🥔 Classic Baked Potato
Fluffy on the inside, perfectly crisp on the outside — a simple yet satisfying side or main when loaded with toppings.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 1–4)
- 1–4 large russet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Optional toppings: butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, chili, or broccoli
🥣 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2️⃣ Prepare Potatoes
- Scrub potatoes thoroughly and pat dry.
- Pierce each potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape.
- Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt for a crispy skin.
3️⃣ Bake
- Place potatoes directly on oven rack or a baking sheet.
- Bake 45–60 minutes, depending on size, until skins are crisp and a fork slides easily into the center.
4️⃣ Serve
- Slice open the top and fluff the inside with a fork.
- Add desired toppings such as butter, sour cream, cheese, or bacon.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Extra Crispy Skin: Bake directly on the oven rack rather than a pan.
- Microwave Shortcut: Microwave on high 5–7 minutes per potato, then finish in the oven 10–15 minutes for crispiness.
- Loaded Baked Potato: Top with chili, broccoli & cheese, or creamy sauces for a meal.
- Herbed Variation: Rub skin with garlic powder, paprika, or fresh herbs before baking.
If you want, I can also give you:
- Twice-baked potato recipe
- Cheesy stuffed baked potato
- Oven-baked sweet potato version
- Air fryer baked potato
Do you want it classic fluffy inside or loaded and indulgent?
