15 Baked Potato Toppings That Are Loaded With Flavor
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Ah, baked potatoes! They're our trusty side dish for steak dinners and equally delicious with roast chicken or fish. But more often than not, a baked potato can go unnoticed, especially if you're only topping it a pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Don't get us wrong: a simple baked potato cooked in the oven or in an air fryer can certainly be a delicious potato side. But if you want to make the spuds the star of the show (aka the star of your family dinner), you'll need to dress them up with these fun and creative baked potato toppings.
Loading up your potatoes is easy. Turn crispy potato skins into a hearty meal by filling them with classic potato pairings, like sour cream, bacon, and cheese. Or, grab a few baking potatoes (such as russets) to top with buffalo chicken, steak and spinach, or cowboy beans. You can even use sweet potatoes for some of these baked potato toppings (like the spicy pecan crumble). And if you're looking for more potato ideas, try setting up a baked potato bar with different toppings, like pico de gallo, guacamole, and pepperoni. Then, let your family build their own spuds. There are endless ways to top a potato, but we have some thoughts about which ones are best.
Steak and Spinach
Turn a steakhouse dinner into a fun potato topping by giving your spuds a scoop of creamed spinach and a few slices of steak. Fried onions and a drizzle of steak sauce will make the meal complete.
Get Ree's Steakhouse Baked Potatoes recipe.
Buffalo Chicken
This idea is simple. Just take shredded rotisserie chicken, toss it with melted butter and hot sauce, then use it as a topping along with blue cheese dressing, grated carrots, and thinly sliced celery. It's perfect for game day and beyond!
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken recipe.
Cowboy Candy
Bring on the sweet-heart with these candied jalapeño peppers. They'll kick up your baked potato bar so you might want to have some sour cream handy to cool things off.
Get the Cowboy Candy recipe.
Sour Cream and Bacon
For those who like their sweet potatoes on the savory side, just add a sprinkle of crispy chopped bacon bits and a dollop of tangy sour cream. Of course, this would also make a delicious topping on russet potatoes, too!
Get the Baked Sweet Potato recipe.
Chimichurri
This green herb sauce is popular in South America where it's often served with grilled meats. But you can also drizzle it over baked potatoes to enjoy the garlicky, herbaceous flavor with a hint of crushed red pepper spice.
Get the Chimichurri recipe.
Cowboy Beans
For a hearty dinner, top your baked potato like a cowboy with a spoonful of these smoky beans. You can sprinkle some shredded cheddar on top to make it extra-loaded.
Get the Cowboy Beans recipe.
Spicy Pecan Crumble
Twice baked sweet potatoes are delicious on their own, but add a toasty oat and pecan crumble on top and they become downright delectable! You can drizzle each one with hot honey for more sweet and spicy flavor.
Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Pesto
Ree Drummond could eat pesto on anything—including baked potatoes! Layer these spuds with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and an herby pesto to mimic your favorite pizza toppings.
Get Ree's Pesto Pizza Baked Potatoes recipe.
Cheez Whiz
Take melted cheese on baked potatoes to a whole new level by stirring up your own homemade cheez whiz! It's smooth, gooey, and easier to make than you might think!
Get the Cheez Whiz recipe.
Eggs
For a twist on pasta carbonara, you can top your potatoes with eggs, bacon, and parmesan cheese. Ree recommends cooking the eggs until the whites are set, but the yolks are still runny.
Get Ree's Carbonara Baked Potatoes recipe.
Pico de Gallo
Not just for tacos! This fresh salsa is also a great topping for baked potatoes, especially alongside black beans and guacamole. Make a big batch so you can scoop some up with tortilla chips, too.
Get the Pico de Gallo recipe.
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato
Skip the bagged bacon bits and turn your baked potato into an impressive BLT. This version is topped with freshly crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and a creamy buttermilk dressing.
Get Ree's BLT Baked Potatoes recipe.
Mushrooms
Who says baked potatoes can't be fancy? This elevated twice-baked version has mushrooms, goat cheese, and fresh herbs. Be sure to cook the mushrooms in a skillet until they're soft and juicy.
Get the Twice-Baked Potatoes recipe.
Pepperoni
Serve these baked potatoes for a twist on pizza night! They're loaded with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and pepperoni. You can even go wild with other pizza toppings like sausage, peppers, or olives—we won't judge.
Get Ree's Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Potatoes recipe.
Guacamole
Fresh guacamole is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, which makes it an ideal topping option for a baked potato bar. If you like spice, try adding diced jalapeño for a bit of heat.
Get the Guacamole recipe.
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