Baked Potato Bar

We’ve talked about my love for potatoes, right? I have so many great memories of potato dishes that I could never give them up.  I also have a soft spot in my heart for the potato since it gets such a bad rap from the low-carb crowd.

Let’s keep things real, a white potato is not evil. It’s a vegetable and has a lot to offer us in terms of nutrition. Let’s embrace the potato!

One of my many favorite ways to eat a potato is by loading up a baked potato. Whenever I got a chance to get a loaded potato out at a restaurant, I always ordered it as a side.  My high school alternated between a salad bar and a baked potato bar during the week, which I loved.  A huge baked potato for lunch? Yes please!

Because of how much I adore loaded baked potatoes, I’ve taken to recreating the experience at home.

By having a loaded baked potato bar at home that means I can control the quality of ingredients and make sure that I get to use all of my favorite toppings. Plus I can control the amount and have as much of the toppings I want!

When you create a baked potato bar at home, you get to pick the toppings!  We typically have:

  • Local bacon
  • Extra sharp cheddar
  • Greek Yogurt (sour cream substitute)
  • Chopped Green Onion
  • Grass-fed butter

Those are the favorite toppings for both of us.  I like tons of green onion and Greek yogurt while Scott loves lots of bacon and cheese.

But the topping ideas are endless!  For example you could also have:

  • Steamed or roasted broccoli
  • Small cooked shrimp
  • Different cheeses (Maybe a bleu cheese or perhaps goat cheese)
  • Veggie or meat based chili
  • Rice and beans

That is just a few examples but you get the idea.  Baked potatoes can be topped with anything you like!  It also makes a great idea for a dinner party.  Everyone gets a potato and can top it with what they like.  Serve with a lovely mixed green salad and dinner is served!  Everyone’s happy and it’s a dinner party that won’t break the bank.

With grilling season officially kicked off, try roasting the potatoes in the coals or in your fire pit. Just make sure to wash, poke them with holes, and wrap tightly in foil first.  If you make this a party, everyone can be responsible for handling their own potato from start to finish.  Heck you can even have out different seasonings and oils to rub the potatoes with before wrapping them in foil and baking.

All of the toppings for the baked potato bar can be prepped ahead as well, saving you time on party day.  Or you can use this as a nice meal that you can prep ahead for and have ready to go after a long day at work.

Loaded baked potato bar, a great way to dress up a baked potato and get your family or guests involved in the kitchen!

Do you like baked potatoes? What’s your favorite baked potato topping?

Have fun guys and remember, always play with your food! Enjoy!

6 thoughts on “Baked Potato Bar

  1. Fully embracing the potato in all it’s glory around our house. We had a BBQ restaurant back home that would do a BBQ chicken baked potato. Tater stuffed with bbq chicken and cheese. We’ve recreated that with both pastured chicken and with grassfed beef – seriously tasty.

  2. Love the loaded baked potato. I still have not masted baking them at home. Give me a step by step. Do I poke holes in the potato? Do I wrap in foil? What temp and how long? Don’t make me use my microwave – which I know is a pet peeve of yours!! :)
    There is a BBQ place here with smoked turkey. It is a yummy lunch for a small price. Plus is gives me carbs without the wheat! Score.

  3. Well, being that I’m from Idaho I guess it’s probably obvious to say that I love me a baked potato! LOL! :) I have never tried greek yogurt instead of sourcream but i’m betting it’s mighty delish! I think I would have to say my favorite topping is sunflower seeds. I like the added crunch.

    • Linz, Once I started using Greek Yogurt as a sour cream sub I haven’t looked back. I even started using it as a mayo sub as well. Works really well!

Leave a Reply to Lori Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.