> >

Loaded Baked Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar

Serves

["3 Potatoes"]

Prep Time

15 Minutes

Cook Time

1 Hour

You can’t go wrong by serving this oven baked potato recipe with olive oil, salt, and pepper, but a few well-chosen toppings can really take it to the next level. I love mine with shredded cheddar cheese, crisp crumbled bacon, homegrown chives, and sour cream. Serve them as a hearty side dish or load them up with the right toppings and call them dinner. You’ll love them either way!

Everyone loves a taco bar, so why not have a baked potato bar for dinner? Some other topping ideas are shredded chicken, sauteed mushrooms and broccoli, avocado, fresh tomatoes and pesto, spinach and artichokes, olives, black beans, chili, jalapenos, peppers, and onions. Also feel free to switch up the cheeses and try blue cheese, gouda, or even feta. The possibilities are endless.

Baked Potato Recipe Tips:

Skip the foil - The key to making a good baked potato is getting really, crispy skin. If you wrap the potatoes in foil, the potato skins will shrivel and soften in the oven. For the best results, leave the potatoes unwrapped.
Don’t skimp on the salt - Are you someone who likes to eat potato skins? If you make this baked potato recipe, you will be! Coating the spuds in salt makes the skins extra-crispy and flavorful.

Know that the cooking time will vary - In the recipe below, I say to bake your potatoes for 45 to 60 minutes. This is a wide range, but I list it for a reason. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes. Be ready to take them out of the oven when they’re fork-tender and their skin is crisp. The baking time will be longer for larger potatoes and shorter for small ones.

Products used: Bacon Olive Oil

Ingredients

3 Potatoes, scrubbed well and patted dry
2 tablespoons SOOC Bacon Olive Oil
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
6-8 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
3-5 chives, chopped for garnish
Sour cream, for garnish
Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Use a fork and poke a few holes into the potatoes. Place on the baking sheet, rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 45-60 minutes, or until the potato is cooked through and the skin is crisp.

3. Slice open each potato, fluff the insides with a fork and serve with desired toppings.