Before practice
A loaded baked potato, the kind they order at a restaurant, ready on a weeknight clock.
The microwave bakes the potatoes while you crumble bacon and warm the chicken.
Split, fluff, and pile it all on, and it eats like a treat instead of a rushed dinner.
Ingredients
Use the list for chicken bacon ranch baked potatoes when you need serves 4 and a manageable about 20 minutes cook.
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
How to Make It
Cook chicken bacon ranch baked potatoes until the decision work is over, then leave only serving work for later.
- Scrub the potatoes, prick each several times, and microwave on a plate 10 to 12 minutes until tender, turning halfway.
- While they cook, warm the chicken in a skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of the ranch, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Split each potato lengthwise, fluff the insides with a fork, and add butter and a pinch of salt.
- Pile on the chicken, then top with cheddar and a handful of bacon.
- Drizzle with the remaining ranch and finish with green onion.
Timing Before Practice
Start about 25 minutes out; the microwave bakes the potatoes while you handle the toppings.
- T-minus 25: prick and microwave the potatoes
- T-minus 12: warm the chicken and crumble the bacon
- T-minus 4: split, load, and serve
Make It Ahead or Save Leftovers
Cook the bacon and chicken ahead so assembly is the only step at dinner.
- Crumble bacon a day ahead and keep it in the fridge
- Rewarm a leftover loaded potato in the microwave for 2 minutes
- Scoop leftovers into a tortilla for a next-day wrap
- Serve with: steamed broccoli, a side salad
Parent Tip
Microwave the potatoes on a paper towel so the bottoms do not get soggy.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Use sweet potatoes
Swap in sweet potatoes for a sweeter base under the same toppings.
Make it a bowl
Cube the potato and layer everything in a bowl for easy eating.
Add buffalo
Toss the chicken with a little buffalo sauce for older kids.
Go lighter
Use Greek yogurt ranch and turkey bacon to lighten the plate.
Keep it plain
Set out a butter-and-cheese-only potato for the simplest eater.
Plan The Next Step
Plan more loaded-potato nights
Use the planner to build a week around one cooked chicken.