Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes
112 Comments Apr 06, 2024
Updated Apr 16, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes recipe is a game-changer for your weeknight dinners. It’s a hearty, flavorful meal that’s perfect for busy families who want a satisfying dinner without all the fuss.
If you want a one pot chicken meal (with baked potatoes), you will love my Slow Cooker Cornish Game Hens and Baked Potatoes recipe!
Why This recipe works
When it comes to convenience, this slow cooker meatloaf and baked potatoes recipe has you covered. By combining all the ingredients into one pot (including the potatoes), you save time on both prep and cleanup. The meatloaf recipe is my mom’s, which includes bell pepper! The entire house smells amazing while this cooks! The best part is the entire recipe cooks at the same time.
For families with hungry appetites, this recipe is a lifesaver. There are plenty of servings and leftovers can be easily reheated for a quick and delicious meal the next day. Busy weeknights call for simple solutions, and this recipe delivers. If you want just meatloaf, try my classic slow cooker meatloaf recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef: This lean ground beef adds a hearty base to our meatloaf, keeping it moist and flavorful while also being a healthier option. If you want to use turkey, try my slow cooker turkey meatloaf recipe.
- Eggs: Act as a binding agent, helping to hold the meatloaf together.
- White onion (diced): Adds a nice flavor while also providing a bit of texture and sweetness.
- Green bell pepper (diced): Gives a pop of color and a refreshing crunch and adds so much flavor!!
- Ketchup: Not only adds a touch of sweetness but also helps to keep it moist and tender as it cooks.
- Milk: Adds moisture to ensure the meatloaf stays juicy and delicious.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt, and pepper are the only seasonings you need to finish off the delicious flavor of this meatloaf.
- Saltine crackers (crushed): An additional binder and filler that also helps to absorb excess moisture and hold everything together.
- 5 Russet potatoes (small to medium sized): When baked alongside the meatloaf, they become wonderfully tender and fluffy, the perfect side to complete the meal. (See the full recipe in the recipe card below.)
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a large bowl add the meat, eggs, onion, bell pepper, ketchup, milk, garlic powder, salt, pepper and crushed saltines. Mix together with a spoon or clean hands.
Step Two – Form the meat mixture into a loaf in the slow cooker.
Step Three – Wash and dry the potatoes and wrap each of them in foil.
Step Four – Place the potatoes on top of the meatloaf toward the sides of the crockpot
Step Five – Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Step Six – Slice the meatloaf and serve along side the baked potatoes with your favorite toppings.
How to Serve
- Serve slices of slow cooker meatloaf alongside the baked potatoes topped with all your favorite fixings, like sour cream, chives, and shredded cheese (you really don’t need anything else!)
- Pair your crockpot meatloaf recipe with additional side dishes such as steamed green beans, roasted carrots, slow cooker southern fried corn, or a crisp garden salad for a well-rounded meal.
- Transform leftovers into a delicious meatloaf sandwich by layering slices between two pieces of bread with lettuce, tomato, and a smear of mayo or mustard.
- Turn leftovers into a hearty breakfast hash by dicing up meatloaf and potatoes, then sautéing them with onions and bell peppers. Serve with a fried egg on top for a protein-packed morning meal.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Ground turkey is a leaner option and works just as well in this recipe. Just be sure to adjust the seasonings to your taste preferences.
If you don’t like cooking with foil it can certainly be skipped. The potatoes will be a little wetter but will still taste great.
Yes. Allow the leftover meatloaf to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or store it in an airtight container before freezing. It should keep for up to three months. Just be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
If your meatloaf turns out too moist (won’t hold together while forming the loaf), try adding additional cracker crumbs to absorb some of the excess moisture.
Try my other Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipes:
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. 7% fat ground beef
- 3 large eggs
- 1 small white onion,, diced
- 1 green bell pepper,, diced
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 pepper
- 25 saltine crackers,, crushed
- 5 Russet potatoes, (small to medium sized)
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the meat, eggs, onion, bell pepper, ketchup, milk, garlic powder, salt, pepper and crushed saltines.. Mix together with a spoon or clean hands. If meatloaf seems to wet to form into a loaf add more cracker crumbs or if too dry add a touch more milk or ketchup.
- Form the meatloaf into a loaf in the slow cooker. Wash and dry the potatoes and wrap each of them in foil. Place the potatoes on top of the meatloaf toward the sides of the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- Ground turkey is a leaner option and works just as well in this recipe. Just be sure to adjust the seasonings to your taste preferences.
- Sweet potatoes can be used (and wrapped in foil) instead of russet potatoes.
- If you don’t like cooking with foil it can certainly be skipped. The potatoes will be a little wetter but will still taste great.
- Leftover meatloaf can be froze in slices for easy lunches!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
We like larger baking potatoes, so when making the meatloaf, I pierce the potatoes and then microwave them for 5 minutes first and then proceed with the rest of the recipe. They come out great. I also like to put the meatloaf into the sling that I got for my air fryer and put a piece of parchment paper on top of it that I put some holes in. That way, the meatloaf doesn’t fall apart when I’m removing it from my crockpot and cleanup is much easier.
Enjoy cooking my meatloaf and baked potatoes in the slow cooker! Normally we eat meatloaf with rice in Hawaii so the baked potato was a delicious change!
So glad to hear that!
What would you suggest instead of the saltines, for a gluten free?
Try gluten free breadcrumbs, even panko crumbs work well.
I use oats in my meatloaf. I have never used gluten free, but I’m sure they would work.
I made your other slow cooker meatloaf recipe and made a foil “sling” to make lifting the cooked meatloaf out of the slow cooker easier. I’ll do that when I make this one as well. Love the idea of cooking the potatoes at the same time.
I love slow cooker recipes and meatloaf is a staple at my house. This slow cooker meatloaf tastes good and makes a lot, but it doesn’t get browned, so run it under your oven broiler for a few minutes before serving. I had to cook it on high instead of low for about 4-5 hours because I underestimated how long it would take on low for 8 hours – that means you have to start it at about 10:30 AM! Make the loaf the night before then or early in the AM. Cold leftovers make great sandwiches too!
Could you bake in oven?
Depending on the size of your potaotoes it may work. Though I personally start my potatoes a little ahead of of my meatloaf when I cook in the oven.
I’m wondering if you cook this recipe on high or low. I love your recipes and has helped during my knee surgery recovery. Have a great day….Debby yarian
On low. The full recipe is in the recipe card.
Do you add water in bottom of slowcooker
No.