Crockpot Potato Recipes: Filling, Budget Friendly, Time Saving Recipes

If you have ever used a crockpot or other slow cooker, you know what a time and money saver it can be. Your crockpot can tenderize tough and less expensive cuts of meat, cook up hearty stews or casseroles that will feed your whole family without breaking your budget and have your meal ready when you walk through the door at the end of another long day. While potatoes are known for being an inexpensive meal staple, you might not have thought about preparing them in your crockpot. However, there are in fact many ways to prepare these tasty tubers in your slow cooker. Here are some crockpot potato recipes your family - and your grocery budget - will appreciate.

Baked Potatoes

Who doesn't love simple yet filling baked potatoes? They make a substantial side dish or can become the focus of your meal when loaded with delicious toppings. You can enjoy baked potatoes any night of the week with this crockpot potato recipe. While most crockpot recipes call for liquid, DO NOT add water to these potatoes. They will not burn or scorch and adding water will only make a soggy mess.

Ingredients:

Baking potatoes
Desired toppings

Wash potatoes. Allow them to dry. Pierce potatoes with a fork in several places. Wrap each potato in a piece of foil. Pile potatoes in crockpot. Cook on low for eight to 10 hours.

Mashed Potatoes

This crockpot potato recipe requires a little more prep time, but the results are well worth it. If mornings are particularly hectic for you, you can do the preparation the night before. If your slow cooker has a removable crock, place the ingredients in it and store it in the fridge overnight. Then all you need to do is pop the crock into the cooker, turn it on and go.

Ingredients

8 medium baking or red potatoes
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
1/4 cup chives
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Wash and quarter potatoes (peel first if desired). Add potato quarters to boiling water and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Beat together sour cream and cream cheese in medium bowl. Drain potatoes and add to sour cream mixture. Pour milk over potatoes and beat until smooth. Mix in all of the remaining ingredients except bacon pieces and half of the butter or margarine. Pour into greased crockpot. Refrigerate overnight if desired. Cook on low for three or four hours. Dot with pats of butter or margarine and sprinkle with bacon before serving.

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

This hearty crockpot potato recipe is a meal within itself. Serve it on a chilly fall night and enjoy warmed-up leftovers on the weekend, or take them to work for your lunch.

Ingredients

8 medium potatoes
1 pound ham, diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 10 1/2 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
Salt and pepper to taste

Wash, peel (if desired) and slice potatoes into thin rounds. Combine half of the potato slices, half of the ham and half of the onion in greased crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with half of the cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cook on low for eight to 10 hours.