My kids beg for these every Friday night. You only need 3 ingredients to make these gooey campfire favorites without stepping outside.
These slow cooker 3-ingredient banana boats are my kids’ favorite Friday night treat. They taste just like the gooey campfire desserts I grew up eating, but you don’t have to build a fire or even step outside. Everything happens right in your slow cooker while you clean up dinner or finish a few emails. With only bananas, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows, this is the kind of low-effort, high-reward recipe that feels special but fits easily into a busy week.
Serve the banana boats warm, straight from the foil packets, with spoons so everyone can dig into the melted chocolate and marshmallow. They’re great on their own, but if you want to dress them up, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side. For a fun family night, set out small bowls of optional toppings like crushed graham crackers or chopped nuts so everyone can sprinkle a little something extra on top after cooking.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Banana Boats
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 medium ripe bananas (firm enough to hold their shape) 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup mini marshmallows
Directions
Line your slow cooker with a single layer of aluminum foil packets: tear 4 large rectangles of foil (one for each banana) and set them aside on the counter. Lightly crimp the edges of each piece to create a shallow “boat” shape that will help catch any melted chocolate.
Prepare the bananas: leaving the peels on, place each banana on its foil piece. Using a small sharp knife, carefully slice a deep slit lengthwise down the middle of each banana, cutting through the peel and into the fruit, but not all the way through to the bottom. Gently open the slit with your fingers to create a pocket.
Stuff the bananas: divide the chocolate chips evenly among the 4 bananas, tucking them into the slit so they sit inside the banana. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the chocolate, pressing them lightly into the pocket so they stay put. Any extra marshmallows can sit right on top; they’ll still melt and get gooey.
Wrap the packets: bring the long sides of each foil piece up and over the stuffed banana, then fold them together to seal. Fold up the short ends as well so you have a snug, sealed packet. You don’t need these to be super tight, just closed enough to trap the heat and keep the fillings from leaking out.
Arrange in the slow cooker: place the foil packets seam-side up in a single layer in the bottom of your slow cooker. If your slow cooker is smaller, it’s okay if they overlap slightly, but avoid stacking them if you can so they cook evenly.
Cook on LOW for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the bananas are very soft and the chocolate and marshmallows are melted and gooey. The exact time will depend on your slow cooker, so start checking around the 1 1/2-hour mark by carefully opening one packet.
Serve: turn off the slow cooker and use tongs or oven mitts to lift the hot foil packets out. Open each packet carefully—watch for steam—then either serve the banana boats right in the foil or transfer them to small bowls. Eat warm with a spoon, scooping the banana together with the melted chocolate and marshmallow in every bite.
Variations & Tips
For a slightly less sweet version, swap semisweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips. If you want more of a classic s’mores vibe but still keep the base recipe to 3 ingredients, serve the cooked banana boats with crushed graham crackers on the table as an optional topping for anyone who wants it. You can also play with different chocolate chip flavors (milk chocolate, white chocolate, or peanut butter chips) depending on what you have in your pantry. To prep ahead, you can assemble the foil-wrapped banana packets in the morning and store them in the fridge; just transfer them to the slow cooker when you get home and start cooking. If your bananas are very ripe and you’re worried about them getting too soft, check them on the earlier side of the cook time. For easier cleanup, you can add an extra layer of foil under the packets in the slow cooker, which makes lifting them out and wiping down the crock even faster on a busy night.
