Name: Baked Potato Bar + Topping Ideas
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: potatoes (russet, sweet, etc.) - amount depends on how many people you're feeding. 2 potatoes per adult, 1 per child; olive oil

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A baked potato bar + topping ideas! This is a great meal to add to your weekly menu for a meal that comes together quickly without much prep. There are so many different topping options so it will never be quite the same each time! Great for large groups too!

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Baked potato bar + topping ideas, potato on a white plate with a salad on the side

This is regular in our house, especially if we’ve been out for the day and I haven’t had time to prepare anything or forgot to get meat out to thaw. I like that I can just chop up whatever I have on hand to throw on top of the baked potatoes and I don’t have to think about it too much.

Sometimes if we have leftover chicken, ground turkey, or any other extra meat from a previous night I will fry it in some organic coconut oil and add it to the spread for extra protein.

I usually bake both regular and sweet potatoes whenever we have this. I love sweet potatoes with all the yummy toppings piled high but some people may not care for the taste of sweet potatoes with savory fixins.

Reasons to love baked potato bar dinner…

It is a quick meal that requires little prep time.
Endless options for toppings!
A great meal if you’re on a budget! Because there isn’t much meat involved (or none if you so choose) it is a very affordable meal, especially for big families or large groups of people.

What to serve with a baked potato bar…

I like to serve this with a nice salad on the side. You could also make the potatoes as a side dish and serve them with steaks, chicken, or any other main source of protein.

baked potato with toppings and a salad on a plate with bowls of vegetable around it

Ingredients for baked potatoes:

Potatoes (the amount is up to you depending on your family size) – I usually use just plain ol’ russet potatoes. You can add variety by using different kinds. Try red, yellow, or even purple potatoes for a fun twist!
Sweet potatoes – Usually I make a bunch of regular potatoes then throw in a couple of sweet potatoes as well for me and my daughter.
Olive oil – For brushing the outside of the potatoes before they are cooked. I like to use a high quality extra virgin olive oil or organic refined coconut oil. Refined coconut oil doesn’t have a coconut flavor.

Instructions for baked potato bar:

potatoes sliced in half on a cutting board — 1. Wash potatoes well and cut them in half lengthwise. Cut out any bad spots or green areas. You can also leave them whole but keep in mind that they will take longer to bake if you do so.

potatoes on a parchment paper lined baking sheet with olive oil in a wooden bowl and a pastry brush — 2. Prick with a fork, brush with olive oil, and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake at °400 for 30-45 minutes, and up to over 1 hour if you left them whole. When they are soft and you’re able to stick a fork in them easily they are done.

Topping ideas for baked potato bar:

Dairy:

Butter
Sour cream
Grated cheese – cheddar, colby, monterey, pepper jack, gouda…whatever kind you like best!
Feta cheese
Spinach dip – occasionally I’ll have some leftover from another meal so I’ll add it to the bar

Veggies:

Jalapeños
Red onions
Green onions
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Grated carrots
Chives
Cilantro
Fresh basil

Protein:

Bacon – we use turkey bacon for ours
Ground turkey
Chicken – shredded or chopped
Steak – cut into small cubes and fried in coconut oil

Sauces:

Hot sauce – mild, medium, or hot
Ranch dressing – homemade is best!
Garlic mayo
Herb mayo
Chipotle sauce
Salsa

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