Loaded Baked Potato Ideas – Easy, Budget-Friendly Toppings
Loaded baked potatoes are an inexpensive meal idea that can be topped a million different ways. Here are 13 delicious and inexpensive loaded baked potato ideas to get you started + instructions for making perfect baked potatoes.
Want to start saving more money on food? Start incorporating more potatoes into your diet.
Mashed potatoes, potato soup, homemade fries or tater tots, scalloped potatoes, and roasted potatoes are all great.
But my favorite way to eat a potato?
Baked and loaded with delicious toppings like cheese, meat, veggies, and more!
Saving Money On Potatoes
Potatoes are extremely budget-friendly. Currently, you can buy a 5 lb. bag of potatoes at Walmart for $2.58, or a 10 lb. bag for $5.14.
If you shop at ALDI, Walmart, Target or a general supermarket, you can usually find Russet potatoes for around 50 cents each.
Money-saving tip: Purchase a bag of potatoes, which usually costs less than purchasing individual potatoes by the pound.
Start By Making Perfect Baked Potatoes
What is the perfect baked potato?
In my opinion, it’s a crispy, crunchy exterior with a light and fluffy interior.
This recipe results in a baked potato that is delicious on its own – but is even better fully loaded. Here’s how to make them (scroll down for detailed recipe):
- Start with Russet potatoes, scrubbed clean and pricked with a fork about 15 times
- Coat with butter
- Bake in an oven preheated to 450F for 25 minutes
- Flip potatoes and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Return to oven to bake for 25 more minutes
The key in this method is baking the potato in a really hot oven: 450F. This results in a crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside baked potato.
#1: The Classic Loaded Baked Potatoes
Start by topping your baked potato with some salted butter. Add a dollop of sour cream, bacon bits (purchased off the grocery store salad bar to save money), and fresh cut chives or green onions.
#2: Broccoli And Cheese Loaded Baked Potatoes
Top a baked potato with steamed broccoli and cheese sauce.
While nacho cheese sauce or even melted Velveeta will work, I prefer to make my own real food nacho cheese sauce with a few simple ingredients.
#3: Greek Loaded Baked Potatoes
Mediterranean flavors go surprisingly well on a baked potato.
Top your baked potatoes with crumbled Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, chopped tomatoes, and fresh parsley.
#4: Chicken Fajita Loaded Baked Potatoes
These potatoes are topped with mélange of red, yellow, and orange bell peppers + black beans, onions, and chicken or steak. Optional toppings: Fresh cilantro, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, guacamole.
Money-saving tip: Buy frozen bell peppers and onions instead of fresh.
#5: Buffalo Chicken Loaded Baked Potatoes
Toss cooked chicken with buffalo sauce. Add blue cheese (purchase off the grocery store salad bar to save money). Drizzle with ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, if desired.
#6: Chili Cheese Loaded Baked Potatoes
These potatoes are topped generously with chili, sour cream, and shredded cheddar.
Tip: Thick chili will work better than runny chili here. If your chili is extra runny, simply strain some of the liquid out before placing on your potato.
#7: Pulled Pork And Mayo Loaded Baked Potatoes
This loaded baked potato is inspired by the char siu donburi bowl at Ichiddo Ramen at the Mall of America. The bowl features rice topped with pork, Japanese mayo, green onion, and other ingredients.
I kept it simple here and topped a baked potato with pulled pork made in the slow cooker, Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie brand), and chopped green onions.
#8: Taco Loaded Baked Potatoes
Top a baked potato with seasoned ground beef (or chicken), shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, and sliced jalapeños. Add a drizzle of hot sauce if you like heat.
Money-saving tip: A single pound of ground beef stretches across 4–5 potatoes, making this one of the most affordable options on the list.
#9: Breakfast Loaded Baked Potatoes
Who says baked potatoes are only for dinner? Top with scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon or sausage, and a dollop of sour cream. Great for using up leftover breakfast ingredients.
#10: Spinach and Artichoke Loaded Baked Potatoes
If you love spinach and artichoke dip, you’ll love it on a baked potato. Sauté fresh or frozen spinach with garlic, mix with cream cheese and chopped artichoke hearts, and spoon generously over your potato. Top with shredded mozzarella.
Money-saving tip: Frozen spinach works just as well as fresh here – and costs much less.
#11: BBQ Chicken Loaded Baked Potatoes
Toss shredded rotisserie chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce and pile it on a baked potato. Top with shredded cheddar, sliced green onions, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
Money-saving tip: Grocery store prepared rotisserie chicken is one of the best budget protein buys – one chicken tops 4–5 potatoes easily.
#12: Butter and Herb Loaded Baked Potatoes
Sometimes simple is best. Split a hot baked potato and top generously with salted butter, fresh or dried herbs (chives, parsley, thyme, or a mix), and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Finish with a squeeze of lemon if you have one on hand. Totally vegetarian, totally delicious.
#13: Spicy Loaded Baked Potatoes
Top a baked potato with spicy crumbled chorizo sausage, pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, and chipotle sour cream.
How To Fluff A Baked Potato
Wondering how to get that perfect, fluffy interior?
Once the potato is baked and cooled slightly, cut a slit in it, lengthwise. Then squeeze each end to open up the slit. Next, use a fork to break up and fluff the interior.
You can remove some of the interior potato so there is more room for fillings.
Set Up A Baked Potato Bar
Entertaining guests? Feeding hungry kids? Set up a DIY loaded baked potato bar with lots of toppings set out in individual bowls.
More loaded baked potato ideas
Raid your fridge, freezer, and pantry for more topping ideas. Salsa, chicken tenders, French fried onions, BBQ sauce, Parmesan cheese, Greek yogurt, pepperoni, etc. Using leftovers and food you already have makes this inexpensive meal idea even cheaper.
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FAQ
Q: What are the best toppings for a loaded baked potato?
A: The best toppings depend on what you’re going for. For a classic loaded baked potato, you can’t go wrong with butter, sour cream, shredded cheddar, bacon bits, and chives. If you want to turn it into a full meal, protein toppings like chili, pulled pork, chorizo, or BBQ chicken are the way to go. The beauty of a baked potato is that almost anything works.
Q: How do you keep baked potatoes warm for a baked potato bar?
A: The easiest method is to wrap each baked potato in aluminum foil and place them in a slow cooker on the warm setting – they’ll stay hot for up to 2 hours without drying out. Alternatively, keep them in a 200°F oven, loosely tented with foil, until ready to serve.
Q: Can you make loaded baked potatoes ahead of time?
A: You can bake the potatoes up to a day in advance and refrigerate them. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15–20 minutes, or microwave on medium power for 2–3 minutes. Add toppings fresh after reheating – cold toppings like sour cream and cheese are best added right before serving.
Perfect Baked Potatoes
What kind of potato is best? While many different potatoes would technically work, russets are ideal for baking.
Ingredients
- 7 Russet potatoes (similarly sized)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F. Rinse potatoes and scrub off any dirt or debris. Using a fork, prick each potato about 15 times all over.
- Using a pastry brush, coat each potato with butter. Place on a large baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, flip using tongs, and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Continue to bake for 25 more minutes, until potatoes are tender inside when pierced with a fork.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Cut each potato lengthwise, then squeeze the ends to open the potato. Fluff with a fork. Remove some of the interior, if desired.
- Fill each potato with desired ingredients and serve.