11 In-Your-Face Baked Potatoes

Pictured: Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe from CHOW

You love baked potatoes, right? Of course you do. From nutritious, veggie-packed plate fillers to gut-busting cheese and butter bombs, the baked potato can be dressed up, accessorized, and bedazzled to suit any style. Think of it as the gustatory equivalent of the little black dress: It goes with everything.

And if you gussy it up with the right panache and flair, the baked potato can be a statement piece that also doubles as a main. That’s right: These puppies ain’t no side attraction. Here are 11 hot spuds that will grab your attention front and center.

1. Baked Sweet Potato

CHOW

Steamy, sweet, and sultry: pats of butter melt at the sight of these spuds. This is seduction food 101. Get our Baked Sweet Potato recipe.

2. Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Baked Potatoes

Joy the Baker

Never mind the butter, cheese, and sour cream. The heaps of broccoli qualify this classic recipe as a well-balanced meal, right? Get the recipe here.

3. Cheesy Southwestern Twice-Baked Potatoes

The Kitchn

With a jumble of beef, peppers, beans, corn, spices, and cheese, it’s a Tex-Mex party in a potato. Bring your favorite hot sauce. Get the recipe here.

4. Twice-Baked Potatoes with Kale

Smitten Kitchen

Set aside those salads and juices for just a moment and give kale the treatment it deserves. When packed into these fluffy potato boats, it’s a hale and happy partner with dairy and starch. Get the recipe here.

5. Lazy Baked Potato Poutine

Cook the Story

Poutine has been on a march toward food-world domination lately, leaving no potato unscathed. Baked potatoes, of course, didn’t stand a chance in resisting its gravy-soaked grip. Get the recipe here.

6. Chana Masala Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Oh My Veggies

This filling variation on chana masala nestles saucy chickpeas right into the cracks and crevices of baked sweet potatoes, for a contrast between spice and sugar. Get the recipe here.

7. Buffalo Hasselback Potatoes

Gimme Some Oven

Fan it out: by thinly slicing these potatoes, no bite will be without cheesy, heat-kissed Buffalo flavor. Get the recipe here.

8. Chipotle, Black Bean, and Roasted Garlic Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Host the Toast

These bean- and cheese-filled sweet potatoes get feisty with a dash of chipotle and lime. Get the recipe here.

9. Easy Potato Skins

CHOW

Loaded potato skins are a complete meal in their own right, no? They’ve got meaty bacon, a dollop of dairy, and even some green stuff, too! In any event, they’re munchable enough that you’ll have your fill before you know it. Get our Easy Potato Skins recipe.

10. Barbecue Chicken and Coleslaw Potato Skins

CHOW

Potato skins are also an ideal vehicle for whatever flavor combinations you can dream up. These barbecue chicken and coleslaw boats combine three shindig favorites into one delectable package. Get our Barbecue Chicken and Coleslaw Potato Skins recipe.

11. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

CHOW

A bonus recipe for anyone who lives by the trinity of potatoes, bacon, and cheese. Until someone comes out with the baked potato Big Gulp, this loaded soup will let you chow down on the legendary flavor trio by the mouthful. Get our Loaded Baked Potato Soup recipe.

Miki Kawasaki is a New York City–based food writer and graduate of Boston University's program in Gastronomy. Few things excite her more than a well-crafted sandwich or expertly spiced curry. If you ever run into her at a dinner party, make sure to hit her up for a few pieces of oddball culinary trivia.