My daughter's graduation party guests kept going back for seconds. I almost didn't have enough left for the family.

This 4-ingredient slow cooker sour cream potato bake is exactly what I served at my daughter’s graduation party, and I’m not kidding when I say guests kept circling back for seconds. It’s the kind of cozy, creamy potato casserole that feels right at home on a Midwestern buffet table—simple ingredients, nothing fancy, but it tastes like you fussed. The slow cooker keeps it hands-off so you can actually enjoy the celebration instead of hovering over the oven, and the cheesy, golden top with crispy edges makes it look just as comforting as it tastes.

Serve this slow cooker sour cream potato bake right in the crock on a warm setting so guests can help themselves. It pairs beautifully with grilled burgers or brats, pulled pork, baked ham, or roasted chicken. I like to round out the table with a big green salad, a bowl of cut-up fruit, and a tray of dinner rolls so everyone can build a plate that feels like a full meal. For a party, set a spoonful-friendly topping bar nearby—chopped green onions, crumbled bacon, or extra shredded cheese—so folks can dress up their potatoes just how they like.

Servings: 10-12

3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8–1/4 inch thick)

Prep the slow cooker: Lightly grease a 5- to 6-quart oval slow cooker with nonstick spray or a thin coating of butter. This helps the potatoes release easily and encourages those tasty browned edges around the sides.

Prepare the potatoes: Peel the russet potatoes and slice them into thin rounds, about 1/8–1/4 inch thick. Try to keep the slices as even as you can so they cook at the same rate. If you slice ahead of time, keep them in a bowl of cold water to prevent browning, then drain and pat dry before layering.

Make the sour cream mixture: In a medium bowl, stir together the sour cream, 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, and the salt until well combined. It will be thick and cheesy—that’s exactly what you want so it melts into a creamy sauce as it cooks.

Layer the potatoes and sauce: Spread a thin spoonful of the sour cream mixture over the bottom of the greased slow cooker. Add an even layer of sliced potatoes, overlapping slightly like shingles. Spoon some of the sour cream-cheese mixture over the potatoes and gently spread it around. Repeat layers—potatoes, then sour cream mixture—until all the potatoes are used, ending with a smear of the sour cream mixture on top.

Top with cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer. This is what will melt into that bubbly, golden, slightly crispy top you see in those cozy casserole photos.

Cook the potatoes: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, or on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork and the edges around the crock are browned and bubbly. Every slow cooker runs a bit differently, so start checking toward the earlier time.

Brown the top (optional but nice for parties): If your slow cooker insert is oven-safe and you want extra browning like an oven casserole, carefully remove the insert when the potatoes are tender and place it under a preheated broiler for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is deeply golden and the edges are crisp. Use oven mitts and handle carefully; the insert will be very hot.

Rest and serve: Let the potato bake rest, uncovered, for about 10 minutes so it can set up slightly—it will scoop more neatly. Switch the slow cooker to WARM for serving. Give the top a tiny taste and adjust the salt if needed before guests dig in. Serve straight from the crock with a big serving spoon, and be prepared for people to come back for seconds (and maybe thirds).

You can easily tweak this simple graduation-party potato bake to fit your crowd. For extra richness, stir 2–3 tablespoons of softened butter into the sour cream and cheese mixture before layering. If your family likes a little onion flavor, add 1 teaspoon onion powder or 1/4 cup very finely minced onion to the sour cream mixture (just know this technically adds a fifth ingredient). For a sharper flavor, swap part of the cheddar for Colby Jack or a sharper aged cheddar. To make it feel like loaded baked potatoes, set out toppings like crumbled cooked bacon, sliced green onions, or a bit of hot sauce on the side so everyone can customize their scoop without changing the base recipe. For picky eaters, keep the potatoes plain and cheesy as written, and offer any mix-ins or toppings separately. If you need to scale up for a big crowd, you can use a larger slow cooker or run two slow cookers side by side; just keep the layers fairly thin so everything cooks through. Food safety tips: Always keep the potatoes refrigerated until you’re ready to cook, and don’t let the finished casserole sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it’s very warm in the room). Use a clean knife and cutting board for the potatoes, and wash your hands well before and after handling ingredients. If you partially assemble ahead, keep the slow cooker insert covered in the refrigerator and add 30–45 minutes to the cooking time since it will be starting cold. Leftovers should be cooled, then stored in a shallow, covered container in the fridge and eaten within 3–4 days; reheat thoroughly until steaming hot before serving.