Loaded Baked Potato (Printable)

Fluffy baked potatoes enhanced with butter, sour cream, cheddar, crispy bacon, and fresh chives for a rich flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Potatoes

01 - 4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed

→ Toppings

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - ½ cup sour cream
04 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 4 slices bacon
06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Place directly on the oven rack and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until skins are crisp and potatoes are tender when pierced.
03 - While potatoes bake, cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble.
04 - Remove potatoes from the oven. Cut a lengthwise slit in the top of each and gently squeeze the sides to open.
05 - Fluff the potato flesh with a fork. Add ½ tablespoon butter and season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
06 - Top each potato with 2 tablespoons sour cream, ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and a sprinkle of chopped fresh chives.
07 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely foolproof—hard to mess up a baked potato once you understand the basic timing.
  • The contrast between creamy, tangy, and crispy toppings makes every bite interesting.
  • You can prep everything in advance and assemble at the last second, perfect for feeding a crowd.
02 -
  • Baking potatoes directly on the oven rack, not on a baking sheet, is the secret to achieving crispy skin—the hot air circulates all around them.
  • Don't wrap potatoes in foil, no matter what you've heard—it steams them instead and ruins that crackling exterior you're working toward.
03 -
  • For extra crispy skin, pat the potatoes dry before baking and rub them lightly with oil and salt—it makes all the difference.
  • Warm your serving plates or bowls before plating; a cold dish will cool your beautiful hot potatoes down too quickly.
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