In an ongoing quest for culinary knowledge, I spent weeks testing various toppings on fluffy, crispy-skinned, perfectly baked potatoes.
Baked potatoes are the ultimate blank canvas. Over one billion people worldwide eat potatoes, and farmers everywhere grow more than 300 million tons of them per year. It’s no mystery why so many people enjoy this versatile and delicious vegetable.
Below are 16 of my favorite baked potato toppings, listed in order from merely good to downright great. Save room for the best-tasting option at the end.
16. Lettuce
Next time you’re fixing some baked potatoes, give lettuce a try. Yes, really. Shredded iceberg or romaine adds a cool, crisp element that goes well with the hot, soft potato. It takes this rather heavy side and makes it less so with minimal effort.
I know that lettuce doesn’t pack a lot of flavor, which is exactly why I’d start with this topping. It goes well with sour cream or hot sauce and would be especially good with seasoned taco meat.
15. Olives
Chopped olives, green or black, sprinkled over potatoes sounds weird but trust me, it is delicious. The salty flavour of olives completely transforms the taste of the potato, it is a bit like having an Italian deli sandwich.
If you like a dirty martini you are bound to like olives. Controversial ingredient I know but try them, particularly with some feta.
14. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are common ingredients in cuisines around the world, including as a topping on baked potatoes. Try topping a baked potato with some diced cherry or ripe Roma tomatoes tossed with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Tomatoes are an acidic, slightly-sweet fruit that provides a welcome contrast to the starchy, heavy potato. Tomatoes and potatoes are also a match made in culinary heaven since they are both native to South America.
13. Veggies
Vegetables don’t have to be an afterthought when thinking of baked potato toppings. Sautéed collard greens or spinach with onions add an earthy and savory element. Add some shredded carrot and some diced bell pepper for a nice crunch. Roasted mushrooms and zucchini are other great options.
Basically, any veggies that are well-cooked and flavorful can be added and will make the potato a meal in itself. It’ll balance out any of the heavier toppings (like cheese, bacon), etc. A little cheese or butter will help to pull it all together.
12. Guacamole
Guacamole is another topping that is very easy to prepare. All you need are ripe avocados, lime juice, salt, onion, and cilantro.
Feel free to add your own touches to guacamole, maybe some pico de gallo or jalapeños, and use it as a topping. It provides a creamy, rich texture along with tangy lime juice and herby cilantro flavors that go wonderfully with taco meat, salsa, and cheese, turning your baked potato into a Tex-Mex delight.
11. Salsa
Salsa, the bright red sibling of guacamole, is also great with baked potatoes. The freshness and acidity of salsa provides a zesty contrast to a baked potato, and the combination of juicy tomatoes and peppers and onions balances out the heaviness of potatoes beautifully.
Traditional salsa includes Roma tomatoes, onion, lime juice, cilantro and jalapeño. Try adding some diced mango for a sweet and tangy version. Salsa is a super-easy topping with a fresh, light flavor.
10. Jalapeños
Jalapeño has already come up several times in this list for good reason. Jalapeños are spicy, though nowhere near as fiery as other chiles like habaneros, but they also have a bright, vegetal, almost bell-peppery flavor.
Dice some fresh jalapeño and add them to your potato. Or go with pickled jalapeño for a tangy spice, which is an amazing combination with cheese, as I’m sure you know if you’ve ever had a nacho.
9. Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing tastes creamy and has a similar cooling affect on potatoes as sour cream. Even though ranch is commonly thought of as just a salad dressing, its combination of buttermilk and herbs, along with garlic, really shines when spooned onto a plain baked potato.
As the dressing sinks into the fluffy, steaming potato, it will soak up all of the creamy, garlicky goodness. For a loaded ranch potato, top with bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese before pouring ranch dressing over the hot potato.
8. Taco Meat
Pile them high with taco-inspired toppings like seasoned ground beef with just the right amount of cumin, chili powder and kick and soak it all up with a baked potato. Feel like making them lighter?
We found that ground turkey is a close enough meat dupe. Add cheese, salsa, sour cream and prepare yourself for a deliciously messy bite. Trust us, these are worth the mess, especially on game day.
7. Broccoli
Broccoli might seem an unlikely companion to potato, but it’s actually one of the most commonly-used, especially smothered in cheese sauce. The earthy, nuttiness of broccoli (particularly when roasted) balances the richness of potato beautifully.
From a nutritional standpoint, broccoli balances potatoes’ carb-heft with a healthy serving of vitamins, fibre, and other nutrients for hardly any calories at all.
Try mixing broccoli florets with a little olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and salt, roasting until the edges are crispy, then piling on top of fluffy potatoes.
6. Chili
Chili on a potato? Yes, I love it. Instead of serving chili with rice, crackers, or cornbread, try using a hearty baked potato to support the load. It will make a meal on its own. Top it with some shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream and you’re good to go.
I love a nice, spicy, meaty , chili, loaded with bell peppers, jalapeños, and of course beans. Try it, you will love it.
5. Chives
Chives are members of the onion family along with shallots and green onions/scallions. Chives add a hint of oniony flavor with a touch of sweetness. Chives also add a nice pop of green to any dish.
To use chives as a garnish, finely chop the chives and sprinkle them on top of your dish. Chives work well on their own, or alongside sour cream and butter, since raw onions can be a tad strong for a baked potato.
4. Bacon
And if you’re a meat lover, bacon is hard to resist, and I’d definitely put it in the top tier.
The salty, smoky flavour and crunchy texture of crumbled bacon makes it a favourite topping. Try thick-cut, peppered or maple bacon to introduce extra smokey or sweet notes.
Bacon is best combined with something fluffy and soft to get a satisfying contrast of textures, like thick bacon-topped potato.
3. Cheese
On a baked potato, melted cheese adds richness and creaminess. Each bite will have some of that deliciously gooey cheese in it. My first choice would be a sharp cheddar but pepper jack will add a little heat and american will melt well over a baked potato.
Cheese is an excellent topping on pretty much any food. On a hot dog, on pizza, on potatoes, cheese always goes well. It’s a hot dog topping, the main pizza topping, and a perfect potato partner.
2. Sour Cream
Sour cream is the original topping for a baked potato. Its cool, tangy taste and creamy texture provides the perfect counterpoint to a fluffy and steaming baked potato. It also tames the saltiness of some of its favorite sidekicks like cheese and bacon. Add a bit of salt and pepper and sprinkle with chives for extra zing.
For a lighter take, substitute plain Greek yogurt which comes in a close second for sour cream.
1. Butter
Butter… Salted butter is best. A big glob melting into all the cracks of your hot, fresh-split baked potato is rich and salty perfection. Add a sprinkling of flaky salt and some black pepper and you’ve nailed it.
Of all of these toppings, I’d say butter is the only one I consider a necessity. And all of these toppings taste even better when they’re served on top of a nice, buttery potato.
Looking for a little more topping inspiration? Check out some of our picks for the best burger toppings here.
And be sure to check out all of our favorite ways to take advantage of a baked potato with 16 of our favorite toppings, as there are classics for when you’re looking for a sure-thing, as well as unexpected ideas for when you’re feeling more daring. Mix, match, combine, create the perfect potato.
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