The Perfect Baked Potato Recipe You’ll Love to Make

Baked Potato Recipe disasters. Been there? I mean, I’m talking about scraping at a soggy potato skin or pulling out a half-cooked spud when you just wanted some comfort food—I’m not proud of it, but it’s happened. Honestly, it’s wild how tricky it is to nail something as basic as a baked potato recipe. Good news is, you don’t need some five-star secret. Let me walk you through how to get a baked potato that’ll make you the hero of weeknight dinners. This even works if you’re as distracted as I am (which is, let’s say, “super distracted”). Once you master this, move on to treats from this list of 31 spooktacular Halloween dessert recipes or maybe a tasty bariatric chia smoothie weight loss recipe if you want to shake things up after all the potato action.

Ingredients

Grab these items—nothing fancy:

• 4 medium russet potatoes (the brown, rough guys. Honestly, they bake up best)
• Olive oil (just a splash)
• Sea salt (don’t cheap out here)
• Butter (for topping, and, yeah, it makes a difference)
• Sour cream, shredded cheddar, chives, and crispy bacon for extra topping oomph (optional but, c’mon, totally worth it)

That’s it. Told you it was simple.

Directions

Alright, here it goes. If I can do this while wrangling kids and the dog, you definitely can.

1. Set your oven to 425°F. Let it heat up. Don’t rush this step!
2. Give the potatoes a good scrub. Don’t want dirt on your spuds, right?
3. Dry them off. Stab each potato a few times with a fork. Yes, stab. Trust me on this or face potato explosions.
4. Rub each potato with olive oil, then sprinkle with sea salt. Massage like you love ‘em.
5. Pop ‘em straight on the oven rack. Use a baking sheet underneath for drips—messy, but not disastrous.
6. Bake for 45-60 minutes. Depends on their size and your oven (and honestly, ovens can be divas).
7. Squeeze gently with an oven mitt—if they cave a bit, that’s your green light.
8. Slice open, add that slab of butter, and I dare you not to drool.

Seriously, that’s the whole thing. Easy, right?

I followed this baked potato recipe and, without exaggeration, it turned out better than ones I’ve had at restaurants. Super fluffy inside, skin was perfectly salty and crisp. I’ll never microwave a potato again. – Abby H.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Let’s be real—nobody eats baked potatoes for the “health kicks,” but they are surprisingly solid for you, especially if you don’t drown them in cheese and bacon each time.

A single medium russet with just sea salt and a dab of butter sits at:

• About 160 calories (plain)
• Virtually no fat if you skip the toppings (but where’s the fun?)
• Healthy fiber (yep, especially with the skin left on)
• Vitamin C and potassium like you’ll find in a banana (no joke)
• Gluten-free (for folks who need)

But, yeah, when you start piling on cheese and bacon, all bets are off. Want a lighter meal after this? Try a classic shrimp scampi recipe a delicious delight or maybe a bright spring salad recipe a fresh and flavorful delight to balance it out.

Tips for Achieving the Perfect Baked Potato

Alright, this is my favorite part—the hacks. Honestly, these tips are what separate you from mediocre “soft but sad” potatoes and that crispy-skinned, fluffy-centered perfection.

First, always use russet potatoes. Not red, not yellow. Russet—just trust me.
Oil and salt are your best buds. You want crispy skin? That oil-and-salt spa treatment is essential. Don’t skip it. Salting them adds crunch and flavor. Or else you’ll end up peeling the skin off, and, just—no.
Don’t even think of wrapping them in foil. The steam makes the skin soft and, in my opinion, just ruins the whole deal.
Patience is everything—give them their time in the oven and don’t try to cheat it with the microwave. The microwave makes sad, mushy spuds every. single. time. (Sorry, microwave fans…)

Lastly, if you want extra crispy skin, you can toss the baked potatoes back in the hot oven for 5 extra minutes after you slice them open. Amazing.

Nutrient	Amount per Medium Russet Potato	% Daily Value*
Calories	160	8%
Total Fat	0.2g	0%
Sodium	10mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	3.8g	15%
Vitamin C	28% DV	28%
Potassium	620mg	18%

Serving Suggestions

Alright, time for a little fun. Baked potatoes are the blank canvas of the food world. Literally anything goes, but here are some of my weird-but-delicious favorites:

• Tex-Mex style: Top with salsa, black beans, and shredded cheddar.
• Breakfast potatoes: Crack an egg in the middle, sprinkle with green onions, bake a little longer until the egg sets.
• Soup and potato: Serve alongside a bowl of warm tomato soup. More filling than you’d think.
• Go wild—try topping with beef chili, leftover pulled pork, roasted veggies, or even last week’s stew if you’re feeling reckless.

And if you need a party snack, pair these potatoes up with a delicious tortellini salad recipe a perfect picnic dish or put them out next to your favorite easy pumpkin dip recipe. Guarantee the plate comes back empty.

Common Questions

How do I tell when my baked potato is actually done?
Poke it with a fork—if it slides in super easy all the way, you’re good to go. If not, give it a few more minutes.

Can I prep these ahead of time?
Sure thing. Bake ahead, cool, and keep them in the fridge. Pop ’em back in the hot oven for 10 minutes and they’re basically brand new.

What about using sweet potatoes with this baked potato recipe?
Oh, for sure. You get a different flavor, but the process is identical. Maybe watch the timing since sweet potatoes can roast faster.

Is it really necessary to stab the potato with a fork?
Yes! I skipped this once, and let’s just say… I had an oven mess like you wouldn’t believe.

What’s the deal with foil?
Seriously, don’t. Unless you like soggy skin, but I’m all about the crisp factor.

Give It a Go – You’ll Thank Yourself

Who knew something as simple as a baked potato recipe could bring so much warm, cozy joy to a Wednesday night? You already have almost everything you need in your kitchen. The real magic is in those crisp skins and fluffy middles. Trust me, once you get this right, it’s tough to mess it up again. And if you want to expand your potato prowess even more, check out the Perfect Baked Potato Recipe from Love and Lemons, some handy user tips on how do you cook the perfect baked potato over on Reddit, another spin on a simple baked potato recipe, or even the perfect baked potato recipe by Pamela Salzman and The Modern Proper’s version.

So, preheat that oven and treat yourself. The potato is calling your name, friend.

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