While baked potatoes aren’t a quick dinner idea, they are super easy. Spend 5 minutes getting the potatoes ready, and pop them in the oven for awhile. Totally hands off time! How long it takes: just over an hour Equipment you’ll need: oven Servings: make as many as you want! While the potatoes are in the oven, you’ll have time to get the rest of dinner ready or, here’s an even better idea, enjoy baked potatoes as your main dish. Take a look at the Topping Ideas section for inspiration. Baked potatoes are filling, nutritious, and economical. They smell sooooo good while they’re baking. You won’t have any pans to wash. What more can I say? Maybe you’re wondering how to make really delicious baked potatoes. Keep reading to learn how to make perfectly brown and crispy potatoes with a fluffy white filling. I have lots of tips and information below to help you out. Need a faster way to bake potatoes? Try baking them in your air fryer if you have one. They turn out pretty much the same as oven baked potatoes but in only 40 minutes. Or try easy Instant Pot baked potatoes (especially if you prefer softer skins) or loaded baked potato slices.
How to Make Baked Potatoes
Choose the right potato! While other potatoes will be okay, russet potatoes are definitely the king of baking potatoes. Russet potatoes have thicker skins which turn into a nice crispy exterior, and starchy flesh, which yields a fluffy white interior. Scrub, scrub, scrub! You’re going to eat the skins, so please make sure they’re clean. Nobody wants to crunch down on a piece of grit. When you’re finished scrubbing the potato, dry it thoroughly with a paper towel or clean dish towel. A dry potato equals a crispy potato skin. Trim any bad spots off and poke the potatoes. Check the potato carefully for green spots, eyes, sprouts, or damaged skin and trim them away with a sharp paring knife. Poke the potatoes a few times with a fork or the tip of your paring knife. No need to go deeply, just puncture the skin. Cover the potatoes with a thin coat of oil and season. I like olive oil, but butter or another kind of oil is fine. Don’t want to get your hands dirty? Spray the potatoes with olive oil spray. Sprinkle the potatoes liberally with coarse salt and pepper. Bake the potato. There are more than one way to bake a potato so choose the way you like best. I think the easiest way is to put the potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet, sides not touching. Or bake them on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. Or set the potatoes directly on your oven racks (put a pan on a lower rack beneath the potatoes to catch drippings). Serve your perfectly beautiful baked potatoes. Immediately make a slice in the top with a sharp knife. Squeeze the bottom (wear an oven mitt!) to open the top of the baked potato up a bit. Or use a fork to spread it open. Top with your favorite toppings! Keep reading for lots of great suggestions. Baked potatoes are a great side dish. Put lemon salmon with dill in the oven after the potatoes have been baking for a half hour or so. Serve an arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette alongside for a fabulous dinner.
Make It Your Own
Now that you know how to make baked potatoes, it’s time to be creative. While baked potatoes are totally delicious with just a pat of butter melted inside, they really are a blank slate. Keep reading for lots of topping ideas. Make baked potatoes a main dish, perfect for meatless Mondays, by adding substantial toppings, like vegetarian chili, cheese, or beans. Baked potatoes are a great idea if you’re serving a crowd, too. Simply bake a bunch of potatoes and set up a do-it-yourself baked potato bar with lots of toppings that guests can add as they like. Call it “Spud Night”! What’s your favorite way to top a baked potato?
Topping Ideas
Homemade garlic butter, with fresh garlic and chopped parsley. Sautéed mushrooms or take it up a notch with sautéed mushrooms with marsala. Bacon. Obviously. Or diced ham. Chili, because we’re taking things seriously here. Cheese or cheese sauce. Or both. Homemade beer cheese is wonderful, too. Sour cream or Greek yogurt. Green onions or chives, pickled red onions, or caramelized onions, because caramelized onions make everything better. Avocado, because like bacon and caramelized onions, it makes everything better. Broccoli – the perfect match to creamy cheddar cheese sauce. Salsa! I like to do a southwestern baked potato with taco meat, pinto beans, salsa, cheese, avocado, and heaps of chopped cilantro. BBQ chicken piled on a baked potato is so good! Pulled pork, too. These shepherd’s pie stuffed baked potatoes from Cupcakes and Kale Chips look amazing!
Storage & Reheating Tips
Baked potatoes will keep well in your fridge for 4 to 5 days. Wrap them in plastic wrap or put them in a covered bowl. The skins won’t retain the crispness of a freshly baked potato but if you reheat them in the oven or toaster oven, they will be refreshed. Interested in a weekly meal plan that includes this baked potato recipe? Take a look at my Meal Plan #1 or Meal Plan #18 (the potatoes are loaded with chili!). You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. Let me do the planning for you this week! We’ll be adding a new meal plan weekly. If you’re interested, browse all of our meal plans.
