Loaded Baked Potatoes

These Loaded Baked Potatoes are stuffed with crisp bacon, steamed broccoli, sweet butter, sour cream, and a generous helping of cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese for optimal flavor.  They are the perfect side dish for grilled steak, roasted chicken, and barbecued ribs. 

CourseSide Dish

CuisineAmerican

Keywordhow to make loaded baked potatoes, ingredients for loaded baked potato, loaded baked potato recipe, twice baked potatoes

Prep Time15minutes minutes

Cook Time1hour hour 30minutes minutes

Total Time1hour hour 45minutes minutes

Servings4 potatoes

Calories695kcal

AuthorBeth Pierce

Ingredients

• 4 medium to large Russet Potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
• Kosher salt
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 small broccoli crown cut in bite size florets
• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 green onions sliced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover a small baking sheet with parchment paper. 
• Rub the potatoes with olive oil and generously sprinkle with coarse salt. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet. Bake 45-60 minutes or until fork tender.  Let them cool a bit before slicing a thin skin off the top. It should be thin enough so most of the potato is left but deep enough to gently scoop out most of the potato flesh.
• While the potatoes are baking cover a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up.  Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the paper. Place in a 375 degree preheated oven for about 14 minutes or until your desired crispiness. Using tongs remove the bacon from the cookie sheet and place on paper towels to drain. Coarsely chop the bacon and set it aside. 
• Add the broccoli to a microwaveable bowl with about 1/4 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap and cut 2 small vents in the wrap. Microwave for 2 minutes and let it sit for several minutes. Remove from the microwave and place in a colander to drain well. 
• Scoop out the potato flesh and combine it with half the bacon, the steamed broccoli, butter, sour cream, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack Cheese. Using a spoon stir to combine. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into the hallowed out potato skins. Top with the remaining cheese and bake at 375 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through.  Top with the remaining chopped bacon and sliced green onions.

Notes

• Hands down russet potatoes are the best for baking.  Their thick skin and high starch content make them the perfect choice.
• Follow through with the olive oil or vegetable oil. Both of them help produce a nice crispy skin.
• Use coarse salt.  I have an inexpensive salt grinder that I bought at Costco and it really comes in handy with baked potatoes.
• If you only have one oven you can bake the potatoes and the bacon at the same time at 400 degrees.
• The bacon can be baked up to several days ahead of time and reheated in the microwave.
• The broccoli can be steamed in advanced and brought to room temperature before it is mixed in the potato stuffing.
• Bake the loaded potatoes just until the cheese is melted and the potato is heated through.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to days. Reheat in the oven at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
• Freeze in a sturdy container for up to 3 months.  Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees or the microwave at 50% power. 

Nutrition

Calories: 695kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 597mg | Potassium: 1052mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1000IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 375mg | Iron: 2mg