Loaded Baked Potatoes with Homemade Cheese Sauce

The baked potatoes get sliced in half, baked in the oven and then loaded with bacon, broccoli and homemade cheese sauce. A super, easy family favorite dish on your table in 30 minutes.

Loaded baked potatoes are a very popular in our house. I mean, who doesn’t love bacon, broccoli, and cheese stuffed in a baked potato? It’s a  glorious combination we just can’t get enough of. It’s also an easy dinner option to feed the family or to feed a crowd. I’d like to know if there’s one person out there who hasn’t had a baked potato bar at a family reunion, girls’ camp, scout camp, church function, etc. You get the point! Cheesy baked potatoes just make people happy!

What Do I Need to Make Baked Potatoes?

One of the best things about baked potatoes is that they only take 4 ingredients to make, and they are failproof! Here is what you will need for the potatoes:

• Russet Potatoes – wash them well, and slice them half
• Olive Oil – rub it all over the potatoes, this helps them get so nice and crispy
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor

Ingredients for Homemade Cheese Sauce

You won’t believe how simple it is to make cheese sauce at home. The ingredients for the base sauce are most likely items you already have at home and the things you add to it are totally up to you…though broccoli and bacon are a dream team with this cheese sauce! Here is what you will need:

• Whole Milk – it has to be whole milk, don’t use any other type of milk
• Butter – unsalted, adds flavor and richness
• Flour – just simple all-purpose works great
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – sharp cheddar adds that bold cheesy flavor that shines in this sauce
• Hot Sauce – adds a just a hint of heat and flavor you don’t want to miss
• Cayenne Pepper – feel free to add more if you want the cheese to be more spicy
• Broccoli – steamed and chopped into very small pieces
• Bacon – cooked until crispy and chopped into small bits
• Salt and Pepper – add flavor

The measurements for each ingredient and instructions for making this recipe can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Potatoes Are Best For Baking?

Starchy potatoes such as Russet and sweet potatoes are best for baking or roasting. They work the best for the dry heat of an oven and end up with a fluffy c

This fully loaded Chicken Potato Broccoli Casserole starts with fluffy mashed potatoes that are mixed with tender bites of broccoli and chicken, then generously sprinkled with bacon and cheese. The result is an absolutely irresistible dinner.

Chicken Potato Casserole

Yes! I just called a “casserole” irresistible and I stand by that. If you love mashed potatoes, chicken, and broccoli, not to mention bacon and cheese, you need to try this recipe! (although, technically, my boys don’t love broccoli and they LOVE this casserole, so….)

This recipe is one of many great ones in my friend Trish‘s cookbook, 100 Creative Ways To Use Rotisserie Chicken. In case you can’t tell from the title, she has literally written the book on ways to cook with rotisserie chicken.

Her book really should be sold next to the rotisserie chicken display in every grocery store. I love how many great ideas she’s packed into this cookbook.

Chicken Potato Broccoli Casserole

This recipe will work well with rotisserie chicken, leftover roasted chicken, or with any cooked leftover chicken.

Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or a Mexican blend shredded cheese will also work with this recipe. I typically use a Mexican blend shredded cheese because I almost always have it on hand and it works great.

This recipe can be mad

Roasted Broccoli and Asparagus are two of my favorite vegetables to roast and fortunately, they pair deliciously with the varieties of summer squash that are at their best this time of year.

Roasted Broccoli and Asparagus

Roasting is one of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables. It is so simple and the vegetables always turn out well with very little effort on my part. Tonight’s dinner was especially fun because the squash was from our very own garden!

This is the first year we have had a garden and has been exciting to watch our plants grow each day. The squash in this recipe was our first harvest and it was delicious. I am looking forward to an awesome summer of fresh homegrown vegetables.

Edited to add: I published this post 11 years ago just a few days after I started sharing recipes on this website. We aren’t gardening this year, so I’m really looking forward to enjoying the Farmer’s Market near our new home in Ohio!

Roasted Summer Vegetables

• asparagus spears
• Italian zucchini
• yellow or crookneck squash
• broccoli florets
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Roasted Asparagus, Broccoli and Summer Squash

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the vegetables on a large baking sheet and drizzle generously with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss with your hands to coat all the pieces.
2. Spread the vegetables across the pan in a single layer. Roast for 20-25 minutes until crisp-tender. Serve warm.