The Easy Baked Potato Bar Your Weeknight Needs
Updated: Dec. 11, 2023
We're breaking down how to make a baked potato bar that your family will eat right up: from how to make the best baked potato to our all-time favorite toppings.
As a fellow spud lover, I’m always up for a build-your-own baked potato bar. They’re simple and quick to throw together when you’re short on time—whether it be for a weeknight dinner or a get-together with friends. Don’t know where to begin? No worries! I’ll be showing you the ins and outs of how to make the ultimate baked potato bar, complete with topping ideas and more.
How to Make a Baked Potato Bar
How do you plan a baked potato bar?
Planning a baked potato bar is a breeze. First, you’ll need to figure out how many people you’re serving. Count on each person helping themselves to two baked potatoes, just to be on the safe side. You’ll also want to plan out which baked potato toppings you’d like at the bar and which sides you’d like to serve with the spuds. Once it’s finally tater night, arrange your bar starting with the potatoes and ending with sides and utensils. Then, it’s time to dig in!
What goes with a baked potato bar?
There are endless options to pair with a baked potato bar! We recommend giving your dinner the true steakhouse experience with a cold, crisp side salad and one of these steakhouse dishes. Or you could pair with a big bowl of chili!
How to Make the Best Baked Potatoes
Haul out your trusty slow cooker to make these amazing slow-cooker baked potatoes. This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight—just throw them in before you start your workday and they’ll be ready just in time for dinner. Here’s how.
Ingredients
- 6 medium russet potatoes
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Sour cream, butter, crumbled bacon, minced chives, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese and minced fresh cilantro
Directions
If you don’t own a slow cooker, use one of these other methods:
- Oven: Bake at 400° for 50 to 75 minutes, or until tender.
- Microwave: Cook on high for about 15 minutes, or until tender, flipping once.
- Instant Pot: Cook at manual pressure, on high, for about 14 to 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Note: Make sure you pierce your potatoes with a fork before using any of the methods above.
Baked Potato Bar Ideas
Now for the best part: the toppings! We recommend placing your desired toppings in bowls and plates so your family (or friends!) can help themselves easily. When serving, keep your baked potatoes inside the slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting so they’ll last for hours. Try using one of these ways to warm food for other ingredients you’d like to keep warm, like veggies. Ingredients that should be kept cold, like sour cream or cheese, can be placed over ice. Just place your serving bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice. You can also freeze or refrigerate your serving dishes in advance to keep the food cold for longer.
Create a scoopable baked potato topping:
In a rush? Save time by creating a scoopable chive butter spread. To make, bring about a cup of butter to room temperature. Once your butter is softened, mix butter with freshly cut chives. We recommend a ratio of 1 cup butter to 1/4 cup chives. Finally, using an ice cream scooper, top your spuds with a scoop of the chive butter.
Choose your baked potato bar toppings:
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Corn
- Avocado
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Gouda and pepper jack work well)
- Shredded chicken
- Sriracha
- Bacon bits
- Green onions
- Diced onions
- Diced tomatoes
- Fritos
- Crackers
Here are some of our favorite flavor combos:
- Hungry Man’s Baked Potatoes: Sweet potato, bacon strips, corn, red onion, barbecue shredded pork, goat cheese and cilantro
- Southern Spud: Russet potato, whiskey barbecue pork, deli mac and cheese and barbecue sauce
- Steakhouse Baked Potatoes: Baking potato, beef ribeye steaks, olive oil, butter, arugula, blue cheese dressing, sour cream and crumbled blue cheese
- Tex-Mex Tater: Russet potato, hot chili cheese dip, pickled or fresh jalapenos, fresh cilantro, black beans and coarsely crushed tortilla chips
- That’s Amore Baked Potatoes: Baking potato, ground beef, green pepper, carrot, onion, garlic, spaghetti sauce with mushrooms, pepperoni, red wine, oregano, and Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
- Candied Earth Apple: Sweet potato, bacon, brown sugar, maple syrup and butter
- Very Veggie Baked Potatoes: Baking potato, yellow summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, leeks, Italian salad dressing, garlic-herb spreadable cheese, sour cream and basil leaves
More Baked Potato Ideas!
Loaded Baked Potato RoundsI was trying to create an appetizer that could be served at my teenaged daughters birthday party that the kids would love but that would appear elegant enough for the adults to be interested as well. These are made with simple ingredients yet yield a sophisticated result. Feel free to get creative with the flavors. Try shredded white cheddar in place of mozzarella or thyme instead of the rosemary. Take it up another notch by topping the rounds with smoked fish. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut
Baked Potato PizzaI make this creative baked potato pizza for Super Bowl parties. The sour cream, bacon, onions and cheese make every bite taste just like a loaded baked potato. —Gina Pierson, Centralia, Missouri
Loaded Baked Potato DipI never thought of using waffle-cut fries as a scoop for dip until a friend of mine did at a baby shower. They’re ideal for my cheesy bacon and chive dip, which tastes just like a baked potato topper. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Slow-Cooker Baked PotatoesThese slow-cooker baked potatoes are so easy—just add your favorite toppings. Save any extra potatoes to make baked potato soup the next day. —Teresa Emrick, Tipp City, Ohio
Pepperoni Pizza Baked PotatoesThese tasty taters were a spur-of-the-moment recipe I created from leftovers! It's a true mash-up meal that combines two dinnertime favorites into one super-fun meal. —Dawn E. Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Creamy Twice-Baked PotatoesWith a yummy cream cheese filling, these rich potatoes tucked into their own skins are sure winners. They look fancy but are not tricky to make. —Linda Wheeler, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Bacon Cheddar Potato SkinsWondering how to make potato skins taste great? Both crisp and hearty, this restaurant-quality snack is one that my family requests often. —Trish Perrin, Keizer, Oregon
Baked Potato SoupI found our favorite soup in an unexpected place—a children's cookbook! This creamy comfort food is not only delicious but it's also scaled down to make a small amount that's perfect for my husband and me. —Linda Mumm, Davenport, Iowa
That's Amore Baked PotatoesWe add a touch of Italy to these baked potatoes with beefed up spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and more. Now, that's amore!
Two-Tone Baked PotatoesOne potato...two potato...this recipe is doubly wonderful as far as spud lovers are concerned. I have a reputation at home and at work for trying out new recipes. Everyone is glad I took a chance on this one.
-Sherree Stahn, Central City, Nebraska
Twice-Baked Potato CasseroleMy daughter gave me this twice-baked potatoes recipe because she knows I love potatoes. The hearty casserole is loaded with a palate-pleasing combination of bacon, cheeses, green onions and sour cream. —Betty Miars, Anna, Ohio
Favorite Baked Potato SoupMy husband and I enjoyed a delicious baked potato soup at a restaurant while on vacation and I came home determined to duplicate the flavor. It took me five years to get the taste right! —Joann Goetz, Genoa, Ohio
Taco Tater SkinsI wanted to make a version of these with ingredients most people have on hand. We make a meal out of these skins, but they're also great for parties as appetizers. —Phyllis Douglas, Fairview, Michigan
Loaded Baked Potato SaladI revamped my mother's potato salad to taste more like baked potatoes with all the fixin's, which I love. This loaded baked potato salad is now the most requested dish at family gatherings. Even my mother asked for the recipe! —Jackie Deckard, Solsberry, Indiana
Chili Dog Baked PotatoesThese chili dogs are nestled in baked potatoes for a delicious and satisfying meal. They're perfect for a barbecue, but they're just as tasty any time of year! —Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa
Baked Sweet Potato FriesI can never get enough of this baked sweet potato fries recipe! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull them out of my garden and chop them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato CasseroleBacon, cheddar and sour cream turn ordinary potatoes into an extraordinary twice baked potato casserole. It's one of our family's beloved standards for the holidays. —Kyle Cox, Scottsdale, Arizona
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with BaconThis side always takes my guests by surprise because of the smoky, creamy flavor. No doubt you'll get major kudos when you place these potatoes on your table. —Cynthia Boberskyj Rochester, NY
Parmesan Potato WedgesI recommend serving these Parmesan potato wedges alongside a salad for a light lunch or serving them as a side dish with a chicken or beef entree. —Beth Ask, Ulster, Pennsylvania
Ham and Broccoli Baked PotatoesThis loaded baked potato dish is a spin on a favorite family recipe I have made for years: ham and potato casserole. It's a great recipe when you have a tight food budget, and it tastes amazing! The potatoes and filling can be prepared ahead of time, then assembled prior to serving. —Patricia Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Loaded Twice-Baked Potato CasseroleCreamy, cheesy and loaded with bacon, this comforting casserole immediately makes guests feel at home. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Cheddar & Spinach Twice-Baked PotatoesMy husband is a rancher who loves a hearty potato dish, so consider these spuds with cheddar and spinach cowboy approved! My crowd never leaves leftovers. —Jody Augustyn, Loup City, NE
Southern Loaded Sweet PotatoesFor a taste of a southern classic, we make sweet potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw and manage to sidestep the calorie overload. —Amy Burton, Cary, North Carolina
Fancy Baked PotatoesI can't count the times I've turned to this tried-and-true recipe when company is coming. The potato filling is creamy and rich tasting, plus the servings are attractive. But the best part is you can spare yourself the hassle of mashing potatoes at the last minute. —Audrey Thibodeau, Gilbert, Arizona
BLT Twice-Baked PotatoesTwo favorites go together in this hearty dish: BLTs and twice-baked potatoes. I like to serve these potatoes with grilled steaks or barbecued chicken. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
Taco Baked PotatoesStuffed with your favorite fixings, this baked potato recipe is an easy meal in one. Make it vegetarian by using smashed black beans instead of ground beef. —Anne Ormond, Dover, New Hampshire
Fiesta Egg & Potato BoatsOn a whim, I stuffed eggs into potato shells as a way to use up leftover baked potatoes. It’s the brunch dish people ask for the most. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
Loaded Baked Potato CasseroleWhen I bake this for my family, any leftovers are always gone by morning. In the night, people sneak downstairs for a little snack! Stir in broccoli, asparagus or peas if you've got 'em. —Colleen Trenholm, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Originally Published: October 19, 2020
