# Baked potato as the main entree of the meal. What are the best toppings?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [July 2, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462 "2023-07-02T19:53:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/1 "2023-07-02T19:53:49Z")
My son wants to try this.
The best I can come up with is taco meat and taco type toppings.
You guys got any better ideas?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/2 "2023-07-02T19:56:34Z")
Chili & chili toppings
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/3 "2023-07-02T20:02:07Z")
Both of the above are excellent choices. Personally, I’d stuff the potato with pulled pork, some sliced jalapenos, cheese as you like and a ladle of BBQ sauce. Cole slaw on the side because on top is just _too_ sloppy.
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### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/4 "2023-07-02T20:14:23Z")
If we’re allowed to work within the letter (if possibly not the spirit) of the baked potato, I’d go with twice baked. Bake the potato, split in half evenly, carefully scrape all the goodness out. Give the empty skins a quick, high temp extra bake to crisp, while mashing the roasted potatoes, mixing in some cream or butter, good cheese (to personal tastes), fresh chives and garlic seps, a couple of heavy pinches of salt, and then placing the results into the crisped skins, topping with more cheese, pieces of quality bacon, and maybe a splash of an herby hot sauce.
Of course, if I wanted to stretch a point further, you could go with a stuffed baked _sweet_ potato, which works with a large number of Mexican and fusion styled foods. [This](https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/stuffed-sweet-potato-recipes/) gives a few places to start, and I’ve done the BBQ pulled pork stuffed sweet potatoes to my personal happiness, and my wife did the ‘Healthified’ loaded option as she doesn’t do meat. 🙂
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/5 "2023-07-02T20:15:38Z")
Bacon, sour cream, green onions, cheese of your choice, jalapenos, etc. That’s the way I’d go. I’m not into loaded baked potatoes, though, but if I were, I’d go in that direction.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/6 "2023-07-02T20:17:20Z")
Yup. I’d probably avoid the jollypenos, though.
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### Author:  [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/7 "2023-07-02T20:21:01Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> I’d stuff the potato with pulled pork, some sliced jalapenos, cheese as you like and a ladle of BBQ sauce
At that point, the potato stops being the “main entree” and starts becoming “the bread part of the sandwich”.
I’d go with “Baked Potato Salad”. Bake the potato with oil and some mix of spices on the skin, then slit the potato, and add butter or some other condiment that will soak in. Then add a few highlights. You could go the traditional “Loaded potato” of bacon bits and green onions, but mix it up a bit. Something just crunchy enough to add texture, but that doesn’t overwhelm the potato.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/8 "2023-07-02T20:42:13Z")
The simplest combination rocks: salt, pepper, lots of butter, and loads of sour cream with chives.
If I go beyond that, it’s to add shredded cheddar cheese, fried bacon bits, chopped green onions, and a few dashes of Tabasco or other hot red pepper sauce.
I also like to smear some EVOO on the taters and season their skins with salt, pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder, and a bay leaf before wrapping them in aluminum foil and putting them in the oven or under hot coals.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/9 "2023-07-02T20:47:01Z")
Rib-Eye Steak
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### Author:  [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/10 "2023-07-02T20:58:27Z")
I love broccoli and cheese. Many good ideas are here, along with giant potatoes. [Menu | Spudly's Metairie](https://spudlys.com/menu/)
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/11 "2023-07-02T21:00:57Z")
My first thoughts were bacon, cheese, and sour cream. Some sort of allium would be good, too. But yeah, most of the things others are suggesting would work, too.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/12 "2023-07-02T21:02:47Z")
Bacon cheese and sour cream is definitely good. But to me that’s a regular side potato.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/13 "2023-07-02T21:18:07Z")
My fave toppings are butter, sour cream, shredded aged cheddar cheese, bacon bits, chives, salt, and ground beef with taco/chili spices. All together.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/14 "2023-07-02T21:20:27Z")
> [@Horatius](#):
>
> At that point, the potato stops being the “main entree” and starts becoming “the bread part of the sandwich”.
If I’m stuck eating a baked potato as my main entree, i would really prefer it be “the bread part of the sandwich”, with some protein and fat and flavor tucked inside.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/15 "2023-07-02T21:26:13Z")
Chili and whatever goes on that.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/16 "2023-07-02T21:59:35Z")
There is a waterfront restaurant in the French town of Dunkerque (aka “Dunkirk”) called La Patatière whose gimmick is an all-potato menu. Or, well, mostly potato. They have a couple of salads and such, but the center of the menu is like 20 or 25 baked potatoes dressed with every variety of toppings you can imagine. There’s one with four French cheeses, one with curried chicken, one with mushrooms and foie gras… Here, see for yourself.
> **[La carte sur place - La Patatière](https://www.la-patatiere.fr/la-carte-sur-place/)**
>
> Venez déguster nos recettes de patates garnies et nos salades composées dans notre restaurant situé Digue de Mer à Dunkerque Malo. Le dessert est compris !
Last time I was there, I had the “La Garcia,” which comes with spicy sausages and melted cheese. Pretty tasty. _Very_ heavy and filling.
Anyway, if you’re looking for new ideas on how to dress a baked potato, fire up Google Translate and start scrolling.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/17 "2023-07-02T22:08:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Bacon, sour cream, green onions, cheese of your choice, jalapenos, etc. That’s the way I’d go. I’m not into loaded baked potatoes, though, but if I were, I’d go in that direction.
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Yup. I’d probably avoid the jollypenos, though.
I vote for **pulykamell’s** potato. I had thought of most of these but somehow didn’t think of the jalapeno. I usually also don’t go out of my way to consume jalapenos, since I prefer the flavor of other peppers more (whether or not they are hot), but I think the taste of them would complement this dish.
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### Author:  [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/18 "2023-07-02T22:13:48Z")
Butter, sharp cheddar, and Everything Bagel Seasoning.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/19 "2023-07-02T22:29:13Z")
Moscow has _Kroshka Kartoshka_ (roughly translated as “My little tater tot”), large mobile snack bars that specialize in big jacket potatoes with all manner of fillings. When I was working in an office (lo, those many years ago), I would usually go to the _KK_ on Pushkin Square on my lunch break and order a potato with whatever combination of fillings I was in the mood for. They were cheap and satisfying, and oh so good!
[ ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfV3_V4VUCaayyfR1Et4qolPqrdPuvo8EbqB9A5T-RbBSj8ce-BRYbBCGc3NU_2ksEGcw&usqp=CAU)
I see now they’ve expanded the chain to permanent locations as well.
God, I miss Moscow. Damn you, Putin! May you rot and burn in Hell! 😡
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### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baked-potato-as-the-main-entree-of-the-meal-what-are-the-best-toppings/986462/20 "2023-07-02T22:40:26Z")
Honorable mention slash alternate option would also be various varieties of _smoked_ baked potato.
Around here, you can get them at various BBQ joints, most commonly Rudy’s, but you can make them at home with the right equipment, or buy them pre-smoked and tinker with any of the above options.
I just find that the smoked flavor adds a certain something especially if you are stuffing the potato with a complementary meat, such a smoked jalapeno sausage, pulled pork, or a super moist brisket.
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