🥔 Loaded Baked Potatoes 🧀✨
Fluffy baked potatoes stuffed with a rich, creamy filling, loaded with cheddar cheese, and baked until golden and bubbling. A simple, cozy meal or hearty side dish!
🛒 Ingredients
2 large russet potatoes
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
¼ cup sour cream
2 tbsp milk, optional, for a creamier filling
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt, to taste
¼ tsp black pepper
1–2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley
Optional: cooked bacon bits, green onions, or extra cheese
👩🍳 Instructions
Prepare the potatoes:
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Scrub the potatoes well and pat dry. Pierce each potato several times with a fork.
Bake:
Place potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a knife.
Make the filling:
Let the potatoes cool for 5 minutes, then carefully slice them lengthwise. Scoop the fluffy potato into a bowl, leaving a thin layer inside the skins.
Mix:
Add butter, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup of the cheddar. Mash until creamy. Add a splash of milk if desired.
Stuff:
Spoon the creamy mixture back into the potato skins. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar generously over the tops.
Bake again:
Return to the oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
Garnish & serve:
Sprinkle with fresh chives or parsley. Add bacon or green onions if desired.
