How to make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes

These Crockpot Sweet Potatoes are one of the easiest ways to cook whole sweet potatoes. Just scrub and rinse them, place them right in the slow cooker, and cook until tender. There’s no need to wrap them in foil or add water.

Crockpot Sweet Potatoes on plates

Once they’re done, split them open and add butter, brown sugar, or your favorite savory toppings.

collage image of 4 different sweet potatoes with different toppings
How long does it take to cook sweet potatoes in a crockpot?

Cook whole sweet potatoes on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3½–4 hours. The exact time can vary depending on the size of your potatoes and your slow cooker.

Do you need to add water to sweet potatoes in the crockpot?

No. You do not need to add water. Scrub and rinse the sweet potatoes and place them in the crockpot while they’re still damp.

Do you need to wrap sweet potatoes in foil in a slow cooker?

No foil is needed for this recipe. Place the whole sweet potatoes directly into the crockpot after rinsing them.

Do you need to poke holes in sweet potatoes before slow cooking them?

No. I don’t pierce the sweet potatoes for this crockpot method. Just scrub, rinse, and place them whole in the slow cooker.

How do you know when crockpot sweet potatoes are done?

The sweet potatoes are ready when a fork can easily be inserted into the center. If they’re still firm, cover the slow cooker and let them cook a little longer.

Ingredient Notes

  • Sweet potatoes: Choose potatoes that are close to the same size so they finish cooking around the same time.
  • Optional toppings: Butter, brown sugar, chili, shredded BBQ chicken, black beans, or your other favorite sweet potato toppings all work well.

How to make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes

  1. Scrub sweet potatoes and rinse ( do not dry off, this is all the moisture the potatoes will need in the crockpot)
  2. Place rinsed potatoes into the crockpot. Cover and cook on on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3.5-4 hours. Potatoes are done when a fork have easily be inserted into the potato.
    How to make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes - sweet potatoes in a slow cooker

BOOM! Perfect potatoes every time! What will you be topping your sweet potatoes with?

fork scooping up some sweet potato
  • Choose similar-sized potatoes. This helps them cook evenly.
  • Don’t dry them after rinsing. The small amount of water left on the potatoes gives them all the moisture they need while cooking.
  • Don’t add water to the slow cooker. The damp potatoes and moisture trapped inside the crockpot are enough.
  • Start checking them near the end of the cooking time. Larger sweet potatoes may take a little longer than smaller ones.
  • Use a fork to check for doneness. It should slide easily into the center of the sweet potato.

More sweet potato recipes we love!

4.93 from 27 votes

How to make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes

Author Corey Valley
Here’s how to make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes!  You don’t even need to wrap them in foil.  Just scrub and pop them in the crock. Presto: perfect sweet potatoes
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 1 minute

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 4 Large sweet potatoes
  • optional toppings

Instructions

  • Scrub sweet potatoes and rinse ( do not dry off, this is all the moisture the potatoes will need in the crockpot)
    Sweet Potatoes in a slow cooker
  • Place rinsed potatoes into the crockpot. Cover and cook on on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3.5-4 hours. Potatoes are done when a fork have easily be inserted into the potato.
    Cooked Sweet Potato on a plate

Notes

Nutritional information will depend on the size of your potato and toppings you choose. 

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 438mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 18445IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Did You Make This Recipe?

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4 sweet potatoes in a slow cooker

Originally Posted January 2015
Post updated August 2026

4.93 from 27 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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34 Comments

    1. Thanks Amy!

  1. Peanut butter topped sweet potatoes sounds like a fantastic breakfast!!! I never thought to cook my sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. That’s a great tip for summer time, when heating up the oven just doesn’t appeal.

  2. Katharine in Brussels says:

    Hi Corey, glad this works so well for you! It may be something I’m doing wrong, but every time I try to slow cook sweet taters they turn out mushy. Too much condensation in my crock, I think. Oh well!

  3. Hannah F. says:

    I’ve tried cooking sweet potatoes in a crockpot twice. Both times, the crock cracked! The first time I had them wrapped in foil. The second time I added water, thinking maybe that would help, but nope, I ruined another crockpot. 🙁 Maybe I cooked them too long? I want to cook some tomorrow, but I’m scared of ruining another crockpot!

    1. I just loaded up my crock pot and turned it on and then came to read the comments to see if anyone said whether or not we should poke holes in the potatoes and then I see this about a cracked crock pot. Please tell me no one else had this happen. I will be so sad if I crack my crock pot. My old one is slightly cracked too, but I don’t remember how that happened. Anyway, other than the possibility of a cracked crock pot, I am looking forward to trying this tonight. Thanks!

    2. Hannah F. says:

      I tried this one more time, and it turned out beautifully. The first two cracked pots must have been just a weird coincidence.

    3. 5 stars
      I’ve done this several times without a problem. Perhaps the potatoes create hot spots where they are in direct contact with the container–and without liquids to disperse the temperature. One slow cooker is a Teflon-coated metal pan and the other is all aluminum. Soooo, I’m guessing it must be a pottery or glass problem?

    4. Joanne Enriquez says:

      I cracked a crockpot by placing a cold roast into a room temperature crockpot. Perhaps you had your sweet potatoes in the refrigerator where they do not necessarily have to be stored. Put room temperature potatoes in and you probably have less chance of cracking your crock.