Here are some popular ideas for loaded baked potatoes recipes and its toppings. In this post, a lot of special ways are shown. Cook in oven, microwave, or on the grill. Also, this is part of our Vegetables, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Holidays, Christmas, and Thanksgiving Categories.

Favorite Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe

This is the most popular loaded baked potatoes recipe. It covers all the popular toppings and 3 ways of cooking. Cook in the oven, microwave, or on the grill.

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Prep: 7

Cook: 10

Total: 17

Servings: servings

Calories: 463kcal

Author: Jeff Baygents

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Ingredients

2 large potatoes Russet (or white, Idaho)
1 Tbsp oil or bacon drippings
⅔ Tbsp butter
¼ tsp salt
2 strips bacon cooked, crumbled
2 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium green onion chopped
2 tsp sour cream
¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper

Instructions

Prepare Potatoes
Hand rub (or scrub with vegetable brush) under running water and rinse off potatoes. Remove any protruding "eyes". Pat reasonable dry. Puncture each potato about ½ dozen times all around with a fork to allow excess steam to escape.
2 large potatoes, 1 Tbsp oil
If not cooking in a microwave: Rub a very thin coating of bacon drippings around each potato or, use a cooking oil. Never use butter before baking.
Proceed with only 1 of the following Cooking Ways.
Cooking Way 1: Microwave
Add the potatoes to the microwave and select the option "potatoes". Monitor for over or undercooking. Can remove those that are cooked and continue with remainder. Usually, takes about 5 to 10 minutes for 1-4 potatoes.
Cooking Way 2: Oven
Preheat oven to 375°F. Do not wrap in foil. Place on a baking sheet or directly on oven shelf. Bake about 1 hour. Review recipe notes for other temps or times.
Cooking Way 3: Grill
Preheat the grill. Foil is optional (and not recommended). The use of foil is to avoid smoked flavor from the grill or to cut down on the impact of any unbalanced high heat. Place on grill on indirect heat only; think of your grill as an oven and not a burner. Cook overall about the same as oven temps and times.
After Cooking
Test to confirm baked by poking half-way deep with a fork. No resistance past the skin is good for being done. Or, the inside temp will be around 210°F (range is 205-212°F).
Soon after cooked, cut the potatoes lengthwise ½-way deep, and again crossways. Pinch ends to open up and apply toppings in this order: butter slices, salt, bacon crumples, shredded cheese, diced green onion, sour cream, and black pepper.
⅔ Tbsp butter, ¼ tsp salt, 2 strips bacon, 2 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese, 1 medium green onion, 2 tsp sour cream, ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper

Notes

What temperature should a baked potato be cooked at? AND How long to cook baked potatoes?

These are the more common times and associated temperatures:

425^o F Large Potatoes for 35-40 minutes, Small/Medium Potatoes for 30 mins
400^o F Large Potatoes for 45-50 minutes, Small/Medium Potatoes for 40 mins
375^o F Large Potatoes for 1 hr, Small/Medium Potatoes for 50 mins
350^o F Large Potatoes for 1 hr to 1 hr + 10 mins, Small/Medium Potatoes for 1 hr

Final internal temperature of a baked potato is about 210^o F.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Let us all know how it was!

SOURCE: DarnGoodRecipes.com™

Topping Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Here’s a long list of topping ideas for loaded baked potatoes. You don’t pick random toppings so you’ll want to be sure they pair well together. So, keep reading for other sections to see which of these ingredients go together best.

Spices and Herbs Topping Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Salt & Pepper
Chives
Cilantro

Dairy and Oils Topping Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Butter
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Cheese dip

Veggies and Beans Topping Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Chopped green onions
Diced onions
Diced tomatoes
Salsa
Corn kernels, cooked/canned & drained
Black beans, cooked/canned & drained
Chili with beans

Meat Topping Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Crumbled bacon or bacon bits
Ground beef, cooked and crumbled
Pulled pork
Ham: cubed, shredded, or torn
Chili with beans
Corned beef: chopped, shredded, or torn
Steak: cubed or diced
Chicken: cubed, shredded, or torn

3 Levels of Loaded Ingredients For Loaded Baked Potatoes

some basic ingredients for loaded baked potatoes — Some basic ingredients for loaded baked potatoes

Volumes of loaded baked potato ingredients vary. So, here are 3 loaded volume levels.

Minimal loaded (very simple and easy)
Typical loaded (popular and well known)
Fully loaded (usually as the main course)

The next sections cover loaded baked potatoes ideas for ingredients and toppings for each volume amount. Each volume level’s ingredients are very common. However, when you get to the maximum, fully loaded potato ingredients, they’re listed as ingredient sets that pair well together.

MINIMAL Ingredients for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Firstly, here are the minimal ingredients of a very modest loaded baked potato.

MINIMAL Loaded Baked Potato

Salt & Pepper
Butter
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream

TYPICAL Ingredients for Popular Loaded Baked Potatoes

Overall, here are some very popular and typical ingredients for loaded baked potatoes. Some restaurants might leave off bacon or chives, however.

TYPICAL Loaded Baked Potato

Salt & Pepper
Butter
Chives (chopped green onions)
Crumbled bacon or Bacon bits
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour Cream

MAXIMUM Ingredients for FULLY LOADED Baked Potatoes

Finally, make your fully loaded baked potatoes. So, here are lists of different ways to have the most ingredients. Also, each easily qualifies to make the fully loaded baked potatoes as a main course or possibly as a heavy side dish.

Broccoli
- Salt & Pepper
- Butter
- Chives (chopped green onions)
- Broccoli, cooked
- Crumbled bacon or Bacon bits
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese
Chili
- Salt & Pepper
- Chives (chopped green onions)
- Chili or Chili with Beans
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Cheeseburger Loaded (Replaces burger and fries)
- Salt & Pepper
- Extra ground beef (cooked & crumbled) stuffed and spills over potato
- Chopped onion
- Optional: diced tomatoes, small amount of mustard and/or ketchup, crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Pulled Pork Loaded Baked Potato
- Salt & Pepper
- Pulled pork
- Diced onion
- Diced dill pickle
- Mustard
- BBQ Sauce
Mexican Loaded (so, keep reading below for how to make Mexican Loaded Baked Potatoes)
- Spices: chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder
- Butter
- Black Beans (cooked)
- Corn kernels (cooked)
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Shredded cheddar cheese or Cheese Dip

How To Make Mexican Loaded Baked Potatoes

For Mexican loaded baked potatoes, first prepare the raw potatoes.

Initially, scrub and rinse off each potato. Wipe dry with paper towels.
Then, poke all around each potato with a fork.
After that, coat each potato liberally with vegetable oil.
Rub each with the following Mexican Seasonings mix. Overall, this is enough for 4 potatoes. Save 2 teaspoons for the topping mixture later.
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Then, follow the main recipe for cooking the potatoes in oven, in microwave, or on grill.
After baking, cut open the potato, fluff up the insides, and then top with 2 heaping tablespoons of the following Mexican Topping mixture.
- The following is enough for 4 potatoes.
- 2 teaspoons of the earlier Mexican Seasonings mix
- 1/4 cup cooked/canned black beans, drained
- 1/4 cup cooked/canned corn, drained
- 1 teaspoon Cilantro
- 1 teaspoon Lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons salsa (or diced tomatoes)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Then, top each potato with some shredded Cheese like cheddar.
After that, bake, microwave, or air fry each to melt the cheese.
Finally, complete it by topping each with a teaspoon of sour cream.

FAQ About Baked Potatoes

Do you wrap a potato in foil when cooking?

So, there are a ton of recipes that typically have this as a step to enclose the potato in foil. We’re accustomed to packaging things up neatly and don’t like food being directly exposed when not in a container of some sort. But, the answer is “No”. However, if you do, it won’t be as flavorful and will taste more like a steamed potato since it retains all the moisture. Also, the baking time might need to be increased slightly. However, you should focus on baked potatoes in oven without foil. Needless to say, never use foil when using microwaves.

Should you poke holes in potatoes before baking?

Absolutely. You want the pressure and excess steam to escape the potato so, prick it about 6 times all over with a fork. If you don’t, they also have the chance of exploding to release the excessive pressure.

How can you tell when a baked potato is fully cooked?

Here are 3 ways you can tell when a baked potato is fully cooked.

The internal temperature of baked potatoes should be about 210^o F.
Insert a fork at least 1/2 way into the largest part of the potato. If it has no resistance past the skin, and the consistency of the potato seems soft during the entire insertion, chances are high that it’s ready.
Overall, with experience, you can tell by squeezing a cooked potato. So, using 2 hands (protected with oven mitts or potholders), 1 on each side of the potato length, place your fingers area at the center height. Squeeze inward. Basically, if it squeezes inward with little resistance and smoothly, you can tell if it’s fully done or needs more time. You can practice this method during the cooking process to learn that level of resistance from a partially backed potato.

Do I let a cooked potato rest before cutting into it?

No. Basically, you should at least cut its first slit immediately. However, you don’t open it up further until ready to add its toppings.

How do prep potatoes for loaded baked potatoes toppings?

There are 2 ways. Firstly, one easy, speedy way is to cut it completely in half lengthwise and add the toppings to each half. The 2nd way is traditional. Cut it lengthwise across the middle, a little more than 1/2 way deep. And again crossways. Then, with each hand, use a thumb and index finger (each in-between each cut and on the lower portion of the potato), squeeze together and inward to force the potato to spread open evenly. It will appear as a flower blooming. Finally, add any preferred toppings beginning with butter first, if that’s one of them.

Why would I want to bake a potato in the oven instead of the microwave?

Firstly, if you’re already baking something for about an hour, you can usually pop the potatoes in the oven alongside. Basically, that saves money by avoiding the use of the microwave. Regarding other reasons, the potatoes will definitely be more evenly baked and they’ll have a better flavored skin, although not everyone eats the skin. If you’re not baking anything in the oven, however, there are some very good microwaves with a specific baker potato setting.

Nutritional Values of the Loaded Baked Potato

Basically, a typical loaded baked potato has about 470 calories. More detailed nutritional values are shown in the <Print Recipe> option. Here’s more about the potato from Wikipedia.

What To Serve With Loaded Baked Potatoes

This is about what to serve with loaded baked potatoes. Overall, if the loaded baked potato has minimal or typical toppings, it can be served as a side dish along with other vegetable sides. a salad, and a main course. However, if its a max fully loaded baked potato, it then becomes the main course. So, in those cases, you can serve a salad or fruit side dish with it. In all cases, you can also have a bread as a side but usually not too much.

Conclusion of Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Now you’ve seen a ton of info on how to make loaded baked potatoes a lot of different ways. You’ve also seen a bunch of different types of toppings that are great on a baked potato. Also, the recipe covers how to bake that potato in the oven, in the microwave, and on the grill. Finally, you’ve seen what to serve with a loaded baked potato as well as what main courses go perfect with it.

Related To Ideas for Loaded Baked Potatoes

Here are some related recipes to share the cooking time alongside baking potatoes, including more info about baking potatoes in the oven. Also, here’s another potato recipe you might like: Ham with Scalloped Potatoes Casserole.

Here’s a real good microwave baked potato recipe from KeyToMyLime.com.
Also, this is an excellent outdoors loaded baked potato on a grill recipe from Girls Can Grill.
Finally, here’s a super oven recipe. It’s for scooping out the potatoes and stuffing the cavity. Check out stuffed baked potatoes from A Southern Soul.
Pan Fried Potato Slices
Frozen French fries in the air fryer
Southern Potato Salad (also shows how to make loaded Southern potato salad)

BAKED POTATOES OVEN

SOUTHERN RIBS on the Charcoal Grill

Southern Meatloaf Recipe

Ideas for LOADED BAKED POTATOES