How to Make the Perfect Baked Potatoes + 5 Baked Potato Recipes
Crispy on the outside. Fluffy on the inside. Baked potatoes are the best comfort food ever, so make sure you get them exactly how you want them!
Whether you need a side dish for dinner or you just want some comfort food that’s tasty and warm, baked potatoes are always the answer. They’re so easy to make, and they’re like a blank canvas for toppings.
This potato side dish is delicious no matter how you prepare it, but the key to getting them right is all in the preparation. There are four main methods from how to make the perfect baked potatoes. From the more traditional methods of oven baking and grilling to the simple, no-work slow cooker and microwave methods, all of them have their pros and cons. Choose wisely!
Craving some chicken to go with your potatos? Check out theseEasy Chicken Recipes: 16 Copycat Recipes for Chicken
Perfecting Your Potatoes
Baked Potato Methods
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Potatoes in the Oven: Baking your potatoes in the oven is the classic method. It’s pretty easy to do, and although it’s more time consuming than some other methods, it’s a surefire way to get amazing baked potatoes every time.
Many cooks will lightly coat their potatoes in olive oil to make the skins crispier. The main thing to remember with this method is to poke the potatoes with a fork to let the heat get in and the steam escape. This will give you fluffy potatoes on the inside every time. -
Potatoes in the Slow Cooker: That’s right, folks! You can make you baked potatoes in the slow cooker.
The downside to this method is that it takes longer, but this way you can let the slow cooker do all the work while you prepare the other parts of your meal. Depending on the recipe that you follow, it can take between four to seven hours. -
Potatoes on the Grill: Whether you choose to wrap them in foil or leave them bare, this method will give you great baked potatoes every time.
If you wrap them in foil, you will end up with skins that are softer but amazingly fluffy insides. Some people use skewers to make the potatoes bake more evenly. It also makes them easier to handle. Fire up the grill! -
Potatoes in the Microwave: This method is by far the easiest and fastest way to get your baked potato fix. Some say this method doesn’t give you the best potatoes. And while the skins will probably not be as crispy as they would be with other methods, once you see how fast and easy this method is, you’ll understand why it’s worth it!
Top these baked potatoes with your favorite toppings, and you’ll have a baked potato masterpiece that tastes even better because you didn’t have to spend an hour waiting.
5 Baked Potato Recipes
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3-Ingredient Outback Steakhouse Baked Potato Copycat - They're warm, comforting, and -- that's right -- only three ingredients!
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TGI Friday's Baked Potato Skins Copycat - These baked potato skin are perfect as an appetizer. It's like eating mini baked potatoes. Don't forget the dipping sauce!
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Homemade Twice Baked Potatoes - You've had these at just about every homecooking restaurant. Now make them yourself! (It's much easier.)
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Copycat Brennan's Stuffed Baked Potatoes - If you've ever had this classic recipe from Brennan's, you know how delicious these potatoes are. It's all in the toppings!
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Copycat Panera Baked Potato Soup - Craving your baked potatoes in creamy soup form? This baked potato soup is perfect for cold weather, and tastes just like a loaded baked potato.
Tell us your favorite baked potato toppings in the comments!
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asoley 3922608
Sep 27, 2016
This is really useful to know. I usually avoid baked potatoes because in my mind they are so much work, but it looks like they're actually quite easy! Thanks for this helpful how-to!
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