Easy Taco Style Crock Pot Baked Potatoes: Your Go-To Weeknight Meal Solution
Say hello to your new favorite weeknight dinner: delicious Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, served with a luscious, creamy salsa and piled high with all your cherished taco toppings! This recipe is a game-changer for busy families seeking both convenience and incredible flavor. Imagine coming home to perfectly tender baked potatoes, ready to be customized into a vibrant, satisfying meal. It’s simple, adaptable, and a surefire hit with everyone at the table.
Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Around here, weekends rarely mean “relaxing.” They’re typically a whirlwind of activity, filled with baseball games, birthday parties, and constantly shuttling from one place to the next. That’s the reality of parenting older kids – every day brings a new adventure and a packed schedule. Sometimes, I truly miss those simpler days of no commitments: leisurely park visits, impromptu playdates, and little ones tucked into bed by 7 p.m., with no homework worries, just pure play.
Yet, raising older children comes with its own unique joys. They keep you thoroughly entertained with their witty remarks and insightful conversations, sharing snippets from their day and offering glimpses into their evolving personalities. Watching them pursue their pastimes is incredibly rewarding, too. It’s a challenging journey, without a doubt, but shaping the next generation is a profound and satisfying experience.
This past weekend, however, was a rare exception for us Los Angelinos (yes, I believe that’s a word we can embrace!). It rained. All. Weekend. Long. Every single baseball field was completely flooded, leading to the glorious cancellation of all games! And what did this unexpected turn of events mean for our family? A delightful weekend of unscheduled family time! We simply hung out, enjoyed each other’s company, and yes, we did brave the Costco crowds, too! It was a truly refreshing change of pace, and a welcome respite before the inevitable busy schedule kicks back into full gear this week. Moments like these remind us of the preciousness of slow, unhurried time together.
If you find yourself nodding along, intimately familiar with the demands of a busy lifestyle, then this Crock Pot Baked Potato recipe is precisely what you need. It offers a brilliantly simple solution for a hearty, satisfying meal without the fuss. Instead of heating up your entire kitchen with the oven, these perfectly tender baked potatoes are cooked right in your slow cooker. If you’ve never tried cooking baked potatoes this way, prepare to be amazed by the convenience and the consistently delicious results. It’s an ideal method for prepping your dinner before you even leave the house in the morning, letting your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting.
One of the greatest advantages of using a crock pot for baked potatoes is the incredible flexibility it offers in cooking times. Whether you need a quick turnaround or a meal that can slowly simmer all day, this method adapts to your schedule. You can cook the potatoes on high for as little as 2.5 hours or set them on low for a leisurely 8-10 hours, ensuring they’re ready whenever you are. This adaptability makes it a perfect choice for hectic weekdays, meal prepping, or even casual weekend gatherings.
But what truly elevates these slow cooker baked potatoes is the fantastic creamy salsa. Forget plain butter; this quick and easy mixture of cream cheese and salsa creates a rich, tangy, and incredibly flavorful topping that’s also a healthier alternative. I prefer using a spicy salsa to give the sauce an extra kick, but you can adjust the heat to your preference. The smooth, zesty salsa melds beautifully with the soft, fluffy interior of the potato, forming a delightful base for all your favorite taco-inspired additions. It’s a simple step that transforms a basic baked potato into something truly special.
Once your potatoes are perfectly cooked and infused with flavor, the fun really begins! Just like you would with a traditional taco bar, you can set out a variety of toppings, allowing everyone to customize their baked potato exactly how they like it. This interactive approach makes dinner an engaging experience, particularly for families. Imagine a spread of seasoned shredded chicken, savory black beans, fresh grated cheese, vibrant diced tomatoes, crisp green onions, fragrant cilantro, cool sour cream, and perhaps a dollop of guacamole. The possibilities are endless, and each bite is a unique combination of textures and tastes. With everything prepared in advance, lunch or dinner is served effortlessly, turning a simple potato into a fiesta on a plate!
To ensure your slow cooker baked potatoes are nothing short of perfect, a few simple tips can make all the difference. Start with firm, evenly sized russet potatoes, as they tend to bake up light and fluffy. Thoroughly scrubbing them clean is crucial. Pricking the potatoes all over with a fork before cooking allows steam to escape, preventing them from bursting and helping them cook more evenly. While wrapping them individually in tin foil is optional, it can help keep the skins soft and prevent them from drying out, while also making cleanup easier. If you prefer a slightly crispier skin, you can skip the foil. For a touch of extra flavor, a light rub of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt before wrapping can elevate the taste profile.
When it comes to the creamy salsa, don’t be afraid to experiment. A mild salsa works well for those who prefer less heat, while a habanero or jalapeño-infused salsa will deliver a fiery kick. You can even mix in a pinch of garlic powder or onion powder to the cream cheese for added depth. This versatile sauce can also be made ahead of time and gently reheated, saving you even more precious minutes when it’s time to eat.
The beauty of these Taco Style Crock Pot Baked Potatoes lies in their incredible adaptability. While the taco theme is a fantastic starting point, feel free to get creative with your toppings. Consider a BBQ chicken version with shredded BBQ chicken, coleslaw, and a drizzle of ranch. Or perhaps a chili cheese potato with hearty beef chili, shredded cheddar, and a dollop of sour cream. For a vegetarian option, load them up with sautéed vegetables, black beans, corn, and avocado. The potato acts as a blank canvas, ready to soak up any flavors you desire, making this recipe a staple for meal rotation and reducing food waste by utilizing leftovers.
Not only are these slow cooker baked potatoes incredibly easy and delicious, but they also offer a wholesome meal option. Potatoes are a great source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. By opting for Neufchatel cream cheese and fresh salsa instead of traditional high-fat butter, you’re making a conscious choice for a lighter, yet equally satisfying, meal. Loading them with lean proteins and a rainbow of vegetables further boosts their nutritional value, ensuring you’re feeding your family well without sacrificing flavor or convenience. It’s truly a win-win dinner solution for busy weeknights.
Taco Style Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 6 potatoes
- olive oil & sea salt if desired
- 6-8 oz. Neufchatel cream cheese cream cheese
- 15- oz jar salsa
- cooked chicken shredded
- grated cheese
- black beans
- sour cream
- cilantro
- green onions
- basically any taco topping you like!
Instructions
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Begin by thoroughly washing and scrubbing your potatoes under cold water until they are sparkling clean. Once clean, prick each potato all over several times with the tines of a fork. This prevents them from exploding during the cooking process and allows steam to escape, resulting in a perfectly cooked interior. For an extra touch of flavor and a slightly softer skin, you can rub each potato with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, if desired. Then, wrap each potato individually in tin foil and place them carefully inside your crock pot.
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Set your slow cooker to the desired setting. Cook the potatoes on high for 2 1/2 to 4 hours for a quicker meal, or on low for 8-10 hours if you need them to cook while you’re away. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes and your specific crock pot, so always check for doneness by inserting a fork into the thickest part of a potato; it should slide through easily with no resistance.
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About 15-20 minutes before your potatoes are finished cooking, prepare the creamy salsa. In a small saucepan, combine the Neufchatel cream cheese and pour the jar of salsa over it. Cook this mixture on low heat, stirring continuously, until the cream cheese has completely melted and smoothly blended with the salsa, creating a warm, homogeneous, and irresistibly creamy sauce.
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Once the potatoes are ready, carefully remove them from the crock pot and unwrap the foil. Place each potato on a serving plate or cutting board. To prepare it for toppings, cut a slit down the middle of the potato, from one end to the other, making sure not to cut all the way through the bottom. With the potato still in your hand, gently squeeze the ends inward with your middle finger and thumb. This action will cause the potato to “fluff up” and open beautifully, creating a perfect well to hold all your delicious fillings.
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Now comes the best part: assembling your taco baked potato! Generously pour the warm, creamy salsa over the opened potato. Then, add your desired taco toppings such as seasoned shredded chicken, black beans, grated cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, vibrant green onions, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and any other favorites you enjoy. Serve immediately and enjoy this wonderfully customizable and effortless meal!
Looking for more easy and delicious recipes? Check these out:
How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato
Hearty Stuffed Acorn Squash
Delightful Make Ahead Potato Crescent Rolls