Servings: 6 | Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 4½–5½ hours (LOW) or 2½–3 hours (HIGH) | Total time: Varies
There are some side dishes that feel like a warm hug. These Slow Cooker Amish Evaporated Milk Baby Potatoes are one of them. Small baby potatoes are slow-cooked in a creamy bath of evaporated milk and butter until they become tender, silky, and absolutely irresistible.
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Inspired by simple Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, this recipe lets the slow cooker do all the work. The evaporated milk creates a creamy, rich sauce without the need for heavy cream. The butter adds richness, and the potatoes release just enough starch to thicken the sauce naturally.
This is the perfect side dish for roast chicken, pork chops, ham, or meatloaf. It’s easy enough for a busy weeknight but special enough for a holiday dinner.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Only four ingredients – Baby potatoes, evaporated milk, butter, salt.
Five minutes of prep – Rinse, layer, pour, cover, walk away.
Creamy, buttery, and silky – The evaporated milk creates a luxurious sauce.
No heavy cream needed – Evaporated milk is the secret.
Set-it-and-forget-it – The slow cooker does all the work.
Budget-friendly – Potatoes and evaporated milk are affordable staples.
Perfect for weeknights or holiday dinners – Versatile and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
Small baby potatoes, scrubbed and left whole (or halved if large) – 2½ pounds
Evaporated milk – 1 (12-ounce) can
Unsalted butter, cut into small pieces – 4 tablespoons
Kosher salt – 1½ teaspoons, plus more to taste
Ingredient Notes
What kind of potatoes? Small baby potatoes are ideal. Look for baby Yukon Gold, baby red, or a mix. They have thin skins that don’t need peeling and a creamy texture. If some are larger than 1½ inches, cut them in half so they cook evenly.
Do I need to peel the potatoes? No. The skins on baby potatoes are thin and tender. Just scrub them well.
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What is evaporated milk? Evaporated milk is shelf-stable milk with about 60% of the water removed. It has a slightly caramelized flavor and a creamy consistency. Do not use sweetened condensed milk — it is much sweeter and will make the dish dessert-like.
What kind of butter? Unsalted butter is recommended so you can control the salt level. If you only have salted butter, reduce the added salt to 1 teaspoon.
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Do I need to add any other seasonings? The recipe is intentionally simple. A sprinkle of black pepper, garlic powder, or fresh parsley would be lovely additions, but they’re not necessary.
Do I need to grease the slow cooker? Yes. Lightly greasing prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
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What size slow cooker? A 4- to 6-quart slow cooker works best.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Potatoes
Rinse the 2½ pounds of baby potatoes under cool water and scrub off any dirt. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Leave them whole if they are bite-sized; if some are larger than 1½ inches, cut those in half so they cook evenly.
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Step 2: Prepare the Slow Cooker
Lightly grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with a small dab of butter or a quick spray of cooking oil to help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Step 3: Layer the Potatoes
Place the raw baby potatoes in an even layer in the bottom of the slow cooker. They should sit snugly but still in a single layer or only slightly mounded.
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Step 4: Add Butter and Salt
Scatter 4 tablespoons of butter (cut into small pieces) evenly over the potatoes. Sprinkle 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt over the top so it seasons the potatoes and the cooking liquid.
Step 5: Add the Evaporated Milk
Slowly pour 1 (12-ounce) can of evaporated milk over the raw potatoes in the slow cooker, making sure the milk drizzles down through the gaps between the potatoes. The potatoes will not be fully submerged; that’s fine, as they will release moisture while cooking.
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Step 6: Cover and Cook
Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on:
LOW for 4½ to 5½ hours, or
HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours
The potatoes are ready when they are very tender when pierced with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid during the first couple of hours so the heat and steam stay consistent.
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