Description
Chili Baked Potatoes are a cozy and satisfying main-course dish, featuring perfectly baked russet potatoes loaded with hearty chili, melty cheese, creamy sour cream, crisp red onion, and crunchy Fritos. This easy weeknight comfort meal can be customized with your favorite toppings and comes together with minimal effort—making it an ideal dinner for busy nights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Potatoes
- 4 russet baking potatoes
- 4 tablespoons softened butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Toppings
- 2 cups chili (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup shredded Colby-Jack or cheddar cheese
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup crushed Fritos (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking your potatoes.
- Prepare the Potatoes: Scrub the russet potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry. Use a fork to pierce each potato several times, which helps steam escape during baking and avoids bursting.
- Bake the Potatoes: Arrange the potatoes on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the skins are crisp and the insides are fork-tender.
- Heat the Chili: While the potatoes are baking, heat the chili in a saucepan over medium heat (or microwave) until it’s bubbling hot and ready to serve.
- Slice and Fluff: Once the potatoes are baked, remove them from the oven. Slice each potato lengthwise down the center and use a fork to fluff up the insides for a soft texture.
- Season and Butter: Add 1 tablespoon of softened butter to each potato, then season generously with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Add Chili: Spoon about 1/2 cup of hot chili over each prepared potato, making sure to distribute evenly.
- Add Toppings: Top each potato with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, diced red onion, and a generous handful of crushed Fritos, if desired.
- Serve: Serve the chili baked potatoes hot and enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use your favorite chili, whether homemade or store-bought—for vegetarian, opt for a meatless variety.
- Additional toppings like sliced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, or avocado make delicious add-ons.
- If you prefer crispy potato skins, lightly rub the potatoes with oil and a sprinkle of salt before baking.
- For a lighter option, swap sour cream for Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 loaded potato
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 50mg