Description
Loaded Baked Potato brings comfort straight from your kitchen with crispy skin and fluffy insides ready for delicious toppings. Creamy cheese, crisp bacon bits, and fresh chives make this classic side dish a total crowd-pleaser you can whip up in no time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
Garnish and Seasonings:
- ¼ cup chopped scallions or chives
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to precisely 400°F to ensure perfect potato roasting conditions.
- Thoroughly wash 4 large russet potatoes, then pat completely dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Pierce each potato 4-5 times with a fork, creating steam escape routes that prevent potential potato explosions.
- Massage 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon coarse salt directly onto potato skins for maximum flavor absorption.
- Position potatoes directly on center oven rack, allowing hot air to circulate evenly during 45-50 minute baking time.
- Check potato doneness by inserting a knife – it should slide through tender flesh with zero resistance.
- Remove potatoes carefully using oven mitts and let rest for 2-3 minutes to stabilize internal temperature.
- Slice each potato lengthwise with a sharp knife, creating a generous opening.
- Use a fork to gently fluff potato’s inner flesh, creating soft, airy texture.
- Drop 1 tablespoon butter into each potato, allowing it to melt completely across hot surface.
- Sprinkle 14 cup shredded cheddar cheese inside, letting residual heat create a smooth cheese blanket.
- Add 2 tablespoons sour cream as a creamy layer across potato’s interior.
- Garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped scallions for fresh, vibrant flavor and color.
- Select optional toppings based on personal preference, layering them attractively across potato surface.
Notes
- Let the potatoes cool for a few minutes after baking to help them crisp up and become extra fluffy inside.
- Use russet potatoes for the best texture and most authentic baked potato experience.
- Avoid wrapping potatoes in foil, which steams them instead of creating a crispy skin.
- Experiment with different toppings like crumbled bacon, jalapeños, or roasted vegetables to make the dish your own.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg