13 Healthy Baked Potato Recipes That Go Way Beyond Cheese and Bacon

Loaded baked potatoes are one of those rare dinners that are just as exciting as an adult as they were when you were a kid. There’s something about the DIY aspect of loading a freshly baked potato with whatever toppings you like in exactly the amount you want. Plus, baked potato recipes tend to be both inexpensive and pretty easy to whip up—who can argue with that?

But loading a potato with bacon, cheese and a whole tub of sour cream isn’t the healthiest dinner choice (despite it being absolutely delicious). There’s nothing wrong with doing it on occasion, but if you want the loaded baked potato bar to become a regular household dinner, it’s a good idea to get a little more creative and branch out into tasty toppings that are a little more nutritious. And health aside, why box yourself in? A guacamole-topped potato sounds just as decadent as a sour cream-topped one—so why not infuse your baked potato recipe repertoire with a little culinary creativity?

The following 13 healthy baked potato recipes range from slight riffs on the classic to new ideas that’ll inspire you to shake things up. Whether you’re a die-hard bacon lover or a vegan, you’ll be craving a loaded tater by the end of the list.

Image: Le Creme de la Crumb.

Southwest Loaded Potato Skins

OK, so these Southwest loaded potato skins do have cheese and bacon, but they’re also loaded with veggies and fiber-rich beans.

Image: Le Creme de la Crumb.

Guacamole Potato Skins

Packed with heart-healthy fats, these guacamole potato skins are a great side dish but can also be a full meal if you add some protein in the form of an egg or a little shredded chicken.

Image: The Roasted Root.

Roasted Garlic, Broccoli and Hummus Potatoes

Instead of cheese or sour cream, these garlic, broccoli and hummus potatoes get their creaminess from puréed chickpeas.

Image: Framed Cooks.

Baked Potato with Ricotta and Tomato

This ricotta-tomato potato makes a great light meal. If you want to add some protein, swap some or all of the ricotta for small-curd cottage cheese.

Image: Meal Hack.

Samosa-Inspired Baked Potatoes

All samosa filling is potato-based, so it makes sense that you can skip the fried-dough casing and just make these samosa-filled baked potatoes instead.

Image: Veganosity.

Vegan Cheddar-Broccoli Stuffed Potatoes

Make the vegan cheddar sauce with sweet potatoes, cashews, nutritional yeast and a few more ingredients. Then, serve it on a potato with broccoli and anything else you want.

Image: 101 Cookbooks.

Sea Salt Baked Potatoes with Arugula

These sea salt baked potatoes taste great with some simply dressed arugula, but don’t be shy about adding other salad fillings like feta, salmon or some chickpeas.

Image: Namely Marly.

Loaded Vegan Baked Potatoes

Instead of beefy chili, opt for the meat-free bean version. You’ll also need vegan cheese and sour cream (or yogurt!) for these vegan baked potatoes.

Image: The Cozy Apron.

Baked Potato with Grilled Veggies and Sausage

You don’t need to wait until summer to stuff a baked potato with grilled veggies and sausage—fire up a stovetop grill pan or just roast your vegetables while the potatoes bake instead.

Image: Real Food by Dad.

Breakfast Potato Boats

The beauty of these breakfast potato boats is that you can really use whatever breakfast fillings you have on hand. Omit the bacon if you’re not into it or add something like salsa and black beans to give the boats a new spin.

Image: Yellow Bliss Road.

Taco-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Thanks to plenty of fiber and protein, these taco-stuffed potatoes make a satisfying dinner. Add veggies in the tater or on the side to round it out.

Image: Neighbor Food Blog.

Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Trade tortillas for a baked potato in these chicken enchilada-stuffed baked potatoes.

Image: Recipe Runner.

Healthy Loaded Baked Potatoes

What makes these healthy loaded baked potatoes a great dinner choice? Cottage cheese, vegetables and just enough bacon to make everybody happy.

 

Originally posted on SheKnows.