Potatoes are an amazing staple food for anyone who needs to save money. They’re cheap, delicious, and so versatile. A baked potato bar is great to feed a crowd of people on a budget.
The base of a baked potato bar of course is baked potatoes. You can make them in an instant pot, slow cooker, air fryer, microwave, or of course an oven.
Related: Potato Meal Plan
Protein
Be sure to include a couple of options of meat for your guests.
- Bacon
- Ham
- Taco meat
- Steak
- Pulled pork
- Shredded chicken
- Grilled chicken
- Buffalo chicken
- Beef brisket
- Smoked salmon
- Tuna
- Eggs
- Turkey
- Shrimp
- Crab meat
- Sloppy joe meat
- Kielbasa
- Breakfast sausage
- Bologna
- Pepperoni
- Pastrami
- Philly cheese steak
- Pot roast
- Liver
- Grape jelly meatballs
- Carne asada
- Black beans
- Pinto beans
- Pork & beans
- Baked beans
Dairy
Topping a baked potato with cheese is delicious and your guests will love it.
- Cream cheese
- Gouda
- Mozzarella
- Brie
- Goat cheese
- Cheese wiz
- Nacho cheese
- Queso
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Blue cheese
- Feta
- Cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
Related: Sweet Potato Casserole
Vegetables
Vegetables will make your bar into a more complete meal.
- Chives
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Onions
- Shallots
- Green onions/ scallions
- Garlic
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Tomatoes
- Jalapeños
- Avocados
- Leeks
- Parsnips
- Corn
- Peas
- Coleslaw
- Shredded carrot
- Pineapple
Sauces
Sauces will add a great topping to spread on top of your potatoes.
- Ranch
- Marinara sauce
- Alfredo
- Ketchup
- Hummus
- Buffalo sauce
- Gravy
- Hot sauce
- Sriracha
- Guacamole
- Sauerkraut
- Horseradish
- Relish
- BBQ sauce
- A1
- Queso
- Mayo
- Au jus
- Salsa
Seasonings
Different seasonings can add new flavors to any other item, you can choose to omit providing seasonings to prevent spills and keep your baked potato bar on the cheaper side as seasonings can be quite pricey.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Curry powder
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Paprika
- Dill
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ranch seasoning
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Other
These are things that don’t fit into the other categories but will add some serious flavor or texture to your baked potatoes. Some ideas are definitely more adventurous than others.
- Cheetos
- Funyuns
- Fritos
- Fried cinnamon apples
- Applesauce
- Cranberries
- Mac & cheese
- Chili
- Chickpeas
- Stuffing/dressing
- Olives
- Sunflower seeds
Tips
- You may want to include a salad to go with your baked potatoes
- Use slow cookers to keep foods warm
- Provide a dessert to finish off the meal
- Plan where each item should go in a logical order
