Oven baked potatoes are a classic dish that can be enjoyed as a simple side or loaded up with tasty toppings to be the main course! They take essentially no prep time as the oven does all of the hard work for you! The outside is perfectly brown and crispy with a salted crust while the inside is light, fluffy, and super delicious!
Easy Oven Baked Potatoes Recipe
Baked potatoes are a fantastic and versatile dish when cooked correctly. A perfectly cooked baked potato will have skin that is salted and crispy while the inside is light, soft, and fluffy!
Not only is this recipe completely fool-proof, but I guarantee that it will yield perfectly baked potatoes every single time! You'll never need another baked potato recipe again!
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Before you get started, make sure you take a look at my post on the best potatoes for baked potatoes and my guide on how to bake potatoes!
🥘 Oven Baked Potatoes Ingredients
One of the reasons I love baked potatoes is that you don't need many ingredients! Of course, feel free to add all of your favorite toppings to your grocery list!
- Potatoes - 4 medium-sized russet potatoes. These are my favorite potatoes for baking because their high starch content yields extra fluffy potatoes!
- Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (or your preferred neutral oil).
- Sea Salt - ½ tablespoon of sea salt.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Oven Baked Potatoes
The hardest part of this recipe is just cleaning your potatoes (or maybe waiting for them to be done!) It's really that easy! Go ahead and grab a baking sheet, some parchment paper, tongs to handle your hot potatoes, and a knife to slice them open!
This recipe is for 4 baked potatoes, but all you have to do is buy more potatoes to make more!
- Preheat. Preheat your oven to 425°F (215°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare potatoes. Wash 4 potatoes and pat them completely dry. Then, use a fork to poke holes all over the potatoes.
- Oil and season. Place the potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet, coat them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and then generously sprinkle ½ tablespoon of sea salt over them (or more, if needed).
- Bake. Bake in the oven at 425°F (215°C) for 45-60 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork.
- Serve. Remove the potatoes from the oven, slice them open, fluff the inside, and then serve immediately with your desired toppings.
Serve these potatoes as a side dish, or load them up with some delicious toppings to have them as an entree! Take a look at this list of what to serve with baked potatoes for some great ideas and recipes! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Notes
- Russet potatoes are my favorite for baking as they are high in starch content and make some super fluffy baked potatoes! For more options, check out my post on the best potatoes for baked potatoes!
- Don't skimp on the salt! You want to essentially coat the exterior of the potatoes in salt to create a flavorful and crispy crust!
- Depending on how large your potatoes are, your cooking time may vary slightly. Smaller potatoes will cook quicker, while larger potatoes may take the full 60 minutes.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep any leftover baked potatoes stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure you let them cool completely before storing them.
Reheating Baked Potatoes
Reheat your baked potato in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
No! If you wrap your potatoes in foil before baking, you'll miss out on the wonderfully crispy skin that we all know and love! Instead, coat your potatoes in oil and salt and pop them in the oven uncovered!
Baked potatoes should be baked in the oven at a high temperature. I recommend opting for a temperature that is higher than 400°F (205°C). I've found that baking your potatoes at 425°F (215°C) yields the best results!
In an oven that is 425°F (215°C), it will take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. This varies based on how large your potatoes are. Simply poke them with a fork and see if it easily pierces the potato to check for doneness.
🥔 Best Potato Recipes
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad - Enjoy all of the flavors of a baked potato, but in potato salad form!
- Twice Baked Potatoes - Crispy and packed with flavor, these twice-baked potatoes are the ultimate party appetizer!
- Yellow Mashed Potatoes - A classic recipe for some creamy and savory mashed potatoes!
- Onion Soup Mix Roasted Potatoes - A packet of onion soup mix is the secret ingredient in this recipe!
- Duck Fat Fried Potatoes - Duck fat adds a rich and decadent flavor to these simple potatoes!
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes - Tender potatoes are coated with a sauce made from sour cream, bacon, and cheese!
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📖 Recipe Card
Oven Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (215°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash your potatoes and pat them completely dry. Then, use a fork to poke holes all over the potatoes.
- Place the potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet, brush them with olive oil, and then generously sprinkle sea salt over them.
- Bake in the oven at 425°F (215°C) for 45-60 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven, slice them open, fluff the inside, and then serve immediately with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Russet potatoes are my favorite for baking as they are high in starch content and make some super fluffy baked potatoes! For more options, check out my post on the best potatoes for baked potatoes!
- Don't skimp on the salt! You want to essentially coat the exterior of the potatoes in salt to create a flavorful and crispy crust!
- Depending on how large your potatoes are, your cooking time may vary slightly. Smaller potatoes will cook quicker, while larger potatoes may take the full 60 minutes.
- To store: Keep any leftover baked potatoes stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure you let them cool completely before storing them.
- To reheat: Reheat your baked potato in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
Christine says
The baked potatoes were delicious. I have been using foil for years.
Thank you!