Transform Basic Baked Potatoes Into A Gourmet Meal — Stuff Them Italian-Style

The best thing about a baked potato is the endless possibilities of loading it with various toppings to satisfy your craving or leaning into a certain cuisine. Caviar, pesto, caramelized onions, and melted Gruyere are just some of the toppings to level up your baked potato, compared to just butter, salt, and pepper. And some of those toppings can turn the side dish into an elevated meal, especially if you want to use ingredients common in Italian fare. 

Cured meats, sauces like pesto and marinara, vegetables like bell peppers, cheeses like Parmesan, and even olives are integral ingredients to Italian cuisine that can bulk a baked potato up. Pick a cured meat, sauce of choice, and a few other toppings and the baked potato transforms from a starter or side into a full meal. It's not only about pairing your favorite Italian ingredients based on your craving, but you can also use up what's in the back of the fridge or pantry to avoid food waste. Load the baked potatoes up how you prefer or set them out and make a potato bar for your family or friends to do it themselves — and give yourself even less prep work to save time.

We have a few suggestions on how to pair Italian-inspired ingredients to turn your basic spud into a gourmet-style meal. One idea with many variations is pizza-style baked potatoes, using ingredients like pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni, basil, oregano, or other go-to pizza toppings. Elevate your next baked potato further and make it lasagna-style by layering béchamel, classic ragù bolognese sauce, marinara, grated Parmesan, and shredded mozzarella. Another option is to make an antipasto-style baked potato by melting mozzarella on top and then adding diced cured meats like salami, sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives, or even sliced pepperoncini peppers for heat. We also like the sound of fresh burrata, arugula, crispy prosciutto, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil on a baked potato.

Before you preheat your oven and grab that leftover prosciutto and Parmesan from the back of your fridge, there are some tips to get it right first. You'll want a high heat to make sure the spud cooks through, so heat the oven to around 425 degrees Fahrenheit and expect to wait for up to an hour. Despite what you might think, you should skip foil because baking a potato wrapped in it will lead to soggy skin. Instead, lather it in a neutral oil and generous amount of salt for a flavorful and crispy skin that will pair deliciously with your go-to, Italian-inspired toppings.