Potato Love – 8 Different Baked Potatoes

If you haven’t heard, I love potatoes! I wanted to show you some of the ways I’ve made baked potatoes as a side, some as a dessert, and then others as a main course. It’s a great and easy way to make dinner for our “shared” family.

It seems like potatoes get a bad rep for being “unhealthy” or something that will make you gain weight. You can definitely make them unhealthy for sure, but potatoes do have health benefits. They are a vegetable you know. To make it so you don’t feel bad about indulging on potatoes, take a look at these facts:

• A potato is about 80% water, and 20% solids.
• An 8 oz. baked or boiled potato has only 100 calories.
• 1 potato with the skin has 18% of our daily value of potassium.
• 1 potato with the skin has 45% of our daily value of vitamin C, which is more than a tomato
• And 1 potato contains 6% of our daily value of iron.

Sweet potatoes many know are healthy for us and is less starchy since it’s a squash and not really a potato, and contains a whopping 377% of our daily value of vitamin A. Not to mention the 52% DV of vitamin C, and 50% DV of manganese. Who can argue with those facts?!

So next time you dive into a potato or sweet potato, remember it is a vegetable and it is healthy. Of course it depends on what you put on it, because there are a LOT of unhealthy things you can use… some of which are below. :  )

Basic Baked Potato

Who doesn’t love a good old fashion basic baked potato??

Baked Russet Potato ~ Butter or Earth Balance ~ Cheese or Vegan Cheese (I use Daiya) ~ Bacon or Coconut Bacon ~ Chives ~ Salt & Pepper ~  Sour Cream or Vegan Sour Cream (optional)

Basic Baked Sweet Potato

This is a “basic” sweet potato for me. This was how I always had it as a kid. It’s more of a dessert than anything else. 

Baked Sweet Potato ~ Butter / Earth Balance ~ Cinnamon ~ Brown Sugar

German Baked Potato

This is a meal in itself! I saute the brats with the sauerkraut, and then melt the cheese with the mixture before putting it on top of the baked potato

Baked Russet Potato ~ Chopped Cooked Bratwurst or Vegan Brats (I use Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage) ~ Sauerkraut ~ Daiya Mozarella Cheese Shreds (or any other white cheese will go well) ~ Black Pepper

Chili Cheese Baked Potato

Chili and potatoes just go together don’t you think?

Baked Russet Potato ~ Chili or Vegan Chili (if I don’t have left over homemade chili, I use Amy’s Veggie Chili) ~ Raw Red Onion ~ Cheese or Vegan Cheese (I use Daiya) ~ Jalapenos (optional) ~ Cilantro

Avocado Baked Potato

Here is a guacamole version for your baked potato! What vegan doesn’t love avocado?

Baked Russet Potato ~ Chopped Avocado ~ Onion ~ Cherry Tomatoes ~ Cilantro ~ Garlic Powder ~ Salt & Pepper ~ Lime Juice

Bruschetta Baked Potato

A fresh Italian take on a baked potato! I take the chopped onion, and bell pepper, and saute in the olive oil until soft and almost starting to brown. Add chopped tomatoes and garlic and simmer in red wine for flavor until onion is translucent and tomatoes start to break down. Fill the baked potato and top with fresh basil and salt and pepper.

Baked Russet Potato ~ Olive Oil ~ Red Wine ~ Onion ~ Cherry Tomatoes ~ Red Bell Pepper (optional) ~ Garlic Clove ~ Fresh Basil ~ Salt and Pepper

Chana Masala Baked Potato

Indian food always goes with potatoes! You can be lazy and buy the “Tasty Bite” Chana Masala and just heat it up in the microwave or on the stove and use that to fill your potato,  or you can use this recipe from “Cookie and Kate”. I’ve made this one before and really enjoyed it. 

Baked Russet Potato ~ Chana Masala ~ Cilantro

 Buffalo Baked Potato

Ok… this one really is indulgence. Tangy, spicy, creamy… and then the potato… For the buffalo chicken/chickpeas take cooked chicken pieces or chickpeas (1 chicken breast or 1 can chickpeas) and heat in a skillet with a small amount of butter and buffalo sauce for a few minutes. Top the baked potato with the chicken or chickpeas, and add extra buffalo sauce and ranch dressing.

Baked Russet Potato ~ Buffalo Chicken or Buffalo Chickpeas ~ More Buffalo Sauce ~ Ranch Dressing or Dairy-Free Ranch