27 Topping Ideas To Load Up Your Baked Potato With
Turn a side dish into a whole meal.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We can't get enough of potatoes—mashed, air fried, smashed, baked, shredded, twice baked, au gratin-style. You name it and we'll transform these spuds any which way. While we have endless potato recipes, it'll always be hard to beat a classic baked potato.
As a relatively effortless (you can even microwave the spud to speed up the cook time) and favorite side dish, it's hard to go wrong with a baked potato. And with the right toppings, it doesn't have to be confined to a side. Everyone loves taco bar and mashed potato bar, so why not have a baked potato bar for dinner? From meats and veggies to cheeses and sauces, we have 27 baked potato topping ideas that'll guarantee a delicious dinner.
Bacon
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Aside from butter and cheese, bacon bits are surely one of the first toppings that come to mind for a baked potato. Rather than the store-bought version, make your own by crumbling strips of freshly cooked bacon. Our mess-free microwave trick will have crispy bacon ready in just minutes.
How To Cook Bacon In The Microwave
Chili
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
For a hearty meal, crack open your potato and add a generous spoonful (or two!) of homemade chili. We recommend sprinkling a little cheese or adding a dollop of sour cream as well.
Grated Cheese
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
While any cheese will do, consider what additional toppings you might add before grating. For a simple filling, go for cheddar or if you're looking for a little more flavor try parmesan. Loading it up with Mexican-style toppings? Try pepper jack. For a loaded pizza-inspired potato, grab mozzarella.
Shredded Chicken
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
For a full meal, load up your spud with leftover chicken then pile on any additional toppings you'd like. You can use a pulled rotisserie chicken or just leftover meat.
Cowboy Butter
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If you thought butter was a basic topping, think again. This homemade butter starts with the store-bought stuff before adding in flavor with herbs, spices, garlic, and lemon.
No-Cook Toppings
Even the basics deserve some attention. A quick way to turn any ho-hum baked potato into a dinnertime delight starts with butter, spices, and herbs.
Butter
Green Onions
Herbs: Chives or Cilantro
Spices: Salt & Pepper
Sour Cream
Up your baked potato's creaminess without the oiliness of butter by using sour cream. While it's easy to reach for a store-bought tub, all you need is three ingredients and some refrigeration time to make sour cream from scratch.
Pimiento Cheese
Hector Manuel Sanchez
If you already love adding shredded cheddar cheese to your baked potato, try swapping it for pimento cheese. This ultra Southern touch adds flavor thanks to the pimientos and extra creaminess from the mayonnaise.
Broccoli
Inspired by the crowd-favorite broccoli-cheddar soup, top your potato with roasted (or steamed) broccoli and cheddar cheese. Bonus: The kids will get a healthy dose of veggies without the complaints.
Queso
For a true Tex-Mex rendition, you can't skip out on the queso. Top your tater with your favorite meat and a slew of toppings like black beans, pico, and cilantro before drowning it in creamy queso.
Black Beans
Black beans might not be a go-to baked potato topping on their own, but for a Southwestern-style loaded spud, they're a necessity.
Pulled Pork
While you're likely not smoking a whole pork butt just to top your baked potatoes with, it's a delicious and filling addition. Pick up a pound from your favorite local barbecue joint or use up leftovers.
Alabama White Sauce
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
When using pulled chicken or pork, this is the perfect creamy, tangy, and peppery addition to top it off.
BBQ Sauce
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
For a more classic BBQ-style baked potato, drizzle your favorite traditional barbecue sauce atop. The options are endless: Vinegary or sweet? Mustard- or ketchup-based?
Sautéed Spinach
Steak, potatoes, and greens are a classic combination, so why not just fold them into your potato?
Ground Beef
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
Whether with or without taco seasoning, ground beef is an easy and inexpensive way to turn a baked potato into a full meal. It also leaves ample opportunity for additional topping pairings.
Spinach-Artichoke Dip
For a decadently dressed potato, break it open, add a generous spoonful of spinach-artichoke dip, then briefly broil in the oven to get a crispy top similar to a twice-baked version.
Caramelized Onions
Whether just sautéed or truly caramelized, onions will add a nice sweetness without being an overpowering topping. Pair with cheese, bacon, greens, or all the above.
Fajita Meat & Veggies
Think of your baked potato like a tortilla and load it up with fajita meat and veggies for a filling dinner everyone will be happy about.
Sloppy Joe Filling
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
Forget the bun and fill the potato! For an extra sloppy version pile on sour cream and cheese.
Red Onion
What's your fancy: Fresh or pickled? When using red onion, remember a little goes a long way. See our best tips and tricks for how to avoid tears when chopping.
Ranch Dressing
Ranch goes with everything right? If you dip your fries in it, why not dress your baked potato with it too? It's especially delicious for dipping the skin in.
Cherry Tomatoes
Caitlin Bensel
For a fresh addition to a Tex-Mex-style loaded potato, throw in a handful of sliced cheery tomatoes.
Mushroom Gravy
We say: If you'd put it on your mashed potatoes, why not use it to top a baked potato? Any type of gravy makes for a delicious add on, but we love this one because of the addition of mushrooms.
Creamed Spinach
There's hardly a better pairing than potatoes and greens, so we figured why not put a creamy version inside your spud for the best of both worlds?
Marinara Sauce
Ever thought about a pizza potato? We love loaded zucchini boats and stuffed bell peppers—so we're doing the same for baked potatoes. Top it with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and toss in some pepperoni to your liking.
How To Make Store-Bought Sauce Better
Blue Cheese
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Everyone loves anything buffalo-chicken-flavored, so why not make a loaded baked potato version? Top it with cheddar, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce.
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