The BEST Baked Potato Bar

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Want a budget-friendly, tasty dinner that the whole family or any group you’re hosting will love? This classic Baked Potato Bar is it! We’ll show you have to make perfect baked potatoes and homemade cheese sauce and give you LOTS of topping ideas.

Baked potatoes and multiple toppings including chopped broccoli, homemade cheese sauce, sour cream, butter, chopped bacon, and scallions all laid out on a circular wooden cutting board.

Table of Contents

Why I Love a Baked Potato Bar!

Customizable: Much like our family’s beloved Taco Bar nights, our Baked Potato Bar goes over well with everyone. That’s because they can individualize their baked potato however they like.
Cheap: Hearty, economical potatoes make up most of this meal, while the toppings add the flavor. This only costs me about $3-4 per person!
Veggie-Forward: A fun way to eat your veggies. With potatoes as the base and broccoli and green onion on top, you can get several servings in. The homemade cheese sauce drizzled on top make them so tasty!
Easy: While it will take over an hour to pull all the components together, there’s not much thinking involved for this recipe! I’ve nailed the timing on how to bake the perfect potato while also making your toppings and cheese sauce all at the same time.
Make-Ahead Meal: You can make all the toppings a day or two ahead of time and warm the bacon, cheese sauce, and broccoli in the microwave before it’s time to eat. Make the potatoes 1-2 hours in advance and keep warm in the oven.
Choose Your Cooking Method: You can pick how to cook your potatoes, either using the oven method in this recipe or try our Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, or Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.

Ingredients Needed

Here are the wholesome ingredients you’ll need to build your Baked Potato Bar…

Baked potato bar ingredients laid out on a baking sheet and labeled.

Ingredient Notes

Potatoes – I prefer using the hearty large russet potatoes. Sometimes these are labeled as “baking potatoes”. Yukon gold potatoes, while great in a recipe like Instant Pot Potato Soup, are too delicate for this recipe.
Toppings – For this classic baked potato bar, I’m choosing to keep it simple and top mine with bacon bits, steamed broccoli, and homemade cheese sauce (a must!). It’s nice to include sliced green onions, Garlic Herb Butter, and sour cream on the bar, as well. Keep scrolling for a lot more topping combination ideas!

How to Make a Baked Potato Bar

Now, let’s walk through how to make a classic Baked Potato Bar for your family or a group (don’t worry, I’ll give you LOTS more topping ideas below). I’ve worked out the timing so you can prep everything while the potatoes are baking.

Prep the Oven & Pan

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Adjust the two oven racks to be equidistant from the center. Cover a rimmed sheet pan with foil and then set a cooking rack on top.

Prep the Potatoes

Scrub the potatoes and dry them off. Working on a cutting board, pierce each potato a few times on each side with a fork or knife. Rub the potatoes with oil and season with Kosher salt and pepper (optional) on all sides.

A large baking potato being pricked with a fork before baking with more potatoes, salt, pepper, and oil on a cutting board in the background.

Six large baking potatoes sitting on a wooden cutting board and being brushed with oil with a pastry brush.

A person holding a small container of salt in one hand and sprinkling it onto oiled large baking potatoes sitting on a wooden cutting board.

Bake the Bacon

Lay out the slices of bacon on the pan. Bake on bottom rack until crispy, about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon.

Raw bacon laid out on a cooking rack on top of a baking sheet covered in foil.

Bake the Potatoes

While the bacon bakes, place the potatoes directly on the top rack (over the sheet pan, so it catches any drips as they begin to cook) and bake for 50-60 minutes, until a fork or paring knife slides easily into the center of the potato. Remove with oven mitts or tongs to a serving dish.

Or, you can choose one of these alternative cooking methods for your potatoes:

Large baked potatoes on parchment paper on a baking sheet just out of the oven.

How to Cook Potatoes in the Microwave

I prefer to bake the potatoes because the skin gets perfectly crispy and salty in the oven.

However, if you’d like a faster option, microwave your pierced potatoes in 2 minute increments. Cook until you can easily pierce into the center of the potatoes with a knife.

It will take about 6 minutes total when cooking one or two potatoes at a time. You will need to work in small batches.

Steam the Broccoli

While the potatoes bake, steam the broccoli using one of these methods:

Stovetop: Fill a medium-sized pot with 1 or 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli and partially cover with the lid. Steam for 2-3 minutes, until fork tender. Carefully drain off the water and set aside.
Microwave: In a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, add 1-2 inches of water and the broccoli, cover with a napkin or plate. Microwave on high for about 2-3 minutes, or until fork tender. Carefully drain off the water and set aside.

Chopped raw broccoli in a stainless steel saucepan before being steamed.

Make the Cheese Sauce

Using our Cheese Sauce recipe, double the recipe and make in a medium-sized pot on the stove (I use the same one I steam the broccoli in to save on dishes). This takes about 10 minutes at the most. Keep the sauce warm over low heat, stirring occasionally.

Homemade cheese sauce in a small saucepan with some being lifted out with a spoon.

Prep the Toppings & Serve

Chop the bacon into small bits. Set out other toppings like sliced green onions, sour cream, butter, salt, and pepper. Slice open each warm baked potato from end to end and push the ends together to open it up.

Everyone can individualize their baked potato with toppings from the Baked Potato Bar. I like mine with broccoli, cheese sauce, sliced green onions, and bacon bits.

Someone holding a plate with a baked potato topped with homemade cheese sauce and steamed broccoli and using a spoon to add chopped bacon to the top.

Baked potatoes on a baking sheet split open ready to put toppings on them.

How to Make It Ahead

You can make the bacon, cheese sauce, and broccoli a day or two ahead of time and warm in the microwave before it’s time to eat.

The baked potatoes can be made 1-2 hours in advance. To keep them warm, place in an oven safe dish, cover with foil, and put in a 200°F oven.

More Ideas for Baked Potato Bar Toppings

My recipe sticks to a classic loaded baked potato, but don’t be afraid to get creative with your toppings. Here are several variations and toppings for a potato bar:

Classic: Cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), chives or green onions
Sloppy Joes: Use our amazing Homemade Sloppy Joes recipe and pile on top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Chili: Stovetop Chili or Pumpkin Chili, shredded cheese, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), chives or diced red onion, cilantro
Southwest: Shredded Southwest Chicken, Southwest Ranch Sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, sautéed peppers and onions
Taco: Use ideas from our Taco Bar post, such as Taco Meat, shredded cheddar, salsa, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, black beans, green onions, etc.
Vegan Delight: plant-based butter, sautéed mushrooms/peppers/onions, black beans, salsa, Guacamole
Greek: Greek Shredded Pork, Tzatziki Sauce, sliced Kalamata olives, chopped cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, Pickled Red Onions
BBQ: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork or BBQ Chicken, 5-Ingredient Coleslaw, blue cheese crumbles, Homemade BBQ Sauce

FAQs

How can I make a baked potato bar more visually appealing?

Use colorful, fresh ingredients, and set up the toppings in an organized and visually appealing way. Use decorative bowls and platters to enhance the presentation. You can also use small signs or labels to identify each topping.

How can I keep the potatoes warm before serving them?

The baked potatoes can be made 1-2 hours in advance. To keep them warm, place in an oven safe dish, cover with foil, and put in a 200°F oven. Or wrap in foil and keep in a slow cooker on the warm setting.

Can I make a baked potato bar ahead of time?

You can make the bacon, cheese sauce, and steamed broccoli a day or two ahead of time and warm in the microwave before it’s time to eat.

The baked potatoes can be made 1-2 hours in advance. To keep them warm, place in an oven safe dish, cover with foil, and put in a 200°F oven.

What kind of potatoes should I use for a baked potato bar?

Russet potatoes are the best kind for a potato bar. They are hearty and mild in flavor. The skin also gets very crispy and the interior get fluffy when baked, making them a delicious canvas for the toppings.

What to Serve with Baked Potato Bar

Aside from all the toppings I shared, here are some sides that would pair well.

Creamy citrus dressing being ladled onto Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad with sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and feta cheese on it.

More Easy Dinner Ideas

More simple suppers your family is sure to love!

French dip sandwiches on a tray with a bowl of au jus.

Baked Potato Bar

Why I Love a Baked Potato Bar!