Cozy Loaded Baked Potato Bar
A warm, customizable baked potato bar featuring fluffy russet potatoes and a variety of classic and optional fixings, perfect for game night or any casual gathering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
- Total Time: 55-70 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large russet potatoes, washed and dried
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 cup sour cream (optional: blend with cream cheese for extra smoothness)
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (or turkey bacon as a lighter alternative)
- ½ cup green onions or scallions, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Optional toppings: chopped fresh chives or parsley, ½ cup steamed broccoli florets, black beans or chili, avocado slices or guacamole, shredded mozzarella or pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Poke each russet potato 6-8 times all over with a fork.
- Rub each potato with about ½ tablespoon of oil, then sprinkle coarse salt evenly on the skin.
- Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, until a fork or skewer slides in easily and the skins feel crisp.
- While the potatoes bake, prepare toppings: cook bacon until crispy and crumble, shred cheese, slice green onions, and set out sour cream and butter.
- Let the baked potatoes cool for 5 minutes.
- Carefully slice each potato lengthwise and gently press to open the fluffy interior.
- Fluff the inside of each potato with a fork and add 1 tablespoon of butter inside each, letting it melt.
- Set out all toppings and let everyone build their own loaded baked potato.
Notes
Do not wrap potatoes in foil to keep skins crispy. Salt the skins generously and poke holes with a fork to prevent bursting. Prepping toppings ahead saves time. For a shortcut, microwave potatoes for 8-10 minutes then crisp under broiler. Customize toppings to dietary needs and preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large loaded baked
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 15
Keywords: loaded baked potato, baked potato bar, game night recipe, easy dinner, comfort food, customizable potatoes, crowd-pleaser