Slow Cooker Foil-Wrapped Baked Potatoes with Onion and Butter
These slow cooker baked potatoes are wrapped in foil with sweet onion, butter, salt, and pepper, then steamed to perfection in the crock pot. The foil packets lock in moisture and flavor, creating incredibly tender potatoes with a built-in savory topping. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to free up oven space for other dishes. The sweet Vidalia onions caramelize slightly during cooking, adding a mild sweetness that complements the rich butter.
Ingredients
- 5 medium Russet baking potatoes
- 1 large sweet onionyellow onion1:1sharper
more pungent flavor
- 5 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt, per potato
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, per potato
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- 1
Prick each potato with a fork
- 2
Wrap each potato in aluminum foil with a slice of onion, butter, salt and pepper, rolling tightly and tucking edges
- 3
Layer wrapped potatoes in crock pot, stacking if necessary
- 4
Pour water into bottom of crock pot
- 5
Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or until fork tender
- 6
Rotate potatoes halfway through cooking if stacked, or turn if in single layer
- 7
Switch to warm setting to keep hot while serving
- 8
Serve hot with favorite baked potato toppings
Tips
Choose uniform-sized potatoes for even cooking throughout the batch.
Vidalia onions work best for their natural sweetness, but any sweet onion variety will work.
Make sure foil packets are sealed tightly to prevent steam from escaping during cooking.
Good to Know
Keep cooked potatoes in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave or oven before serving.
Can wrap potatoes in foil up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate. Add 30 minutes to cooking time if starting from cold.
Serve immediately while hot. Keep warm setting maintains temperature for up to 2 hours without overcooking.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip pricking potatoes to avoid bursting during cooking
Seal foil packets completely to prevent moisture loss and uneven cooking
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
more pungent flavor
FAQ
Can I cook these on low instead of high?
Yes, cook on low for 8-10 hours instead of 5-6 hours on high. The texture will be similar but timing is much longer.
What if I don't have foil?
You can cook without foil but potatoes may be drier. Add extra water to bottom of pot and check doneness earlier.
How long do leftovers keep?
Cooked potatoes keep in refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in microwave for 1-2 minutes until heated through.