When you need an affordable, filling meal that everyone can customize, baked potatoes are a great choice! Potatoes are inexpensive, hearty, and easy to turn into a delicious meal with just a few simple toppings. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family on a busy summer day or need a quick dinner during the school week, loaded potatoes can help stretch your grocery budget without sacrificing flavor.
Here are three easy and frugal loaded potato ideas to try!
1. Taco Loaded Potatoes
Give taco night a budget-friendly twist! Bake your potatoes until tender, then split them open and fluff the inside with a fork. Top with seasoned taco meat, shredded cheese, and your favorite taco toppings. Try lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, or a few crushed tortilla chips for extra crunch.
To save even more money, stretch the taco meat by mixing in black beans or pinto beans. It’s an easy way to make a little meat go further while adding extra protein and flavor.
2. Broccoli and Cheese Potatoes
For a simple meatless meal, top your baked potato with steamed broccoli and plenty of melted cheese. You can use shredded cheddar, a cheese sauce, or whatever cheese you already have in the refrigerator.
This is also a great way to use leftover broccoli or vegetables from another meal. Add a little butter, salt, and pepper to the potato before piling on the toppings for an easy comfort-food dinner that costs very little.
3. BBQ Chicken Loaded Potatoes
Leftover chicken is perfect for this delicious loaded potato! Simply shred cooked chicken and mix it with your favorite BBQ sauce. Spoon it over a hot baked potato and top with shredded cheese. You can even add a little coleslaw on top for extra flavor and crunch.
Using leftover rotisserie chicken or chicken from a previous meal makes this dinner even faster for busy nights.
Make It Even Easier in the Crockpot
Did you know you can cook baked potatoes in the crockpot? Simply wash your potatoes, poke a few holes in them, wrap them in foil if desired, and cook until tender. This is especially helpful on hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on the oven, or during busy school days when dinner needs to be ready with very little effort.
With a few affordable toppings, a simple baked potato can become a filling, delicious, and frugal meal the whole family will enjoy!
