Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes
9 Comments Nov 07, 2021
Updated Feb 15, 2025
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This Irish-inspired recipe for Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes is a must-try! Creamy mashed potatoes blend with tender cabbage for a simple yet flavorful side dish. Seasoned to perfection and finished with crispy bacon and green onions, this dish brings warmth and comfort to any meal. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you want a hearty, classic side!
Table of Contents
What are Colcannon Poatotes
This recipe may come to you as a shock if you have never heard of it! Try this Irish recipe for colcannon potatoes as a side dish for your corned beef or any St. Patrick’s day meal.
Colcannon potatoes are mashed potatoes with cooked cabbage (or kale) in them. An Irish Halloween tradition is to hide a ring and a thimble in the potatoes, though it seems like a choking hazard, I would warn guests first.
Another version of potatoes like this is called “Champ” which is potatoes with scallions (green onions).
What you need:
This slow cooker colcannon is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Russet potatoes and cabbage cook with seasonings for depth, while butter and half and half add creaminess. Crispy bacon and green onions bring the perfect finishing touch!
How to make colcannon potatoes in the crockpot:
Step One – Gather russet potatoes, cabbage, chicken bouillon cubes, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add to the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the potatoes. It is fine to leave some cabbage above the waterline.
Step Two – Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 4.5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Step Three – Drain the cabbage and potatoes. Add melted butter and heavy cream, mash the potatoes using a potato masher, you can use a handheld mixer but using a potato masher will keep some of the cabbage intact. Next, add cooked bacon crumbles and green onions. Stir to combine. Serve and enjoy!
Variations
- Kale is often used in colcannon potatoes. If you want to use kale in this recipe instead of cabbage you will need to wait to add it. Add 4 cups of chopped kale for the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Kale doesn’t take long to soften in the slow cooker.
- You can use red or gold potatoes, you do not need to peel them, just cube and add to the slow cooker.
- Diced ham can replace the bacon.
- Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a flavor boost.
What goes good with Colcannon Potatoes?
- Meaty mains that go great are Maple Mustard Corned Beef, Slow Cooker Pastrami Sandwiches, or Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage (skip the potatoes and cabbage in that classic recipe). Pork goes great with cabbage, so we often make Honey Apple Pork Loin.
- Want to add another side dish to complete the meal? We love honey garlic carrots or slow cooker Brussels sprouts to round out the meal.
Reader Review
“Absolutely excellent! Thank you for the recipe! So easy. Last year I did it by scratch and took forever in the kitchen. I was exhausted. So grateful for the recipe. Will make again and again.” – Deb
Colcannon Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs. russet potatoes (peeled and diced), (doesn't need to be exact, I usually use about a half a 5 lb. bag).
- 1/2 head cabbage (rough chopped)
- 4 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- water to cover
- 1/2 cup half and half, (or milk) plus more if needed
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup sliced green onion
Instructions
- Add the peeled potatoes and chopped cabbage to the slow cooker. Add the chicken boullion cubes, garlic powder and onion powder.
- Pour over just enough water to cover the potatoes and most of the cabbage. It is okay if some of the cabbage isn't under water. Don't fill your slow cooker to the tip top, or you risk it overflowing during the cooking time.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 4.5 hours.
- When the cooking time is up, drain the water off the potatoes and cabbage.
- Pour over the melted butter, half and half, salt and pepper.
- Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes. If needed add a touch more half and half if the potatoes look dry, don't over do it though! After you have mashed the potatoes, add the cooked bacon and green onion.
- Stir and serve!
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- Kale is often used in colcannon potatoes. If you want to use kale in this recipe instead of cabbage you will need to wait to add it. Add 4 cups of chopped kale for the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Kale doesn’t take long to soften in the slow cooker.
- You can use red or gold potatoes, you do not need to peel them, just cube and add to the slow cooker.
- Diced ham can replace the bacon.
- Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a flavor boost.
- Pair the potato dish with corned beef, pork or chicken.
- Other side dishes that complement well are glazed carrots or Brussels sprouts.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I have always liked Sarah’s recipes (& her
comments too!)
I really cannot think of a recipe that
wasn’t a success!! I love my slow cooker
& now that I am elderly (!!??) it is used
quite a bit!
Thank you, Sarah, for all the great
recipes you have shared with us !
Ah, thank you Judith! I love making these recipes!
Am I able to cook this on LOW and if so, for how long?
You will most likely need about 7 hours on low. It’s hard to say without testing it.
4.5 on high is too long and that is before I added anything before mashing. I then added very little butter and milk.
So delicious! We make this recipe on the day we make butter and substitute the buttermilk for the half and half.
Absolutely excellent! Thank you for the recipe! So easy. Last year I did it by scratch and took forever in the kitchen. I was exhausted. So grateful for the recipe. Will make again and again.
How much bacon, and green onions
thank you, I added that. 8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon and 1/2 cup sliced green onion.