Description
Loaded Baked Potatoes Bacon Cheddar are tender potatoes topped with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and sour cream, offering a creamy and delightful experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large Russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6–8 strips bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- Sour cream for serving
- Fresh chives or green onions, diced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Rinse the potatoes under cold water and pat them completely dry. Use a fork to prick holes all over each potato – this prevents them from bursting in the oven. Drizzle with olive oil and rub it in, then season generously with salt and pepper.
- Place the potatoes on an oven-safe wire rack set over a lined baking sheet. This allows air to circulate for crispy skin. Bake for about 1 hour for tender potatoes, or up to 2 hours if you want extra crispy skin. Don’t wrap in foil – that makes them soggy!
- While the potatoes bake, cook your bacon until crispy. You can do this right in the same oven – line bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes. Once cool, crumble or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- When the potatoes are done, carefully cut a lengthwise slit in the top of each one. Gently squeeze the ends to open them up like a flower, then fluff the flesh with a fork. Sprinkle generously with cheddar cheese and return to the oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Remove from the oven and top each potato with a dollop of sour cream, crispy bacon bits, and fresh chives or green onions. Add a final sprinkle of salt and pepper if you like. Serve immediately while everything is hot and the cheese is still gooey!
Notes
- For extra flavor, add garlic powder or paprika to the potatoes before baking.
- Can substitute bacon with a vegetarian alternative for a vegetarian version.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg