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How To: Baked Potato Bar Ideas

This Baked Potato Bar Ideas post is sponsored by Idaho Potatoes. All Opinions are my own.

How to: Create your own Baked Potato Bar, ideas that go way beyond sour cream and chives.

Baked Potato Bar Topping Ideas

Celebrating the Big Game? We do love watching the Big Game, or really any game for that matter around our house.

My biggest issue is which delicious foods to make. That’s when I pull out a create-your-own baked potato bar!

With a great baked potato bar, all you have to do is prep the ingredients, making sure there’s a few great combo options, then pop those baked potatoes in the oven or slow cooker. If using the slow cooker, get started with the potatoes in the morning and it’ll be ready by dinner.

After that, it’s up to your guests to pile on what they prefer. Done. That way, everyone can get a taste of different flavors and then sit back and enjoy the game!

This tasty baked potato bar is super tasty and can be made to suit even the pickiest of eaters. Consider this an everyone for themselves kind of meal, and they should all be able to enjoy their own personalized baked potato.

For the best flavor, I love to use Idaho Potatoes, the ones with the official Grown In Idaho seal! You can use any of the varieties they grow, but for this DIY baked potato bar, you’ll need russet baking potatoes.

For more great Idaho recipe ideas or information, visit them at www.idahopotato.com.

Cheesy Baked Potato

Simple baked potato bar topping ideas:

  • Butter
  • Sour cream
  • Seasonings, such as salt, pepper, lemon pepper, everything bagel seasoning, etc.
  • Chives
  • Broccoli
  • Corn
  • Avocado slices or guacamole
  • Shredded cheese selection, such as cheddar, mozzarella, Gouda, pepper jack, etc.
  • Shredded chicken
  • A variety of hot sauces
  • Crumbled crispy bacon (a must for any baked potato bar!)
  • Green onions, diced
  • Diced onions (red, yellow, or white onions)
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Chili

Flavor Topping Combination Ideas:

  • Taco Tuesday: Salsa, queso, fresh cilantro, optional tortilla chips
  • BBQ Spud: pulled barbecue pork, aged gouda cheese, crumbled crispy bacon, diced red onion, sour cream, and barbecue sauce (this is my favorite baked potato bar flavor combo!)
  • Classic Sour Cream and Chives: sour cream, diced chives, grated cheddar cheese, salt and pepper
  • Classic Chilli Cheese: your favorite chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream
  • “Meat and Potatoes”: sliced beef steaks such as filet mignon, butter, arugula or a baby lettuce mix, blue cheese or ranch dressing, sour cream, and crumbled blue cheese or cheddar
  • Tex-Mex Chicken Nachos: shredded rotisserie chicken, grated Mexican cheese mix, jalapenos slices (fresh or pickled), fresh cilantro, salsa, black beans, and coarsely crushed tortilla chips (optional)
  • Spring Veggies: sliced cooked yellow summer squash, sliced cooked zucchini, diced green onions, ranch or blue cheese salad dressing, salt, and pepper
Board of baked potatoes with a variety of toppings

Other Tasty Potato Recipes to Try:

What you’ll need for basic baked potatoes:

  1. Depending on the number of people you’re serving, aim for 1 – 2 russet baking potatoes per person.
  2. Canola or olive oil to coat potatoes.
  3. Sea salt or kosher salt

It’s that simple. Potatoes are great as a side dish, and with the topping ideas above, can become a full-fledged meal on their own.

How to Make Baked Potatoes:

Baked Potato Bar Topping Ideas

How to: Baked Potatoes

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Easy to make, baked potatoes! Make in the oven or the slow cooker for best results, then eat them with classic topping combinations or try my favorite twist on heartier combinations to create a tasty baked potato bar.

Ingredients

For Baked Potatoes:

  • 4 large Idaho russet baking potatoes, scrubbed and cleaned
  • Olive oil or Canola oil, to coat
  • Sea salt or kosher salt

Instructions

Oven-Baked Potatoes:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with racks positioned in the middle of the oven and one rack in the bottom thirds.
  2. Clean the potatoes with a stiff brush and cold running water. Dry, then poke potatoes randomly with a fork about 8 to 10 holes all over to help release steam during cooking.
  3. Place potatoes in a dish and coat lightly with oil. Sprinkle with salt. For crispy skins, and the inside soft, place potato directly on the top rack in the middle of the oven. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drippings. For softer skins, wrap each potato in a piece of aluminum foil.
  4. Bake for 1 hour or until the flesh feels soft when a knife or fork is inserted.
  5. To serve, slice across the top and push ends inward to open. Top with your favorite toppings.

In the Slow Cooker:

  1. Wrap each oil rubbed and salted potato tightly with a piece of aluminum foil.
  2. Pour 1 cup of water into the 6 qt. slow cooker and add the foil-wrapped potatoes.
  3. Cover and cook on the low setting for 8-10 hours or until potatoes are fork-tender.

Notes

You can also use the following methods to bake potatoes:

Microwave: For 4 - 6 potatoes, cook on high for about 15 minutes, or until fork-tender, turning over halfway through.

Instant Pot: For 4 - 6 potatoes, place in Instant Pot or Multi-Cooker. Set pressure cook to manual pressure on high, and set 15 minutes. Release pressure naturally.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 351Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 333mgCarbohydrates: 64gFiber: 7gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g

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