Baked Potato Bar with 50+ Topping Ideas

Whether you’re hosting a party, potluck, tailgating, or just want a new dinner idea, this Baked Potato Bar is a versatile option that everyone can enjoy personalizing their potatoes to their taste. Below I give you over 50 topping ideas and combos. I’m also sharing many different ways to cook your potatoes; everything from the Instant Pot to a slow cooker.

Choosing Your Potatoes

When it comes to creating the perfect baked potato, choosing the right type of potato is essential. Russet potatoes are the gold standard for a classic baked potato due to their starchy texture and ability to hold up well during baking.

You may also find Russet potatoes called baking potatoes, old potatoes, or Idaho potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are another popular choice, adding a unique flavor profile and a touch of color to your potato bar. Feel free to mix and match, offering both russet and sweet potatoes!

Different Ways to Bake Your Potatoes

There are several ways to bake a russet potato so the inside is soft and creamy. Everything from the oven or air fryer to the instant pot or even the grill!

Below are all the instructions you need to cook your potatoes:

All these methods are assuming you have medium sized Russet potatoes, weighing around 8 oz. each.

Start each method by scrubbing your Russet potatoes and patting them dry. Poke holes all over the skin of the potato with a fork or knife to allow steam to escape during baking.

Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Rub the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt for a crispy, flavorful skin. Place your prepared potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork, or an instant read thermometer reads 208-211°F.

Instant Pot: You can pop over and read all about Instant Pot Baked Potatoes here. Or read the instructions here: Pour 1 cup water into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the metal trivet over the water. Layer your potatoes into the pot. Be careful not to go above the fill line marked in the lining of your inner pot. Set the pot to cook on pressure mode, high, for 15 minutes. Do a 15 minute natural release, then release any additional pressure with a quick release.

Roaster Oven: Heat roaster oven to 400°F. Stack your prepared Russet potatoes on top of each other, but don’t let them touch the sides of the roaster oven. Place cover on roaster oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.

Air Fryer: Coat with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Cook in a 400 degree basket style air fryer for 30 minutes. Turn them over and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Grill: The site 40 Aprons has a great article covering everything you need to know about grilling baked potatoes! This is a great option during the summer, especially 4th of July celebrations.

How To Tell When Potatoes Are Cooked Through

Gone are the days of guessing if your baked potatoes are cooked through! You can use an instant read thermometer to tell if they are cooked all the way through, just like you would with a large cut of meat.

Use an instant read thermometer, inserted into a cooked potato, to tell if it is cooked all the way through. It should read between 208-211°F and you will know your baked potatoes are done!

Taking Help From The Store

You do not have to do all the work yourself! Take help where you can get it when setting up a large buffet with lots of toppings.

Take shortcuts by:

• Buying pre-chopped frozen veggies, then sautéing.
• Find a local BBQ restaurant and get a few smoked meats.
• Pick a couple toppings from your grocery store deli.
• Buy bottled sauces and salsas.

Classic Toppings To Include

There are a few classic toppings you will want to include in setting up you baked potato bar:

• salted butter
• sour cream or sub in Greek yogurt
• chopped green onions or scallions
• shredded cheese
• kosher salt and pepper

Baked Potato Toppings Galore

Creating a big assortment of baked potato toppings for everyone to build their own creation makes a baked potato bar so much fun. The sky’s the limit when it comes to topping ideas, but here are some popular options to get you started:

Cheese: Offer a variety of cheeses, fresh shredded is always best because it melts nice and creamy! Some different ones to consider are sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, goat cheese, blue cheese crumbles, mozzarella, or pepper jack, for guests to sprinkle on their baked potatoes. You can also provide a nacho cheese sauce or queso!

Cottage Cheese: This may seem out of the ordinary but cottage cheese makes a great sub for sour cream! (it’s how I like to eat my baked potatoes)

Meat: Crumbled crispy bacon is a MUST. This quick no-bean chili would be amazing, or go with a classic chili, or turkey chili. Cajun Shrimp or pepperoni/salami would be an unexpected addition, but would be delicious! A taco theme is great too with taco meat, carnitas, barbacoa, or Instant Pot Taco Chicken. Or some of the classics like shredded chicken or pulled pork are perfect too.

Vegetables: Provide an array of fresh, sautéed, or roasted vegetables for guests to add to their baked potatoes. Some favorites include steamed or roasted broccoli, sauteed bell peppers, roasted asparagus, caramelized onions, mushrooms sauteed in butter with garlic, black olives, cole slaw, roasted corn, fresh diced tomatoes, avocado, and sauteed spinach.

Add some fresh herbs like cilantro, green onions/scallions, and fresh basil.

Beans: Black beans, pinto beans, refried beans or chili are all great options to serve as toppings for loaded baked potatoes. These can be especially appealing for vegetarian or vegan guests.

Sauces: BBQ sauce, marinara sauce, enchilada sauce, alfredo sauce, pesto, Cajun aioli, and even salsas, including pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa or guacamole would be great! Another sauce topping you might not think of (but it’s one of my favorites) is an Italian vinaigrette. It adds a nice acid note to your baked potatoes.

Additional toppings: The possibilities are endless, but some other ideas include jalapeños (pickled or fresh), ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, or even a dollop of your favorite hummus.

Tips for Cutting the Potatoes

Cutting baked potatoes might seem like a simple task, but following a few tips can ensure a perfect presentation for your potato bar.

Allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes after baking, as this will make them easier to handle.

Use a sharp knife to make a lengthwise cut or making a zig zag pattern down the center. Taking care not to cut all the way through. Instead, leave about a ¼-inch uncut section at the base to keep the potato intact.

If you are dealing with smaller potatoes, cut a cross in the potato to allow more surface area for toppings. See photo below:

To create the perfect pocket for your toppings, gently push the ends of the potato towards each other, causing the center to open up.

If you’re dealing with larger potatoes, you may need to use a fork to fluff up the inside, creating a more inviting and fluffy texture.

Equipment To Consider

Setting up a well-equipped baked potato bar can make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable for both you and your guests.

Something to keep the potatoes warm during dinner is a great idea. A roaster oven is an excellent addition, but if you don’t have a roaster oven, a standard oven set on low heat (200 degrees) can serve the same purpose.

Other essential equipment includes:

• bowls for toppings
• tongs, spoons, and ladles for each topping.
• oven mitts or pot holders for hot potatoes.
• knives to help cut potatoes open.
• plates, silverware, napkins.

How To Label your Toppings

You will want to label some of the toppings that are not as easily identified, like chili or tomatillo salsa.

Cut cardstock into rectangles and fold in half to make a tent. Write your topping names on the tents and place in front of the items.

Canva is a great place to create fancy tags for your baked potato bar, including themes like colors, seasons, holidays or team mascots!

What To Serve with the Potatoes

Potatoes are pretty filling so your can absolutely just have the potato bar and be good to go.

But if you want another side dish, soup is a great option! Just avoid soups that have a lot of potatoes! Here are some I would highly recommend: