Name: Loaded Baked Potato Bar
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 6 large russet potatoes (scrubbed); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon coarse salt; 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt; 1 can (15 oz) black beans (warmed); 2 cups steamed broccoli florets; 6 slices cooked bacon (crumbled, optional); 4 green onions (sliced); 2 tablespoons butter; Salt and black pepper (to taste)

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A loaded baked potato bar is dinner where everyone builds their own. Crisp-skinned baked potatoes go on the table with bowls of cheese, sour cream, beans, broccoli, bacon and green onions.

Potatoes are about the cheapest base for a meal, and the toppings can be whatever needs using up: leftover chili, the end of a bag of cheese, last night’s vegetables. It’s an easy way to feed a group or a family of picky eaters.

The potatoes bake unattended for an hour while you set out the toppings. It’s also on our list of cheap family meals under $10.

Ingredients and Swaps

Potatoes: Large russets, one per person, similar in size.
Oil and coarse salt: For crisp, seasoned skins.
Toppings: Cheddar, sour cream or Greek yogurt, black beans, steamed broccoli, bacon, green onions and butter. Use what you have.

Tips for a Baked Potato Bar

Skip the foil. Baking potatoes directly on the rack gives crisp skins and fluffy centers.
Bake until very tender. A fork should slide in with no resistance.
Keep potatoes warm. Hold them in a 200°F oven, or wrap them in foil after baking and keep them in a small cooler.
Warm the hot toppings. Beans, chili and broccoli should be hot when they hit the table.
Set it up in order. Potatoes first, then butter and hot toppings, then cheese and cold toppings.

Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.

Cost: Ingredients – $8.12 from Walmart, $7.64 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.27 to $1.35

Baked potatoes with cheddar, sour cream, bacon and green onions

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Loaded Baked Potato Bar

Fluffy oven-baked potatoes with crispy salted skins and a spread of budget-friendly toppings so everyone can build their own. Easy, customizable, and crowd-pleasing.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 10

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

Potatoes

6 large russet potatoes scrubbed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt

Topping Ideas

1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 can (15 oz) black beans warmed
2 cups steamed broccoli florets
6 slices cooked bacon crumbled, optional
4 green onions sliced
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper to taste

Method

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Pat the potatoes dry and pierce each several times with a fork. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack (with a sheet pan on the rack below) and bake for 50–60 minutes, until the skins are crisp and a knife slides in easily.
While the potatoes bake, prepare the toppings: warm the beans, steam the broccoli, cook the bacon, and set everything out in bowls.
Slice each potato open, fluff the insides with a fork, and add a little butter, salt, and pepper.
Let everyone load their potatoes with their favorite toppings.

Notes

Microwave shortcut: cook pierced potatoes on high for 10–12 minutes, then crisp in a 425°F oven for 10 minutes.
Leftover chili or taco meat makes a hearty topping.
Sweet potatoes work great too, topped with black beans and salsa.
Bake potatoes ahead and reheat for quick weeknight bowls.