Welcome to the ultimate guide for creating the most flavorful and incredibly easy Crockpot Garlic Potatoes! If you’re a fan of rich, savory garlic and tender, creamy potatoes, then you’ve found your new favorite side dish. This recipe brings together two beloved ingredients in a way that minimizes effort and maximizes taste, making it a perfect addition to any meal, from a casual weeknight dinner to a festive holiday spread.
There’s something truly magical about slow cooking, and potatoes are no exception. The Crockpot transforms humble potatoes into a dish that’s both comforting and elegant, infused with deep garlic flavor. Whether you prefer them chunky and rustic or smooth and mashed, these slow cooker garlic potatoes will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.
Why Choose Crockpot Garlic Potatoes?
In our busy lives, finding recipes that are both delicious and fuss-free is a true game-changer. The slow cooker is a kitchen hero, allowing you to “set it and forget it,” and these Crockpot Garlic Potatoes perfectly embody that convenience. Here’s why this recipe shines:
- Effortless Preparation: Simply chop your potatoes, toss them with a few key ingredients, and let your slow cooker do all the hard work. No constant stirring or monitoring required.
- Hands-Off Cooking: Free up your stovetop and oven, which is especially beneficial during holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas when kitchen space is at a premium.
- Consistent Results: The gentle, even heat of a slow cooker ensures perfectly tender potatoes every time, without the risk of burning or uneven cooking.
- Deep Flavor Infusion: Slow cooking allows the garlic, butter, and seasonings to deeply penetrate the potatoes, creating an incredibly rich and satisfying flavor profile that’s hard to achieve with other methods.
- Versatility: These potatoes are a fantastic canvas for customization. Serve them as chunky garlic potatoes, or easily mash them into a creamy, dreamy garlic mashed potato dish.
- Family Favorite: A classic combination of flavors that appeals to almost everyone, making it a reliable side dish for family meals and gatherings.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Garlic Potatoes
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its simplicity, requiring only a handful of common ingredients to create something truly special. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and some tips for selection:
- Potatoes: The star of our show! We recommend Russet potatoes for their fluffy texture when cooked, making them ideal for both chunky and mashed preparations. However, other varieties work wonderfully too. Yukon Gold potatoes offer a naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, while red potatoes hold their shape well, perfect if you prefer a firmer, chunkier bite. Feel free to use a mix of your favorite types for added complexity. You can peel them for a smoother consistency or leave the skin on for extra fiber and a more rustic appeal – just be sure to scrub them clean.
- Water: Just enough to create steam and ensure the potatoes cook thoroughly without drying out. It also helps to distribute the flavors.
- Butter: This is where much of the richness and flavor comes from. Real butter is highly recommended for its unmatched taste. Cutting it into chunks allows it to melt evenly throughout the cooking process, coating every piece of potato with delicious, savory goodness.
- Garlic Powder: For convenience and consistent distribution, garlic powder is a great choice. It delivers a mellow, pervasive garlic flavor. If you prefer a more pungent, fresh garlic kick, you can substitute with fresh minced garlic. Approximately 1 tablespoon of fresh minced garlic can replace ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder, or adjust to your taste!
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning. Always taste and adjust to your preference before serving. Freshly ground black pepper adds a wonderful aromatic touch.
Optional Enhancements for Extra Flavor:
- Parmesan Cheese: Stir in some grated Parmesan cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking or sprinkle it on top before serving for a salty, umami boost.
- Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh thyme, rosemary, or chopped parsley can elevate the dish with bright, aromatic notes. Add them towards the end of cooking or as a garnish.
- Onion Powder: A pinch of onion powder complements the garlic beautifully, adding another layer of savory depth.
- Chicken or Vegetable Broth: For an even richer flavor, you can swap out half of the water for broth.
Recommended Equipment
While this recipe is simple, having the right tools can make it even easier and more enjoyable:
- Crockpot (Slow Cooker): A 6-quart slow cooker is ideal for this recipe, comfortably holding 5 pounds of potatoes. We highly recommend using a model with a digital timer that automatically switches to a “warm” setting after the cooking cycle is complete. This feature is incredibly convenient, preventing your potatoes from overcooking and keeping them warm until you’re ready to serve, offering peace of mind, especially on busy days or when you’re preparing a holiday feast.
- Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: For safely and efficiently dicing your potatoes.
- Potato Masher (Optional): If you plan to transform these into creamy mashed potatoes, a sturdy potato masher will be essential.
Achieving Perfection: Tips for Crockpot Garlic Potatoes
While the recipe itself is straightforward, a few tips can help you achieve the best possible results:
- Uniform Potato Dicing: Cut your potatoes into roughly equal-sized chunks (about 1-inch pieces). This ensures they cook evenly and become tender at the same rate.
- Don’t Overfill: Avoid filling your slow cooker more than two-thirds full to allow for proper heat circulation and even cooking.
- Resist the Urge to Peek: Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes, and the cooking time will be extended. Let your Crockpot do its magic uninterrupted for the specified cooking time.
- Adjust to Taste: Once cooked, taste the potatoes and adjust salt, pepper, or garlic powder as needed. Remember, flavors can mellow during slow cooking, so a final seasoning adjustment is often beneficial.
- Preventing Watery Potatoes: If your potatoes seem a bit too watery after cooking, you can briefly remove the lid and let them simmer on high for another 15-30 minutes to allow some of the liquid to evaporate. Alternatively, if mashing, the addition of milk or cream will help absorb any excess moisture.
- Creamy or Chunky? Your Choice!: The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Serve them as hearty, chunky potatoes, or add warm milk or cream and mash them to your desired consistency for a luscious garlic mashed potato experience.
Variations and Customizations
This basic recipe for Crockpot Garlic Potatoes is wonderfully adaptable. Here are some ideas to inspire your culinary creativity:
- Extra Creamy Mashed: After cooking, add ½ to 1 cup of warm milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream along with a bit more butter, then mash until smooth and creamy. A splash of vegetable broth can also add a nice savory note.
- Cheesy Garlic Potatoes: Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses during the last 30 minutes of cooking. The cheese will melt beautifully, creating a gooey, irresistible side.
- Herb-Infused Delight: Experiment with different fresh herbs. Besides thyme and oregano, try fresh rosemary sprigs (remove before serving), chopped chives, or fresh dill.
- Spicy Kick: For those who enjoy a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings.
- Loaded Garlic Potatoes: Transform these into a full-fledged comfort dish by adding cooked bacon bits, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions after cooking.
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted-Style: While still in the slow cooker, if you want a slightly crispier edge without using the oven, you can gently stir the cooked potatoes to expose more surface area to the heat, creating a softer “roasted” texture, then top with Parmesan.
Recipes to Pair with Your Garlic Potatoes
These Crockpot Garlic Potatoes are incredibly versatile and make a fantastic complement to a wide array of main dishes. They are particularly popular during the holiday season, offering a delicious way to save precious oven space and reduce stress. But don’t limit them to just holidays – they’re perfect any time of year!
They are especially excellent with:
- Crockpot Turkey: A match made in heaven, especially for Thanksgiving.
- Crockpot Stuffing: Complete your holiday meal with these two slow-cooked staples.
- Crockpot Ham: The savory richness of the potatoes balances perfectly with a sweet or salty ham.
- Crockpot Garlic Mushrooms: Double the garlic, double the deliciousness!
- Crockpot Candied Sweet Potatoes: Offer a variety of potato dishes on your holiday table.
Beyond the holidays, these garlic potatoes pair wonderfully with:
- Roasted Chicken or Pork Chops
- Steak or Meatloaf
- Grilled Fish or Salmon
- Any Sloppy Joe variation (they’re even featured in our epic side dishes for Sloppy Joes post!)
- A simple green salad for a lighter meal.
Explore all of our vegetarian slow cooker recipes for more delicious and easy meal ideas.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Leftover Crockpot Garlic Potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: For best results, reheat in the microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also reheat them gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth if they seem dry, or in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until warm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some common questions about making Crockpot Garlic Potatoes:
- Can I use frozen potatoes for this recipe?
- While fresh potatoes are highly recommended for the best texture and flavor, you can use frozen diced potatoes. If using frozen, you might need to slightly reduce the amount of water and adjust cooking time as frozen potatoes tend to release more moisture and cook faster. Keep an eye on them!
- Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?
- Yes! This is one of the biggest advantages of a slow cooker recipe. You can dice the potatoes and have all your ingredients ready the night before. Simply assemble everything in the slow cooker in the morning and start cooking. The cooked potatoes also reheat well, making them great for meal prep.
- Why are my potatoes watery?
- Too much liquid or cooking on too low a setting for too long can sometimes result in watery potatoes. Ensure you’re using the recommended amount of water. If they are watery at the end, simply remove the lid and cook on high for an additional 15-30 minutes to allow some moisture to evaporate. If mashing, adding a bit of flour or cornstarch slurry (mixed with a little cold water) can also help thicken them.
- Can I use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder?
- Absolutely! Freshly minced garlic (about 1 tablespoon per ¾ teaspoon of powder) will provide a more pungent and robust garlic flavor. You can add it at the beginning of cooking, or for a brighter garlic taste, stir some in during the last hour.
- How do I make them extra garlicky?
- Don’t be shy with the garlic! Increase the amount of garlic powder, or use a combination of garlic powder and fresh minced garlic. Roasting a head of garlic and adding the softened cloves to the slow cooker would also impart an incredible, deep garlic flavor.
Garlic Potatoes in the Crock-Pot
Print Recipe
Rate This Recipe
10 minutes
4 hours
4 hours 10 minutes
10
295kcal
Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 5 pounds potatoes diced (such as Russet or Yukon Gold)
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Butter cut into chunks
- ¾ Teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and peel (if desired) your potatoes. Dice them into approximately 1-inch uniform chunks.
- Place the diced potatoes into your Crock-Pot. Add the water, butter chunks, and garlic powder. Season generously with salt and pepper to your taste. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Cover your slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your slow cooker and the size of your potato chunks.
- Once cooked, taste the potatoes and adjust seasonings if necessary. You can enjoy the potatoes as delicious, tender chunks, or, for mashed garlic potatoes, add 1/3 to 1 cup of warm milk or half-and-half (or to desired consistency) and mash them with a potato masher until smooth and creamy.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or chives if desired, and serve immediately.
Kitchen Tools
- 6-Quart Slow Cooker
- Sharp Knife & Cutting Board
- Potato Masher (optional, for mashed potatoes)
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 171
Love this recipe?Follow @TammileeTIps on Pinterest
Tried this recipe?Mention @TammileeTipsLife when you share a photo!
Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner or simply looking for an easy yet impressive side dish for a weeknight meal, these Crockpot Garlic Potatoes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They combine the ultimate convenience of slow cooking with rich, comforting flavors that everyone will love. Give this recipe a try and discover just how simple and delicious homemade garlic potatoes can be!
Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.
Follow Tammilee Tips on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, for all of our recipe posts and culinary inspiration!
Recipe originally shared on March 6, 2013. Updated for enhanced clarity, SEO optimization, and additional helpful tips in December 2023.