Loaded Baked Potato Toppings

Make simple baked potatoes into satisfying dinners with these loaded baked potato toppings! From classic sour cream and bacon to Mexican-style, a potato bar is a meal that’s customizable to any diet and eater.

It can be hard to find a dinner idea that works for everyone. But here’s one I fall back on time and time again: the loaded baked potato! Mix and match baked potato toppings, and you’ve got a delicious dinner that fits almost any diet.

I often use this recipe idea when I’m feeding a crowd, and everyone always loves it! There are endless ideas for customizing the meal, and it lets every eater get creative by choosing what they like. Here’s how to make a loaded baked potato bar, and some of my favorite topping ideas!

Creative Baked Potato Toppings

Got a baked potato? Let’s load it up! You can lay out all the toppings and let the eaters choose, or make up just the ingredients for one of the flavor combinations. Here are some of my favorite baked potato toppings:

Classic: Sour cream, high quality cheddar, chives, bacon or coconut bacon
Mexican: Pico de gallo, corn, black beans, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, cilantro
Chili: Chili, cheddar cheese, green onion, sour cream
Broccoli Cheddar: Sauteed broccoli, sour cream, cheese sauce or vegan queso
Nacho: Taco meat or vegan taco meat, refried beans, cheddar cheese, nacho cheese or vegan nacho cheese, salsa, green onions, pickled jalapenos, crushed tortilla chips
Ranch: Sauteed vegetables, ranch dressing (or vegan ranch), chickpeas or shredded chicken, chopped chives
Lox: Smoked salmon, chives, cream cheese
Fajita: Fajita veggies, refried beans or pinto beans, sour cream, shredded cheese

Why Loaded Baked Potatoes Work for Dinner

The genius of a loaded baked potato lies in its adaptability. A plain baked potato provides a neutral, filling base that complements pretty much any flavor profile you throw at it.

Contrary to what you might think, baked potatoes are a nutrient dense food with vitamins, minerals, some protein, and no fat.

Also, a potato bar is a fun interactive experience! You can set out bowls of toppings and let everyone customize their meal. This gives everyone control over what goes on their plate (especially picky eaters!).

Best Potatoes for Loading Up

The best potatoes for a baked potato? Russet potatoes or sweet potatoes. Russet potatoes are the type that are traditional for a baked potato. They’re called starchy potatoes and come out with a fluffy texture when baked. Contrast that with waxy potatoes like Yukon gold, red potatoes, or fingerling potatoes: these types are better for roasting and mashing.

Sweet potatoes are also a great choice! They have slightly more fiber and different vitamins, as well as a beautifully sweet flavor. Interestingly, they have a similar nutrition profile to russet potatoes.

How to Bake Perfect Potatoes

Here are my top methods for baking a potato, with a few alternative ideas:

Classic: For a whole baked potato, rub the skin with olive oil and prick with a fork. Place on the oven grates and bake at 425°F 20 minutes, then flip and bake 25 minutes more until fork tender (or more, depending on the size).
Quick baked method: For a quick baked potato, cut the potatoes in half, rub with olive oil prick with a fork. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 450°F for 25 to 35 minutes, until tender. Mash the tops with a fork before serving.
Grilled: Go to Grilled Baked Potato for instructions.
Sweet potato: Go to Baked Sweet Potato or Quick Baked Sweet Potato.

Creating a Loaded Baked Potato Bar

When I’m feeding a crowd (or even if it’s just a weeknight dinner), I like to set up a full potato bar. I place all the toppings in small bowls, grouping similar items together: all the proteins in one area, vegetables in another, and condiments at the end.

I also like to make sure there are options for various dietary needs, like gluten-free, meat and plant-based proteins, dairy-free, etc. Cashew cream is a great alternative to sour cream!

Pairing Your Loaded Potato

While a loaded baked potato can certainly stand alone as a meal, I like to pair it with a crisp green salad as a nice contrast. My arugula salad, chopped salad, and kale salad are all great options.

For Mexican-style loaded potatoes, I reach for this Mexican chopped salad with cilantro lime dressing.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Baked potatoes reheat well. Store leftover baked potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place them in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes until heated through.

Always store toppings separately rather than on the potato: most will keep about 3 to 4 days refrigerated.

Dietary Notes

A loaded baked potato is naturally gluten free. Depending on the toppings, it also works for vegetarian, vegan (plant based), and pescatarian diets.