What temperature to bake potatoes in the oven?

Larger sized russet potatoes cook best at 425 degrees for an hour. If they are smaller, check them around 50 minutes. I suggest lathering them with butter and salt and wrapping in foil before baking.

How to Keep Potatoes Warm for a Potato Bar?

Plan to cook them about one hour and 30 minutes prior to guests arrival. To keep warm, leave in the warm oven turned off or on low temp, or they will overcook. You can also keep them in the crockpot on low, but I wouldn't do this for too long or they may shrivel up a bit or get dry.

What are the best toppings for baked potatoes?

Almost everything tastes good on a baked potato from chili and cheese, to bacon, sour cream, butter and green onion. Take it to another level with salsa, peppers and onions, cheese, sour cream, jalapeño, cilantro and black olives or go with steamed broccoli and loads of nacho cheese!

Baked Potato Bar with Topping Ideas

Description

Get inspired to make your own Baked Potato Bar with tons of Topping Ideas! Everyone loves a loaded baked potato, so why not throw a Baked Potato Party with tons of toppings? It's super simple to put together and guests will love making their own loaded baked potatoes.

Ingredients

Scale

Baked Potatoes:

Plan for 1 Russet potato per person (I made 10 potatoes, which is about a 5 lb bag)
4 tablespoons salted butter
1 tablespoon flaky seasalt
1 tin foil sheet per potato

Baked Potato Bar Topping Ideas:

3 cups chili
1 green bell pepper (seeds and stems removed) and 1 yellow onion, sliced + 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt
8 slices original bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 tablespoons butter, cut into thin teaspoon sized slices
1 cup sour cream
small can black olives, drained
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup sliced pickled jalapeños
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, minced
1/2 cup green onion or chives, sliced on a bias
8 ounces block of cheddar cheese, grated
1 lime, cut into wedges

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a large tin foil sheet for each potato (10 if 10 potatoes are being used). Place one potato in the center of the foil sheet and brush with butter on both sides, and sprinkle with salt. Roll the tinfoil in a way that the butter will not leak out. Repeat with all of the potatoes.
Place all the potatoes on a cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour.
As the potatoes are cooking, simmer the chili on the stovetop.
If making peppers and onions, slice the onion and peppers into strips. Heat a large skillet over medium low heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, toss in the peppers and onions with a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened and browned.
Cut the bacon into 1 inch slices and pull apart into pieces. Cook in the skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to remove extra grease.
Once the potatoes are out of the oven, allow them to sit for 20 minutes. Carefully unwrap and place on a serving platter. Use a pairing knife to cut a slit down the potatoes to make it easy to people to load them up. Serve next to all the toppings.
Time for the party to start! Load up those baked potatoes and enjoy.

Equipment

Cookie sheet

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Notes

The chili can stay simmering on the stovetop for however long. I recommend making the bacon and peppers and onions at the same time, about when the potatoes come out of the oven, since they have to sit for 20 minutes. This way, everything is nice and hot or just reheat the peppers and onions and bacon before serving.
Prep the cold toppings ahead in the day and store in the fridge to prevent scrambling when people get there. Even the cheese can be shredded ahead.
Those paper baskets or paper plates or bowls and plastic utensils are useful to prevent a million dishes.
One trick I do at taco, pizza or baked potato parties is lay everything out on a throwaway tablecloth when serving. This helps prevent a lot of mess and you can toss it after.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooling Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Category: dinner
Method: bake
Cuisine: American