Place one potato on a cutting board between two wooden spoons. Cut the potato crosswise, stopping when your knife reaches the wooden spoons to keep the bottom part of the potato intact. Continue this process with all 4 potatoes.
Mix the melted butter, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Use the pastry brush to brush the butter mixture all over the potatoes. Gently fan the slices so the butter seeps into the slits.
Wrap each potato in a separate square of foil and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours) until the potatoes are tender enough to be pierced with a fork.
Unwrap the top of the foil packets and sprinkle the cheese and bacon over the potatoes.
Re-cover and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Gently remove the potatoes from the slow cooker. Garnish with chives, if desired, and serve while still hot.
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.