There is nothing like this baked potato recipe! Perfectly baked potato that is crispy on the outside and buttery and fluffy on the inside, topped with your favorite toppings.
You can never go wrong with potatoes, whether it is baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or a loaded potato casserole!
BAKED POTATO RECIPE
Oven baked potatoes make for the ultimate side dish! Crispy on the outside, fluffy and buttery on the inside, these baked potatoes are great plain or loaded with toppings. Top your crispy baked potatoes with cheese, sour cream, bacon and green onion for the perfect loaded baked potato. Enjoy this potato recipe for a side dish or even as a lunch.
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Potato– For the best baked potato, you want to use the classic Russet potato, also known as Idaho potatoes. Be sure to pick out even sized potatoes for even baking.
- Olive Oil– When coating the potatoes with oil before baking, it gives you delicious crispy, golden baked potatoes. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.
- Salt– To season the potato, you just want salt. Coating the potato with seasonings gives the potato skin such a delicious, crispy flavor.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED POTATOES
Making baked potatoes in the oven is the most common way to make baked potatoes, you can have them baking in no time!
- Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pick out even sized potatoes and wash thoroughly, with a scrubber.
- Add the potatoes to the baking sheet and coat the potatoes in oil and then salt. (Lather the potatoes in oil with a pastry brush or with your hands.)
- With a fork, poke the potatoes all over. (This helps the steam escape from the potatoes, which helps avoid exploding potatoes.)
- Bake the potato until the skin is crispy and the inside is cooked through. (Check doneness by inserting a fork through the thickest part of the potato, if it’s cooked it will easily pierce through, with no resistance.)
- Once the potatoes are cooked, remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Cut a slit down to the center of each potato and add butter and seasoning to the inside and lightly mash and mix for better flavor.
- Serve immediately, plain or with desired toppings.
AIR FRYER BAKED POTATO
Skip the long oven baking and make air fryer baked potatoes! The air fryer baked potato method also gives your crispier potatoes.
- Add the prepared baked potatoes to the air fryer basket, do not overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry at 400°F for 45-50 minutes, until potatoes are cooked through.
- Serve with desired sides and toppings.
POTATO TOPPINGS
Plain baked potato is a classic side dish, served with some salt, pepper and butter for the perfect side. But you can totally elevate this dish by making it a loaded baked potato! Here are some delicious toppings to add to your baked potato:
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Bacon Bits
- Green Onions
- Sauteed Mushrooms
- Caramelized Onions
- Pulled Pork
- Shredded Chicken
- Chili
LOADED BAKED POTATO VARIATIONS-
Make delicious baked potatoes! Check out these delicious variations and styles:
- Classic– The classic loaded baked potato is made with sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits and green onions.
- Chili– Make a hearty chili baked potato by loading the potato with chili and shredded cheese.
- Pulled Pork- Top the baked potato with shredded cheese, BBQ pull pork, sour cream and jalapenos.
- Taco– Make your loaded baked potato Mexican style! Load it up with taco meat, cheese, sour cream and Pico de Gallo!
- Nacho– Do a twist off the classic loaded nachos and add your nacho toppings onto your baked potatoes. Top with queso cheese, bacon, and green onion!
- Broccoli Cheddar– Top the oven baked potatoes with shredded cheese or queso and steamed broccoli for a delicious twist.
- Caramelized Onion and Mushrooms– Add Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms on top of the baked potatoes. This variation is GREAT with steak!
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
No! You do not want to wrap the potato in foil. To get crispy skin, you want to bake the potatoes open.
You do not want to turn up the heat too much or it will burn the skin and the inside of the potato will remain uncooked. The key to a delicious baked potato is the slow baking, so that you get a soft and fluffy potato with a crispy and golden skin.
Poking holes in the potatoes helps the steam to release, which avoids the potatoes from exploding.
Coating the potatoes in oil and salt before baking, gives you crispy potato skin, but you can also just bake them plain if desired.
Yes! The skin of a potato has a lot of benefits, it’s rich in nutrients, improves digestion, etc.
Once the potatoes are cooled, store covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer, oven or microwave until warmed through.
Yes, you can totally make baked sweet potatoes! The cook time will change, bake them at 425°F for 40-50 minutes, until tender and baked through.
TRY THESE OTHER SIDE DISHES-
It is important to have all the best side dishes in your recipe arsenal! Here are some great side dish ideas:
Baked Potato Recipe
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Select medium sized potatoes, that are all similar in size. With a scrubber, wash the potatoes to remove all the dirt.
- Add the potatoes on the baking sheet and with your hands or pastry brush, lather the potatoes with oil and top with salt.
- With a fork, poke holes all over the potatoes. (This helps the steam escape from the potatoes, which helps avoid exploding potatoes.)
- Bake at 350°F for 60-65 minutes, or until the potato skins are crispy and the inside is cooked through. (Check doneness by inserting a fork through the thickest part of the potato, if it’s cooked it will easily pierce through, with no resistance.)
- Once the potatoes are baked, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for at least 5-10 minutes.
- Cut a slit down to the center of each potato and add butter and seasoning to the inside and lightly mash and mix for better flavor.
- Serve immediately, plain or with desired toppings.
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