Indulge in a mouthwatering baked potato with a crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and tantalizing toppings. This cozy, effortless recipe will make you crave seconds!
Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and place a wire cooling rack on top of the baking sheet.
2
Using a dinner fork or a small paring knife, poke the potato at least 10 times on all sides. Place the potato on the prepared wire rack.
3
Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
4
Using a pastry brush, brush the outside of the potato with olive oil until it is completely coated on all sides.
5
Sprinkle the potato with Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, and place it back on the wire rack reverse-side-up, so that it can cook evenly on both sides.
6
Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Using an oven mitt, carefully squeeze the potato to check for doneness.
7
If the insides are soft and give under pressure, remove the potato from the oven. Otherwise, continue cooking in 5-minute increments until the potato is soft.
8
Using a small paring knife, slice halfway through the potato lengthwise. Then give it a gentle squeeze to open.
9
Top the potato with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped chives, and crumbled bacon. Serve immediately on a plate.