This Crockpot Potatoes recipe is my favorite easy side dish. I made them two flavorful ways: one with a creamy, savory garlic ranch twist, and the other with a spicy, zesty taco seasoning. My mind is blown by how simple making super flavorful crockpot red potatoes can be…and the sky is the limit with flavors.

A crockpot filled with potatoes.

5-Star Review

“Very easy and yummy will do again. Cooked perfectly 5 hours no fuss 😃” -Janice

Slow Cooker Potatoes

This is one of my favorite crockpot side dishes, mostly because you get a two-for-one. Both flavors are so good. Both start with red potatoes, then just add different ingredients to get the flavor you love.

If you want an easy, set-it-and-forget-it side, these potatoes are a must. You won’t believe how creamy and garlicky the ranch potatoes taste, perfect to pair with chicken or beef. The spicy taco flavored potatoes are fabulous too and would complement any Mexican or Southwestern recipe.

Recipe Card

Crockpot Potatoes (2 Ways)

4.54 from 112 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Becky Hardin
A crockpot of potatoes.
Crockpot potatoes are the best easy side. Make them with Garlic Ranch seasoning or Taco seasoning to go with any meal!
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Equipment

  • Crockpot

Ingredients 

For Garlic Ranch Potatoes

  • 3 pounds red potatoes washed and quartered, or try Yukon Gold or new potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter (¼ stick)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for a more neutral flavor use avocado oil
  • 1 ounce ranch seasoning click for homemade recipe
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For Spicy Taco Potatoes

  • 3 pounds red potatoes washed and quartered
  • 1 ounce taco seasoning click for homemade recipe
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter (¼ stick)
  • 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Spray a large crockpot with nonstick spray.
  • Place all the ingredients in a large slow cooker. Stir to combine slightly. While the potatoes are cold they won't coat completely and that's totally fine.
    Crockpot potatoes cooking on a white background.
  • Add the following seasoning for the Garlic Ranch Potatoes
    3 pounds red potatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 ounce ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Add the following seasoning for the Spicy Taco Potatoes
    3 pounds red potatoes, 2 tablespoons salted butter, 1 ounce taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons salted butter, 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Cook on high for 3-4 hours or until the potatoes are fork tender. (NOTE: Check the potatoes after 1 hour and stir to make sure all the potatoes are coated fully. Check again after 2½ hours and make sure they aren't done. Depending on the size of the potatoes, they could cook a bit quicker).
    A crockpot filled with potatoes, slow-cooked to perfection.

Becky’s Tips

  • You don’t need a lot of water in the slow cooker, as water will release from the potatoes while they cook, plus you have ingredients like oil to add moisture. They may look dry when you put them in, but they’ll be perfectly moist and tender once cooked.
  • I didn’t peel the potatoes because…lazy! There’s no need to peel the red potatoes before tossing them in the slow cooker. Just make sure you rinse and scrub them.
  • Nutritional information presented is for a serving of the garlic ranch potatoes.
Calories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 464mgPotassium: 780mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 116IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Crockpot Potatoes Step by Step

Get the crockpot ready: Spray a large crockpot with nonstick spray.

Slow cooker potatoes

Place the ingredients in the crockpot: Stir to combine the potatoes with the seasonings. While the potatoes are cold, they won’t coat completely, and that’s totally fine.

Crockpot potatoes cooking on a white background.

For the Garlic Ranch Potatoes: Add 3 pounds red potatoes, 2 tablespoons salted butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 ounce ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

taco seasoned potatoes in the crockpot.

For the Spicy Taco Potatoes: Add 3 pounds red potatoes, 1 ounce taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons salted butter, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, and 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes.

Cook the potatoes: Cook on high for 3-4 hours or until the potatoes are fork tender. Check the potatoes after 1 hour and stir to make sure all the potatoes are coated fully. Check again after 2½ hours and make sure they aren’t done. Depending on the size of the potatoes, they could cook a bit quicker.

taco flavored slow cooker potatoes and garlic ranch potatoes served with ketchup and a side of ranch dressing.

Serve and enjoy: Remove from the crockpot, serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.

Variations

Some of my favorite seasoning blends to add to these potatoes include:

How to Store

Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. Freeze potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

The great thing about these slow cooker potatoes is that they go with just about everything. Some of my favorites include scrumptious Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan or my simple weeknight Stovetop Burgers.

They also make an incredible holiday side dish. For Christmas, I love them paired with Beef Tenderloin and at Easter, you can always find them on our table next to Pineapple Ham.

more crockpot potatoes we love

 

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.54 from 112 votes (108 ratings without comment)
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46 Comments
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Eric Nehmzow
Eric Nehmzow
April 14, 2022 10:52 pm

Kids loved the ranch while i like the taco prefer a little heat!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 25, 2022 11:43 am
Reply to  Eric Nehmzow

Thanks for sharing, Eric!

Janice Koch-Lumpkin
Janice Koch-Lumpkin
March 27, 2022 7:47 pm

Very easy and yummy will do again . Cooked perfectly 5 hrs no fuss 😃5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 4, 2022 11:13 am

Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Janice!

Andrea
Andrea
April 7, 2021 8:45 pm

One of my four kids is a vegetarian and another has a dairy allergy, so finding one meal that can feed everyone in the family is sometimes tough. I made this recipe (spicy taco flavor) using new potatoes so I didn’t have to cut anything – I’m lazy :) – and tossed in some pinto beans and torn spinach for the last 30 minutes in the crock pot. Threw it all on some fresh tortillas and topped with cheese (or “cheeze” in the case of the dairy-free kid) and salsa for spicy potato tacos, and they were delicious! Thanks for sharing!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 9, 2021 2:44 pm
Reply to  Andrea

Thanks for sharing, Andrea!!

Emilia
Emilia
November 27, 2020 10:04 am

I wonder if the potatoes won’t stick to the cooker, since there is no liquid added. Sounds VERY interesting, though!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 30, 2020 3:30 pm
Reply to  Emilia

Be sure to spray it with the nonstick spray!

Jacqueline
Jacqueline
July 23, 2019 11:48 am

Just got a One Pot. Can these be made in that. If so, directions, please since I’m totally new to it. Haven’t even taken it out of the box yet ????.

Lisa
Lisa
September 4, 2018 3:54 pm

How did you keep the potatoes from turning black as they sit? Is it because you used redskins?

Ellen F Jett
Ellen F Jett
January 22, 2022 9:01 pm
Reply to  Lisa

Put them in water it keeps them from turning brown as they sit.

Hollie
Hollie
August 13, 2017 1:23 pm

Can i replace olive oil with vegetable oil?

happy wheels
happy wheels
July 6, 2017 11:50 pm

It’s really perfect

xiangfacai
xiangfacai
March 11, 2017 3:43 pm

here we go!

Liz Sytsma
Liz Sytsma
January 14, 2017 11:41 am

So these potatoes are in my crockpot right now. Followed the recipe exactly. Checked after 1 hour and there is A LOT of liquid in the bottom of the crockpot. Is that normal?

Liz Sytsma
Liz Sytsma
January 14, 2017 12:31 pm
Reply to  Liz Sytsma

Ok thanks Becky…..I might just drain off the water and add the spices again. Might be rice tonight for our dinner quests or both if my idea works……thanks.