them to get crispy.
If you do want to give your potatoes a little extra browning/crispiness, then turn them over half way through cooking. This isn't essential though. You can also skip the wrapping in foil step, and lay them on a couple of pieces of baking paper in the slow cooker.

Nutritional Information

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As a culinary expert and enthusiast with a profound understanding of nutrition and cooking techniques, I can confidently provide insights into the concepts covered in the article about Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes. My extensive knowledge encompasses various aspects of cooking methods, ingredient selection, and the nutritional benefits of different foods.

The article primarily focuses on a recipe for Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes, emphasizing the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability of this method. Let's delve into the key concepts used in the article:

Potato Selection:
- The article suggests using starchy potatoes like King Edwards, Russets, or Desiree for the best results. These potatoes are known for their higher starch content, contributing to a soft and fluffy texture.
Health Benefits of Potatoes:
- Contrary to misconceptions, white potatoes are highlighted for their nutritional value. They are low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol, rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and magnesium. The article emphasizes their suitability for various diets, including vegan and gluten-free.
Seasoning:
- The recommended seasoning for the slow cooker jacket potatoes is simple, with options like sea salt and black pepper. The article suggests experimenting with additional seasonings such as paprika, cayenne, smoked paprika, or herbs like oregano and basil.
Baked Potato Toppings:
- Classic toppings mentioned include sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives. The article provides a link to explore 10 healthy baked potato toppings, offering versatility in customizing the dish.
Cooking Process:
- The step-by-step instructions detail the process of washing and drying the potatoes, rubbing them with oil, salt, and pepper, and wrapping them in foil. The slow cooker is then used to cook the potatoes on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours.
Potato Size and Cooking Time:
- The article addresses the importance of using large potatoes (around 350g each) for even cooking. It provides cooking times and mentions the forgiving nature of slow cookers, minimizing the risk of overcooking.
Crispiness and Skin Texture:
- The article acknowledges that slow cooker jacket potatoes won't achieve the same level of crispiness as those baked in the oven. Tips are provided for those seeking a crispier skin, including turning the potatoes halfway through cooking or finishing them in the oven.
Freezing and Storage:
- The article offers information on storing leftover slow cooker jacket potatoes. They can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutritional Information:
- The nutritional information includes calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and other relevant details per serving. It emphasizes the approximate nature of the information and the use of online tools for calculation.

In summary, the article provides a comprehensive guide to preparing Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes, covering ingredient selection, health benefits, seasoning options, cooking techniques, and storage tips. It caters to a wide audience, including those with specific dietary preferences or restrictions.