The Perfect Baked Potato Recipe
With a crispy skin coated in butter and sea salt, this flavorful and fluffy baked potato is the perfect dinner recipe for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike! Top with butter, salt & pepper, sour cream, shredded cheese, fresh chives, and bacon bits to make it a loaded potato!
Ingredients
for potato:
- 6-8 medium-to-large Russet potatoes scrubbed clean of any dirt
- 1 –2 teaspoons melted butter or olive oil
- coarse sea salt
optional toppings:
- butter
- salt & pepper
- sour cream
- shredded cheese
- fresh chives
- bacon bits
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil (or a Silpat), and if you happen to own a wire cooling rack, place it on top of the baking sheet.
- Using a large fork, poke the potato at least 10 times on all sides. Place the potato on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
- Brush with butter (or olive oil). Using a pastry brush, brush the outside of the potato with melted butter or olive oil until it is completely coated on all sides. Sprinkle the potato with a generous amount of coarse sea salt, and place the potato back on the baking sheet reverse-side-up, so that it can cook evenly on both sides.
- Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the potato is soft when squeezed with an oven mitt.
- When potatoes are done, using a small paring knife to slice halfway through the potato lengthwise, then give it a gentle squeeze to open.
- Serve immediately with your desired toppings!