Loaded Baked Potato Bites Food

LOADED POTATO BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Place potatoes in a saucepan; cover with 2 inches of cold water. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until a knife pierces potatoes easily, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain; let cool 10 minutes.
• Drizzle each of 2 rimmed baking sheets with 2 tablespoons oil. Arrange potatoes on sheets, tossing to coat; lightly crush each with the heel of your hand or back of a spatula to about 1/2 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper; roast, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp, 30 to 35 minutes. Use immediately.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine sour cream, cheese, scallions, and bacon; season with salt and pepper. Top each potato with 1 to 2 teaspoons sour-cream mixture. Garnish with more scallions.

CHEESY LOADED POTATO BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, oil and salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet and roast until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the milk, garlic and onion powders and cayenne in a small slow cooker or pot. Add the cheese and heat on high if using a slow cooker (or over low heat if using a pot) until the cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Whisk to completely blend the mixture. Stir in three-quarters of the bacon and chives (reserve the remaining bacon and chives for garnish). Stir in the roasted potatoes and gently mix until completely coated with the cheese sauce. Top with the remaining bacon and chives. Serve hot with cocktail picks.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Pierce each potato with a paring knife and roast in the oven until tender, about 1 hour, depending on the size of your potatoes.
• Meanwhile, dice up the bacon. Heat a saute pan over medium heat and cook the bacon until crispy, about 7 minutes. Drain the bacon fat and reserve.
• Return the saute pan to the heat and add the reserved bacon fat. Cook the broccoli and red pepper for 2 minutes. Add the water and allow to cook until water has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• When potatoes are done cooking, remove and allow to cool until you can handle them. Cut them in half and with a spoon, scoop out the insides, leaving about 1/4 inch border on the skins.
• Place the scooped-out potato in a bowl and mix with half the bacon, broccoli, red pepper, sour cream, salt, pepper, and half the Cheddar. Divide this filling back among the potato skins.
• Return the stuffed potatoes to the 400-degree oven and bake until heated through, or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and top with remaining bacon, Cheddar, and green onions.

LOADED MASHED POTATO BITES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine potatoes, shredded cheese, bacon and green onions. Divide into eighteen 1/4-cup portions. Shape each portion around a cheese cube to cover completely, forming a ball. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes., In a shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Place egg in a separate shallow bowl. Dip potato balls in egg, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere., In an electric skillet or a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry potato balls, a few at a time, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.