Ah, now we’re in the realm of hearty, comforting loaded baked potatoes—basically a meal on a spud! Here’s a straightforward way to make a baked potato stuffed with sausage and cheese:
Baked Potato with Sausage and Cheese
Ingredients (serves 2–4):
- 2–4 large baking potatoes
- 1 cup cooked sausage (pork, chicken, or turkey), crumbled or sliced
- 1–1½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or your favorite)
- 2–3 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: green onions, bacon bits, hot sauce
Instructions:
- Bake the potatoes:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Scrub potatoes, prick with a fork a few times, and rub with a little olive oil and salt.
- Bake directly on the oven rack for 45–60 minutes, until tender.
- Cook the sausage:
- While potatoes bake, cook sausage in a skillet until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Prepare the potato for stuffing:
- Once baked, cut a slit down the center of each potato.
- Fluff the insides with a fork and add butter, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble:
- Mix in sausage and half of the shredded cheese into the potato flesh.
- Top with the remaining cheese.
- Melt the cheese:
- Return stuffed potatoes to the oven for 5–10 minutes, or broil briefly, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Add optional sour cream, green onions, or other favorite toppings.
Optional twist: Mix in a little cooked onions or bell peppers with the sausage for extra flavor, or sprinkle some paprika or smoked paprika on top before baking for a smoky kick.
If you want, I can give a “loaded everything” version that turns this into an almost-meal-in-a-potato extravaganza—like a mini cheesy sausage casserole inside a potato.
Do you want me to do that?
