The Scatty Mum

  • Recipes
  • Spring Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Food Allergies
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Download Your FREE Weekly Meal Planner
  • Food Blogging Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Spring Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Food Allergies
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Download Your FREE Weekly Meal Planner
  • Food Blogging Resources
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Spring Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Food Allergies
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Download Your FREE Weekly Meal Planner
  • Food Blogging Resources
×
Home » Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes

Published: Sep 30, 2022 · Modified: Nov 19, 2024 by Lauren Woodger · Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links -This means I receive a commission for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 6 Comments

  • Facebook
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Drawing of a bottle of milk with a line through it.
Drawing of an egg with a line through it.
Drawing of a grain of wheat with a line through it.
Drawing of nuts with a line through it.
roast potatoes in a dish.
pinterest image for slow cooker roast potatoes

Crispy and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside, these Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes are a great alternative way to cook your favourite Sunday roast dinner side dish! 

close up of roast potatoes in a bowl with a spoon.

Roast potatoes in the slow cooker?? No, I promise you I haven’t gone crazy!

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Save Recipe

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Scatty Mum.

I know a slow cooker isn’t the first kitchen gadget that would come to mind when cooking roast potatoes, but I promise you these slow cooker roast potatoes are as good, if not better than the ones you will cook in the oven!

Made with only 5 ingredients, you will par-boil them in the same way you normally would, then let them roast away in the slow cooker, leaving you to concentrate on the rest of the dinner or entertaining your guests!

Picture this: Christmas dinner prep in full swing, pigs in blankets sizzling, stuffing bubbling away, and your oven bursting at the seams. Sounds festive, right?

But where do the roast potatoes, the heart and soul of any Christmas feast, fit in? 

In the slow cooker! Free up precious oven space by roasting your spuds in your crockpot instead.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, why not try my garlic & rosemary mini hasselback potatoes instead? If you have an air fryer you can also try these roast potatoes in the Ninja air fryer, crispy smashed potatoes or air fryer loaded potato skins.

Jump to:
  • 🍅 Ingredients You Will Need
  • ⚡ Variations
  • ✏️ How To Make Roast Potatoes In The Slow Cooker
  • 💡 Tips & Tricks!
  • 🔪 What Slow Cooker Do You Recommend?
  • 🍱 Storage
  • 🍴 Serving Suggestions
  • 💬 Recipe FAQ's
  • 📖 More Potato Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🍅 Ingredients You Will Need

Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you will need to make these Air Fryer Stuffing Balls. They are free from the top 14 UK allergens so make a great allergy-friendly side dish.

ingredients laid out to make slow cooker roast potatoes.

✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋

  • Potatoes -  Maris Piper potatoes are a great potato to use for roasting as you get the crispy outside and the soft fluffy inside. King Edwards would be my second choice, however you can use any white potato you have at home.
  • Onion Salt - This is used as a seasoning for the potatoes alongside the garlic granules.
  • Garlic Granules - I prefer to use garlic granules instead of fresh garlic cloves, as I find fresh garlic can burn quite easily when cooked in the slow cooker without liquid.
  • Dried Rosemary - Partnering seamlessly with roast potatoes, rosemary is a classic flavour companion to garlic. If you've got fresh rosemary on hand, go for it! A good rule of thumb is to use three times the amount of fresh herbs.
  • Olive Oil -Use a good quality olive oil.

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

⚡ Variations

  • ✔️ Mix up the spices! - For a spicer version, leave out the rosemary and swap the onion and garlic for a teaspoon each of ground cumin and turmeric.
  • ✔️ Swap the herbs! - Swap the rosemary for some fresh or dried thyme and add in a squirt of lemon juice.
  • ✔️ Go posh! - Swap the olive oil for the same amount of goose fat for a festive twist.

✏️ How To Make Roast Potatoes In The Slow Cooker

⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️

potatoes being chopped on a chopping board.

Step 1: Start by pouring the olive oil into the slow cooker and turn it on to the “high” setting. Leave this to heat up while you prepare and parboil the potatoes.

You want the oil to be hot by the time you put the potatoes into the slow cooker. This should take about 20 minutes.

Step 2: Peel the potatoes with a potato peeler and chop them into thirds/quarters depending on how big the potatoes are. Try and make the potatoes all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.

potatoes in a saucepan that have been fluffed up ready to roast in the oven.

Step 3: Par-boil the chopped potatoes in a saucepan for around 8-10 minutes. You don’t want to cook them until they are completely cooked, just enough to soften them.

Step 4: Drain the potatoes into a colander, then put the potatoes back in the saucepan, put the lid on and give the saucepan a little shake.

This helps to fluff up the outside of the potatoes which gives you the crunchy, golden crust.

roast potatoes in a slow cooker.

Step 5: Leave the potatoes to cool slightly. It’s important to do this as if you put the potatoes in the slow cooker when they are still streaming, the potatoes will be soggy and they won’t crisp up,

Step 6:  Place the cooled potatoes into the slow cooker with the onion salt, garlic granules and dried rosemary, then give it a good stir until the seasoning is evenly distributed onto the potatoes.

slow cooker with a tea towel under the lid to collect the steam.

Step 7: Place a clean, dry tea towel over the top of the slow cooker, then place the lid on top of the tea towel.

Wrap the sides of the tea towel that are hanging out, up onto the lid. (This soaks up any moisture from the slow cooker, so you don’t get soggy potatoes!)

Step 8: Cook on high for around three hours, turning the potatoes halfway through.

This will result in perfect, crispy, fluffy roast potatoes.

slow cooker roast potatoes in a bowl with a spoon. The bowl is sat on a hessian place. mat, garnished with parsley.

💡 Tips & Tricks!

  • ✔️ Don’t Forget The Tea Towel! Putting the tea towel in between the potatoes and the lid collects all the steam produced and holds it in the tea towel. If you don’t do this, the steam that rises to the lid will fall back down onto the potatoes making them soft and soggy. Whilst I have done this many times without any problems, I wouldn’t recommend leaving the house whilst the potatoes are cooking. Use a clean tea towel that has been washed without scented detergent.
  • ✔️ Kitchen Roll Can Be Used Instead: If you don’t want to use a tea towel, a few layers of kitchen towel roll can be used instead.
  • ✔️ Go Carefully When Shaking The Potatoes! Gentle is best as they can sometimes break down into smaller pieces if you are shaking too hard.
  • ✔️ Let The Potatoes Steam Dry: Once the potatoes have been shaken up, leave them in the saucepan for around 5 minutes to cool down. This allows the steam time to evaporate, otherwise, it results in soggy potatoes.
  • ✔️ Place The Potatoes In A Single Layer: If you overcrowd the slow cooker by piling them on top of each other, they will sweat instead of roast and you won’t get that crispy finish. A 6.5 litre slow cooker should hold around 8-9 full-sized potatoes.
  • ✔️ Chop The Potatoes The Same Size:Dice the potatoes into even chunks, this helps them all to cook evenly.

🔪 What Slow Cooker Do You Recommend?

This 3.5 L Slow Cooker will hold around 3-4 full sized potatoes, whereas a 6.5 L slow cooker will hold around 8-9 potatoes. Both of these Morphy Richards slow cookers are highly recommended.

🍱 Storage

Roast potatoes always taste best when eaten fresh, however, it is perfectly safe to store the cooked potatoes in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container and then reheat them in the oven at 200˚C/400˚F for 10-15 minutes until piping hot through.

To freeze, place flat on a baking tray for an hour until frozen through, then transfer to a freezer bag where they can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. You can cook them from frozen in the oven at 200˚C/400˚F for 20 minutes.

🍴 Serving Suggestions

Serve these crispy potatoes with your roast alongside this slow cooker lamb breast, slow cooker red cabbage, roasted carrots with green beans and gluten free cauliflower cheese for a warm and hearty dinner.

They also taste great with these air fried pork belly strips.

Serve with some sausages, roasted green beans and lashings of gravy, or with a nice steak instead of chips.

I also have lots more ideas on what to serve with roast potatoes here.

close up of slow cooker roast potatoes in a bowl with a spoon picking up one potato.

💬 Recipe FAQ's

Do you need to boil the potatoes before roasting?

Par boiling them before putting in the slow cooker or oven helps form that crispy crust. If you roast them without par-boiling, the outside of the potato stays tough and hard as the fat won’t get into all  of the crevices.

Can I make roast potatoes ahead of time?

Yes! You can par boil the potatoes, drain and leave them to air dry, then coat them in a little oil and store in the fridge until you are ready to put them in the slow cooker or oven.


Can I add veggies to the slow cooker with the potatoes?

Absolutely! Onions, carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts are great companions for roast potatoes. Just chop them similarly to the potatoes and toss them with the same seasoning blend.


Can I use frozen potatoes for slow cooker roast potatoes?

It's best to use fresh potatoes for optimal texture. Frozen potatoes may release excess moisture and affect the crispiness.

📖 More Potato Recipes

Check out these other delicious recipes for more ideas on how to cook with potato!

  • Two white bowls containing sweet potato, coconut & chilli soup. A spoonful is being taken out of one of the bowls.
    Sweet Potato Coconut And Chilli Soup
  • close up of salmon and sweet potato fishcakes on a plate with some salad, a lemon wedge and a pot of tartare sauce.
    Easy Salmon & Sweet Potato Fishcakes
  • A roasting tin with a spoon in it containing sausages, roasted potatoes, carrots, onions and peppers.
    Sticky Sausage Tray Bake With Honey & Mustard
  • Shepherds pie with a portion removed in a casserole dish with a spoon in it.
    Leftover Lamb Shepherd's Pie

If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊

📖 Recipe

close up of roast potatoes in a bowl with a spoon.

Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes

Crispy and crunchy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside, these Crispy Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes are a great alternative way to cook your Sunday favourite! 
4.46 from 22 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Lauren Woodger

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Saucepan
  • Colander

Ingredients

  • 4 maris piper potatoes Use enough potatoes to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • 1 teaspoon onion salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic granules
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Start by pouring the olive oil in the slow cooker and turn onto the “high” setting. Leave this to heat up while you prepare and par boil the potatoes. You want the oil to be hot by the time you put the potatoes into the slow cooker. This should take about 20 minutes.
  • Peel the potatoes and chop into thirds/quarters depending on how big the potatoes are.
  • Par-boil the chopped potatoes in a saucepan for around 10 minutes. You don’t want to cook them until they are completely cooked, just enough to soften them slightly.
  • Drain the potatoes in a colander, then put the potatoes back in the saucepan, put the lid on and give the saucepan a little shake, this helps to fluff up the outside of the potatoes which gives you the crunchy and crispy crust.
  • Leave the potatoes to cool slightly, then place them into the slow cooker with the onion salt, garlic granules and dried rosemary and give it a good stir.
  • Place a clean, dry tea towel over the top of the slow cooker, then place the lid on top of the tea towel. Wrap the sides of the tea towel that are hanging out, up onto the lid.
  • Cook on high for around three hours, turning the potatoes every hour.

Notes

Tips & Tricks
  • Don’t Forget The Tea Towel! Putting the tea towel in between the potatoes and the lid collects all the steam produced and holds it in the tea towel. If you don’t do this, the steam that rises to the lid will fall back down onto the potatoes making them soft and soggy. Whilst I have done this many times without any problems, I wouldn’t recommend leaving the house whilst the potatoes are cooking. Use a clean tea towel that has been washed without scented detergent.
  • Kitchen Roll Can Be Used Instead: If you don’t want to use a tea towel, a few layers of kitchen towel roll can be used instead.
  • Go Carefully When Shaking The Potatoes! Gentle is best as they can sometimes break down into smaller pieces if you are shaking too hard.
  • Let The Potatoes Steam Dry: Once the potatoes have been shaken up, leave them in the saucepan for around 5 minutes to cool down. This allows the steam time to evaporate, otherwise, it results in soggy potatoes.
  • Place The Potatoes In A Single Layer: If you overcrowd the slow cooker by piling them on top of each other, they will sweat instead of roast and you won’t get that crispy finish. A 6.5 litre slow cooker should hold around 8-9 full-sized potatoes.
  • Chop The Potatoes The Same Size: Dice the potatoes into even chunks, this helps them all to cook evenly.
  • These potatoes take 3 hours on high in my slow cooker. Please be aware that different makes of slow cookers may cook at different rates.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 601mg | Potassium: 725mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

More Slow Cooker Recipes

  • A bowl of beef massaman curry with a fork in.
    Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry
  • Cooked pork belly in a sauce garnished with red chilli and spring onion.
    Slow Cooker Pork Belly Slices
  • Carved ham (gammon) on a chopping board.
    Slow Cooker Gammon In Coke
  • A carved leg of lamb garnished with rosemary on a serving plate. There is a jug of gravy in the background.
    Slow Cooked Leg Of Lamb In Red Wine

About Lauren Woodger

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum. As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies and intolerances, I know how tough it can be to cook meals that are both safe and delicious.

That’s why I share easy, allergy-friendly recipes to help families enjoy stress-free mealtimes.

Comments

    4.46 from 22 votes (21 ratings without comment)

    Let me know what you think of this recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Proxy says

    July 11, 2024 at 8:52 pm

    Great post, you have pointed out some excellent points, I also believe this s a very superb website.

    Reply
    • Lauren Woodger says

      July 12, 2024 at 11:29 am

      Thank you, its a great way to cook them isn't it!

      Reply
  2. Maureen Bennett says

    December 22, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    5 stars
    One converted sceptic! Absolutely amazing.... who'd have thought a slow cooker would make such gorgeous roasties. Genius idea 👍

    Reply
    • Lauren Woodger says

      December 22, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      So glad you liked the recipe - I always cook them like this now when Im short on space in the oven. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Tony smith says

    November 26, 2022 at 1:31 pm

    I haven't tried it yet but I will let you know when I have

    Reply
    • Lauren Woodger says

      December 02, 2022 at 10:47 am

      I hope you like them! 🙂

      Reply
Lady sitting on a kitchen side with a coffee cup in her hand.

Hey, I'm Lauren!

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum.

As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies, I know how challenging mealtimes can be when you’re trying to please everyone.

That’s why I share easy, family-friendly recipes and meal planning tips to help busy families enjoy tasty, stress-free dinners that work for all dietary needs.

MORE ABOUT ME

Spring Recipes

  • Squares of mini egg chocolate slices on a wooden board.
    No-Bake Mini Egg Slices

  • Carved ham (gammon) on a chopping board.
    50 Delicious Easter Dinner Ideas

  • A bowl of pesto orzo garnished with parmesan with a fork in the bowl.
    One Pan Chicken & Pesto Orzo 

  • Tzatziki in a blue bowl
    Dairy-Free Tzatziki Sauce

Mock up of an e-book on a tablet and iphone.

Popular Posts

  • Sliced garlic mushrooms on toast sprinkled with parsley.
    Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms

  • a bowl of tuna pasta salad with a wooden spoon in it.
    40+ Kids Lunchbox Ideas

  • Macaroni cheese in a square dish with a serving spoon taking a portion out.
    The Best Three Cheese Mac And Cheese

  • Mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs.
    Chorizo Mac And Cheese

  • Swwet and sour chicken garnished with sesame seeds.
    Air Fryer Sweet & Sour Chicken

  • Raspberry cheesecake topped with fresh raspberries.
    40+ Tasty Easter Dessert Recipes

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy/Disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright 2025 The Scatty Mum

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.