Did you know you can cook whole sweet potatoes in a slow cooker? #lifechanger ...so are these Apple, Bacon, and Leek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Mmmm bacon.
I love fall and everything. The colors are beautiful. Wearing a light jacket is acceptable. Ridiculous amounts of apple cider consumption is epic. Halloween and Thanksgiving are great holidays.
I love it all.
Except for one thing. The dark. Ugh how I loathe waking up in a frigid pitch black room. Granted the frigid part is because we refuse to put on our heat yet. But the dark thing? Yea, that's all on you nature.
Soon enough, it'll be dark out when I wake up AND by the time I get home from work. #notcool
Anyone else not into cooking as much when it's dark out? For some reason, the lack of sun zaps all of my energy. So that's when slow cooker meals come to the rescue. Meals like this Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken and Broccoli. And this Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken. And of course this epic Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken. And my latest obsession, these Slow Cooker Korean Sliders.
And you guys. Maybe I'm just fashionably late to the party, but did you know that you can totally rock whole sweet potatoes in a slow cooker?! If you did and didn't tell me, what the heck... I thought we were friends.
Stuffing sweet potatoes is pretty, well, sweet. They kinda rock my world, since I know that they are definitely on the healthy side, although they don't taste that way. Our house is already big fans of creative stuffed sweet potatoes... like these Thai Peanut Stuffed Sweet Potatoes and Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
And now it's time to bring some fall flavor action to the party. Apples. Bacon. Leeks.
And just because... a little white cheddar mornay sauce action. Don't get all weirded out by mornay sauce. It's just a fancy word for some cheese sauce goodness.
Slow Cooker Apple, Bacon, and Leek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes... Heck to the freaking yes.
Here's why slow cooker sweet potatoes are so amazing. You can throw 'em in before you leave for work and bam... you're pretty much ready to eat when you get home. No waiting around for an hour as they roast away in the oven.
Apple, Bacon, and Leek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 10 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 leeks, washed, trimmed, and thinly sliced crosswise
- 2 Granny Smith Apples (or other tart apples), peeled and chopped into ½'' pieces
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
for the Cheddar Mornay Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- ⅔ cup grated white cheddar
- Sprinkle of nutmeg
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- If using slow cooker for your sweet potatoes, piece sweet potatoes several times with a fork. Wrap in foil and place in slow cooker, cooking on low for 6-8 hours (depending upon size of sweet potato). There is no need for any liquid in the slow cooker. If not using slow cooker, cook sweet potatoes using your preferred method.
- Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until crisp and golden brown. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pan and add apples, leeks, and herbs (rosemary, sage, and thyme) to the skillet. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and begin to caramelize, about 7 minutes. Add the cooked bacon back into the pan and cook for 1 more minute.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring frequently for about 1 minute, until mixture is a bit golden. Whisk in milk until fully incorporated with roux and no clumps remain. Cook, stirring often, until the milk mixture thickens to a runny sauce consistency, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheeses until fully melted. Season with a sprinkle of nutmeg, Kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper.
- Split open each sweet potato and top with the cheddar mornay sauce and apple mixture. Devour immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
Now as shocking as this is, I know some of you still don't actually own a slow cooker. It's time to change that. And for those of you that already do, having 2 is twice the fun. Trust me. It's great for entertaining when you want to keep multiple things warm.
Big thanks to Hamilton Beach for providing me a slow cooker to play with, and for giving one away to one of Shared Appetite's finest readers. To enter this beauty... a Set 'n Forget® 6 Qt. Programmable Slow Cooker With Spoon/Lid, use the widget below...
Can't Get Enough?
Here's some more Sweet Potato action...
Bacon, Egg, and Sweet Potato Brussels Sprouts Salad
Thai Peanut Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Matt Robinson
All of my favorites in one, the perfect fall dish. Love this! Great pics Chris. #wolfpackeats
Chris
Thanks so much Matt! Are they #legit?? Wonder if I could have #putaneggonit...
Christine
1 - LOVE the new prop!!! very cool, vintage feel
2- HATE heading to and from work in the dark, it is the worrrrst feeling.
3 - JUST (sorry I'm on a roll) got my first slow cooker as a wedding gift and I can't wait to take it for a spin!!! this recipe is definitely one of the first on deck 🙂
Chris
Thanks Christine! I bought it at a garage sale awhile ago and then totally forgot about it! Glad I finally found it!
Mike
Chris, you're clearly the brain of the wolfpack. It never dawned on me to make sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. Thanks for the idea man, I'm gonna try this tomorrow! #wolfpackeats
Chris
Hahaha and you my friend are the muscle.
Melanie
Incredible! I've yet to do sweet potatoes in the crock pot. Looks amazing and simple.
Chris
So simple and easy! And they come out perfect!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)
Ok, Why are all of your potatoes so darn perfect?
Chris
Hahaha thanks Jocelyn 🙂
Alyssa
Since I've had a slow cooker for all of six days now...THANK YOU for enlightening me on throwing sweet potatoes in there. Genius!! The flavors here are peeerfect, and now you've got me craving stuffed sweet potatoes (and bacon, because I have a hard time not craving bacon if I see it!)
Chris
I always want bacon. Always.
Kelly
I'm with you, I hate cooking in the dark so slow cooker meals have been happening a lot here lately too. Um, wow!! I had NO idea you can make sweet potatoes in a slow cooker either - life changing! I am SO SO trying this because I make sweet potatoes almost every single day and this would be so much easier. Pinned!
Chris
Totally is life changing!
annie
Yes thick cut bacon! See that...great minds...I absolutely love this recipe and your photography is stunning!! Thanks for the news that sweet potatoes can be slow cooked...I didn't get that memo either! Nice post!
★★★★★
Chris
Thick cut bacon makes life worth living 🙂
Alice
I love that you made sweet potatoes in a slow cooker!!! What?!! and HELLO. . I just came from your photography post. . you are totally up there with the Naomi's of the world. PLEASE. Freaking gorgeous photos, yo.
Chris
Wow, thanks so much for that super kind compliment Alice. It truly means a lot!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen
Awesome recipe, Chris! I love all the ingredients you added in here. And your pictures are gorgeous too!
Chris
Thanks so much Olivia! Really appreciate the kind compliment 🙂
Laura | Fork Knife Swoon
LOVE love love baked sweet potatoes! Never thought to make them in a slower cooker - what a great idea. Must try 🙂
Chris
Thanks Laura!
Rachel
I'm so with you about how annoying it is to wake up in the dark, and it gets dark SOOO early! But everything else about fall is great...especially the food...and especially these stuffed potatoes! They look so good, as does everything with bacon. These are a perfect fall dish. Pinned!
Chris
I know, right Rachel?! It's times like this that living in CA sounds really, REALLY good.
marcie
Holy cow does this sweet potato look good! I have never made baked potatoes in a slow cooker, but that's gonna happen next week. Love this combo!
Chris
Thanks so much Marcie!
Pamela
I love that coca cola prop - what a beauty! I recently got a box like but it says "farmers market". It's now a prized kitchen possession! Loving everything about these potatoes - just screams yum and Fall!
Chris
Oooo your box sounds awesome! I gotta find me one of those!
Kelly - A Side of Sweet
Yum, yum, yum, yum, YUM. These look incredible and have everything that's delicious in the world all in one little package! Can't wait to make these. Pinned!
★★★★★
Chris
Hahaha thanks Kelly!
Yankee Kitchen Ninja (Julianne)
Dude. DUDE. It never even occurred to me to make sweet potatoes in my crockpot -- SO AWESOME!!!! Heck, this time of year I make practically everything in it, so I'm definitely going to give these a try. Nicely done!
Chris
You, the Ninj, have never done sweet potatoes in the slow cooker?! You are like the slow cooker queen!
ami
Wow love these!! And I am one of those who don't own a slow cooker hehe!! Thanks for doing this giveaway!
Chris
Hahaha oh man hope you win Ami!
Nicole
OH my goodness! Your photography is just out of this world amazing! I absolutely love your blog, and look forward to keeping up with it! 🙂 In a few months I'll be an Ontario teacher (former business student turned foodie), so stumbling upon your blog today and reading your story is super inspirational! 🙂
★★★★★
Chris
Thanks so much for the super kind compliment Nicole! Yay for teacher - food bloggers!
Zainab
Holy yum!! Dude I had no idea you could use the slow cooker for sweet potatoes! In love with all the toppings and this recipe. And your pictures are just stunning! I need to come for photography lesson.
Chris
I know, right?! I just found out the other day too! Hahaha, anytime you want to come down we can have a food photography party!
Natalie
You make food look so appetizing! I know what I am having for lunch tomorrow!!!
Chris
Hahaha thanks Natalie!
Ashley
Well, I had no idea you could cook whole sweet potatoes in a crockpot! Now I feel totally late to the party! Love the sound of these stuffed ones! Apple and bacon? Yes yes!
Chris
Hahaha we were both late (fashionably late, of course) to the party!
Helen
No I did NOT know you could cook sweet potatoes in a slow cooker! I just got a new one a couple of weeks ago and am just reminding myself of the basics. So this recipe is definitely making me swoon a bit right now. Quite frankly I can't think of anything more delicious than that apple/bacon/leek/cheese combo you've got hanging out on those sweet potatoes. Great photos, too! (going to check out your previous post now because I love taking my photos for my posts but struggle like crazy!)
Chris
Thanks so much Helen! Yea the slow cooker sweet potatoes are SO easy and delish!
Shashi
I haven't been holding out - I had no clue foil enclosed sweet potatoes could be cooked in a slow cooker -till now!!!
And I don't think I've had apple and bacon together either - ooh I am so intrigued! I think apple and bacon in the morning might make the darkness more bareable!
Chris
Never had apple and bacon together?! Oh my Shashi... you're totally missing out! It's amazing!
Sarah
Not to mention the dark TOTALLY ruins my food photo mojo. Why would I want to cook if I can't take pictures of it?! The only thing I want to do is hole up in my house eating pie, mourning the loss of summer. Also, I TOTALLY didn't know you could use your slow cooker for sweet potatoes. I am THE WORST about remembering that I have a slow cooker (which is hard because it live on top of my microwave....permanently in sight), but you're inspiring me! As always. PS. Can I please come take photos with you some time I'm in NY? I want to learn your skillz first hand!
Chris
Hahaha it totally does. You're so funny, I feel the same way... why bother cooking something if you can't blog it, right?!
And please, your photos are totally gorg! But heck yea, if you come to NY let's have a food photography party!
Pamela Gurganus
This looks and sounds amazing! Your pictures are just visually stunning! 🙂 Thank you for this awesome giveaway opportunity!
Chris
Thanks so much Pamela! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Bridget Hopper
I love your recipes. I'm going to have to run to the store and start making some yummy meals for my hubby
Melissa
Just found your blog. Love your writing. Love your photography. Love your food. Can't wait to try out these sweet potatoes!
Chris
Thanks so much Melissa 🙂 I really appreciate you stopping by!
Annette
I could almost taste these yummy sweet potatoes, just from looking at the images. I never thought of using a slow cooker to cook them, but now I'm going to have to try this recipe.
Karen D
Looks so good! Great recipe!