Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes
Apr 06, 2024Updated Apr 16, 2025
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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:
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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.
Can I use Italian bread crumbs and how much instead of 24 saltines?
About 3/4 cup
Thanks. I use Italian bread crumbs too. Was wondering how much!
I always put carrots and potatoes in with my meatloaf and my family loves it.
Can I use 8 at instant pot ?
I have not tried, let me know how it works for you.
Can you cook on high for 6 hours?
I have not tried, it would have to be tested. Most recipes you can switch, but unsure how this one would do on high.
Iโll let you know!!!
It worked and was delicious!!!
Thanks for letting me know!
Can you cook liver and onions with the gravy in a crock pot? If so how long and the ingredients.
I just tried this recipe – it cooked for 8 hours without opening the lid and the my meat is under cooked and the potatoes are not softened. Is there anything you can suggest I try next time?
Hi Shannon, Maybe smaller potaotes. If you continue to have problems with your slow cooker, such as roasts getting tender too. You may need a different crock pot. I’m so sorry this happened.
Oh no, please donโt be sorry. I need to upgrade my crockpot anyways. Now I have an excuse to. I will try this again after I get a new one. Thank you so much.
Can I used a 1/2 lean and half 85% meat?
Yes! Will need to drain at the end of cooking.
My son has gout, so poultry is what we work with most that doesn’t cause him flares. Could you make this with ground chicken and what would the cooking time be? Most ground chicken is chicken breasts…very worried about it being hard and dry…but they travel for work and use a crockpot a lot….this would be a great meal for them that cooks while they are at work
Can I mix everything and put in frig. In the crockpot And in morning put potatoes in and turn crockpot on and put pot in holder before leaving work.
Yes, that would work fine. I do that often. One tip I have is to let the slow cooker sit on the counter for about 10 mins to get the chill off of it, so it won’t crack.
Sounds delicious! I’m concerned about the foil coming in contact with the meat. Is it safe? Is there something else to wrap the potatoes in or leave them unwrapped?
Si I started out with two pounds of beef and have no idea where it went. The meat thinned out and has dents where the potatoes sat on it??? What the heck??
That could happen if your meat is wetter than normal. I’m sorry that happened.