Slow Cooker Potatoes are absolutely delicious! Quick prep and hands-free cooking make for super simple garlic potatoes you’ll want on repeat.
Side dishes often get the short end of the stick, especially if the main dish takes a lot of time or effort to prepare. Which I totally get.
I mean, who are we kidding? Sometimes I skip the side dish all together!
But, the reality is that having a few good side dishes can really save the day. Think about when:
- the main dish doesn’t turn out as good as you hoped.
- a guest or child can’t or won’t eat the main dish as planned.
- you have more people at the table than you expected.
Yep, in all those cases and more, having some delicious, no-fail side dishes at the ready can save the day. And these Slow Cooker Garlic Potatoes fit the bill!
Slow Cooker Garlic Potatoes
These slow cooker garlic potatoes call for three basic ingredients plus salt and pepper, can be assembled in just minutes, and are virtually a set-it-and-forget-it kind of slow cooker recipe.
You just don’t want to set and forget it all day. Nope, these spuds cook up in a couple hours, making for a simple and fuss-free dish that you can prep first while you bustle about the kitchen prepping other things.
Made with fingerling or baby potatoes that just need a wash and a trim, these potatoes are bathed in olive oil and seasoned with plenty of chopped garlic, salt, and pepper. The resulting potatoes are tender and flavorful, a perfect accompaniment to your favorite meaty main dish or a component in buddha bowls.
The only problem is making enough! While three pounds seems like a lot, my family loves these so much that three pounds is not enough. If you’re feeding more than six people, be sure to make more.
Can you put raw potatoes in the slow cooker?
Potatoes cook well in the slow cooker. You can add them to soups and stews or cook them on their own for crockpot baked potatoes or these delicious garlic potatoes.
How long do potatoes take in the slow cooker?
How long you need to cook potatoes in the slow cooker will depend on the size of the potato as well as the heat setting. Small fingerling or baby potatoes cook quickly at high heat, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Larger potatoes will take longer to cook.
Can you cut the potatoes into quarters or slices for the slow cooker?
Cutting the potatoes in smaller pieces will decrease their cook time, but they will be more likely to fall apart. Potatoes cooked in their jackets tend to hold their shape better and look nicer for serving. If you can, find smaller potatoes so you can cook them whole.
What kind of potatoes can you cook in the slow cooker?
The different types of potatoes can all be cooked in the slow cooker, however for this recipe it’s best to use these:
- baby yellow or red potatoes
- fingerling potatoes, as pictured here
Try to get the freshest potatoes with as few sprouts as possible. You can always trim off the eyes, but it’s nicer and quicker if you don’t have to.
How do you make slow cooker potatoes?
This recipe is super simple and easy! There are few ingredients and a hands-free cooking method.
- Wash and trim the potatoes. Cut off any little sprouts.
- Place the potatoes in the crock of a slow cooker. I use a 4-quart round cooker.
- Toss the potatoes with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or on low for 3 to 4 hours.
- Stir the potatoes and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
- Serve hot or warm.
- Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
What can you do with leftover garlic potatoes?
If, for some reason, you have leftover potatoes, you can incorporate them into these recipes:
- Skillet Home Fries Recipe (Made With Leftover Baked Potatoes!)
- Pantry Challenge Minestrone
- How to Make Soup from Leftovers
- Jace’s Breakfast Burritos
How much does it cost to make slow cooker garlic potatoes?
Now, disclaimer time, I consider making these garlic potatoes on the luxury end of my cooking because typically baby potatoes or fingerling potatoes are more expensive than your everyday russets. However, as mentioned previously, these small jacket potatoes have a lot going for them: they are quicker to prepare and hold up better under slow cooking than sliced potatoes.
Plus, they look pretty!
Watch for baby or fingerling potatoes to go on sale and then snatch them up to make these spuds. Once you’ve covered the cost of the potatoes (which can range from $2 to $6), the expense of the recipe is minimal for olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Slow Cooker Garlic Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 lb baby potatoes or fingerling potatoes
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 clove garlic minced
- salt
- black pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley (chopped) optional
Instructions
- Wash and trim the potatoes.
- Place the potatoes in the crock of a slow cooker. Add the oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on HIGH or 3 to 4 hours on LOW.
- Adjust seasonings and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
- Serve hot or warm.
Diana says
Why do you trim the ends? I have never heard of that!
They look delicious. I will be trying this! I just used leftover crockpot baked potatoes to make a super fast stovetop potato soup. They worked great.
Jessica Fisher says
You don’t need to trim the ends if they don’t have sprouts. Mine did. 😐
Diana says
Tried this and it was delicious and easy! My hubby said it was the best potatoes he’s ever had 🙂
I did not trim the sprouts off but I broke them off. Seemed to work okay. I wonder if the little potatoes always have sprouts?
Jessica Fisher says
I have some that don’t. I think it just depends on age?
Debbie says
In the section about cutting regular potatoes into smaller pieces, you say this may increase cooking time—I think you meant decrease
Jessica Fisher says
Yes, I did. Thanks for the catch!
Wayne Miller says
Super creamy and tasty .I will be taking the leftovers on the road
Mary says
So no liquid , I wasn’t sure you could use a slow cooker with no liquid
Jessica Fisher says
The oil and the moisture in the potatoes are enough. You need liquid in a pressure cooker, I’m not convinced that’s true in a slow cooker. If you prefer, add 1/4 water or broth to the pot.