Loaded Potato Bar Ideas: What To Serve With Baked Potatoes & Mashed Potatoes

I love hosting people at my house, but feeding everyone gets expensive. That’s why I’ve fallen in love with setting up a Loaded Potato Bar. Simply make a big batch of mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, set out your favorite toppings, and let your guests go to town. If you’re in need of Potato Bar Ideas, I’ve got you covered with TONS of options below!

Whether you’re hosting people for game day, trying to keep wedding expenses down, or just need some cheap and easy dinner ideas with baked potatoes, the humble spud is your friend. Not only are potatoes consistently among the cheapest vegetables around (I can get a 10-pound bag for under $5!), but they’re also super filling and incredibly versatile.

Jump to:

• What is a Potato Bar?
• How to Set Up a Potato Bar
• Potato Options
• Chili Recipes
• Vegetarian Toppings
• Meat-Based Fillings
• Sauces, Dips, & Gravies
• Extras
• What to Serve with Baked Potatoes
• What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
• Other Potato Bar Ideas
• How to Keep Your Topping Bar in Tip-Top Shape
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Cheap Ways to Feed a Crowd
• 💬 Reviews

What is a Potato Bar?

It’s just what it sounds like — a spud-focused buffet! You can either start with baked potatoes or mashed potatoes at the front end (or both if you’re feeling extra!), then offer a variety of delicious toppings and sides. Your guests get the opportunity to design their ideal plate, giving you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the party. 

Since potatoes are naturally gluten-free and vegan, and since potato allergies are extremely rare, setting up a potato bar is one of the most inclusive meals around. Label your toppings to let your guests know which items are which so they can build their perfect meal. Even if you have a group with lots of dietary restrictions, stuffed jacket potatoes or mashed potato cups give you lots of leeway.

How to Set Up a Potato Bar

First, consider what type of party you’re hosting. If it’s going to be something where people are standing around and you don’t have spaces for guests to sit down and eat, mashed potatoes are the way to go. If you want to offer a more filling option and have the space for communal dining, a loaded baked potato bar makes more sense. You can also use potato wedges, french fries, tater tots, potato hash, or sweet potatoes!

After that, consider your toppings. I like to put out an assortment of proteins (e.g. shredded chicken, crumbled tofu, chili, bacon bits, chopped ham), cheeses (e.g. shredded cheddar, parmesan, or pepperjack, crumbled feta or blue cheese), vegetables (e.g. roasted broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, and caramelized onions), sauces (e.g. queso, gravy, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, guacamole, and/or sour cream), and garnishes (e.g. green onions, cilantro, red pepper flakes, and pickled jalapeños).

Next, make sure the flow makes sense. I suggest having a slow cooker with whatever variety of potatoes you’re offering at the start of your buffet line, then line up all your toppings and sides. If you’re using baked potatoes, make sure butter and salt are at the front end before the remaining toppings. At the very end of the bar, offer cutlery and napkins. Easy peasy!

Read on below for dozens of my favorite protein, veggie, and sauce recipes, plus tons of themed ideas for your loaded potato bar!

Potato Options

You can't set up the ultimate potato bar without a stellar potato base. Here are some of my favorites:

Chili Recipes

Chili is another deliciously inexpensive meal that's ideal for serving over jacket potatoes. Here are some of my all-time favorite recipes:

Vegetarian Toppings

Want to make your potato bar vegetarian or vegan-friendly? These hearty veggie fillings are sure to please even serious meat-eaters:

Meat-Based Fillings

Regardless if you go for mashed or baked potatoes as your base, these meaty fillings are sure to please. They're a bit pricier than vegetarian or bean-based options, but well worth it if you have the wiggle room in your budget:

Sauces, Dips, & Gravies

These tasty toppers are more than just an afterthought. They're your ticket to the ULTIMATE loaded potato bar:

Extras

As Charles R. Swindoll wrote, "The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail." These zhuzhed-up potato bar extras are sure to earn you an A+ in hosting:

What to Serve with Baked Potatoes

Friends, there are hundreds of delicious combinations to make your baked potatoes truly sing as a meal. The dozens of recipes above should be proof! If you're wondering what goes good with baked potatoes, here are just a few ideas of what to mix and match:

• Classic Loaded Baked Potato: Sour cream or Greek yogurt, chives or green onions, shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice), & crispy bacon bits.
• Vegan Power Potato: Vegan cheese shreds, black beans, corn kernels, avocado slices, & salsa or pico de gallo.
• Broccoli Cheese Potato: Steamed broccoli florets, creamy cheese sauce or shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, & red pepper flakes.
• BBQ Chicken Potato: Shredded BBQ chicken, coleslaw, grated cheddar cheese, & thinly sliced green onions.
• Mediterranean Veggie Delight: Feta cheese crumbles, sliced Kalamata olives, chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, seasoned chickpeas, tzatziki sauce or hummus.
• Chili Cheese Potato: Hearty chili, shredded cheese, sour cream or greek yogurt, chopped green onions.
• Ottolenghi’s Tonnato Potato: Canned tuna turned into a creamy sauce & soft-boiled eggs.
• Pizza Potato: Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices or Italian sausage, marinara sauce, basil leaves, & parmesan. For a vegetarian version, use these pizza-inspired beans!
• Veggie Lover’s Potato: Sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions, spinach or kale, grated parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.
• Taco Stuffed Potato: Seasoned ground beef or turkey, cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes and lettuce, sour cream or Greek yogurt, & warmed salsa,
• Salmon “Bagel” Potato: Smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, dill, EBBB seasoning, & pickled red onion.
• Pita Wrap Potato: Grilled chicken strips or gyro meat, feta cheese, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, Greek dressing or tzatziki.
• Pulled Pork Potato: Pulled pork (or chicken or jackfruit), BBQ sauce, coleslaw, & fried onion strings
• Curry Potato: Chickpea or chicken curry, cilantro, yogurt, aachar, & chutney.
• California “Sandwich” Potato: Avocado, seasoned chickpeas or hummus, sprouts, roasted peppers & zucchini
• Bacon & Egg Breakfast Potato: Scrambled or fried eggs, cooked and crumbled bacon, shredded cheese or American cheese slices, & chopped chives for garnish.
• Poutine Potatoes: Cheese curds & gravy.

What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes

Wondering what goes with good mashed potatoes? The answer is just about anything! Much like with baked potatoes, the sky is the limit when it comes to your toppings. You’re welcome to poach any of the baked potato ideas above, or try these favorites:

• Bangers & Mash: Sliced sausages, melted cabbage, steamed green peas, & gravy.
• Veggie Mash: Steamed broccoli florets, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, & roasted red peppers
• Hearty Meat Lover's Mash: Diced ham, shredded brisket or pulled pork, gravy, & crispy onions
• Full English Breakfast Mash: Grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, baked beans, bacon bits, sausage crumbles, & eggs
• Cheese Lovers' Mash: Creamy cheese sauce or alfredo, blue cheese crumbles, feta cheese crumbles, grated parmesan
• Spicy Tex-Mex Mash: Taco meat or charro beans, queso cheese sauce, jalapeños (fresh or pickled), salsa or pico de gallo, & sliced avocado or guacamole.
• Healthy & Wholesome Mash: Steamed spinach or kale, sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives (black or green), & Greek yogurt or hummus.
• Italian Mash: Cheesy white bean tomato bake, extra marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, &fresh basil.
• KFC Bowls: Baked chicken tenders or popcorn chicken, warmed canned corn, shredded cheddar, fried onion strings, & BBQ sauce.
• Deconstructed Shepherds Pie: Seasoned ground meat (or lentils or mushrooms), gravy, steamed peas & carrots.
• Fancy Pants Mash: Truffle oil, crispy pancetta, spreadable goat cheese, steamed peas, & chive blossoms.
• All-American: Chili (beef, turkey, or vegetarian), shredded American or Colby cheese, diced onions, steamed corn kernels.

Other Potato Bar Ideas

Don’t feel like you have to be limited to a loaded baked potato bar. There are tons of potato styles, and as far as I’m concerned, they’re all primed for the potato bar treatment. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Tater Tot/Totcho Bar - Use crispy tater tots as a corn-free alternative to tortilla chips, then set up all your favorite nacho toppings. 
• Disco Fry/Poutine Bar - Start with baked or air-fried french fries or potato wedges topped with shredded cheese or cheese curds, then serve with gravy and your favorite fixins.
• Hash Bar - If you’re hosting a breakfast party, start with home fries and lay out your breakfast-y favorites. (Psst — here’s a great tip for serving eggs to a group.)
• Sweet Potato Bar - Who says Russet potatoes are the only baked potato option? Start with bright sweet potatoes for a fun twist. 
• Potato Pancake or Latke Bar - If you’re hosting a swanky shindig, potato pancakes are a great option. Offer up thinned-out Greek yogurt or sour cream (as cheap crème fraîche), smoked salmon (or caviar if you’re fancy), grated eggs, and finely chopped chives. Don’t forget the bubbly!
• Low-Carb Potato Bar - Got some keto eaters in the mix? Start with my garlic roasted cauliflower mash instead of regular mashed potatoes!

How to Keep Your Topping Bar in Tip-Top Shape

• Corral smaller ingredients like herbs, green onions, capers, etc. using a muffin tin. To keep things nice and fresh, set the muffin tin inside a 9x13 partially filled with ice water.
• Set perishable items on a bed of ice water. Water is the operative word here! It helps to conduct the cool temps better than ice alone. Nesting bowls are great here.
• Make sure to set up your bar near an outlet! That way you can use your slow cooker, crockpot, and/or Instant Pot to keep hot toppings nice and warm. 
• No electricity? No problem. Heat a brick (the kind you build houses with) in an oven at 450 until hot. Carefully remove it, wrap it in foil, then place in an insulated cooler on top of a dish towel or trivet. The ambient heat will keep your goodies warm for hours!

Expert Tips

• Pre-split your baked potatoes and wrap them in foil to make life easier on your guests.
• Shred your own cheese. Not only is it cheaper than buying the pre-grated kind, it also melts way better. 
• Make sure there’s a “flow” to your potato buffet. It should go plates → potatoes → meat/protein → veggies → toppings → cutlery and napkins.
• Make it a potluck to defray costs. Have a sign-up sheet for your guests to claim particular ingredients. Alternatively, turn it into a fun chili cook-off! You can provide all the fixins, and let your guests bring their best game. Bonus points if you have a fun prize for the winner!
• Label your toppings. It’s sometimes difficult to discern what different toppings are, and you don’t want someone to load up their potato with an item they hate. This is especially important if you are serving a mixed group of meat-eaters and vegetarians. 
• Be inclusive. For example, if you’re using chili as your theme, have one meaty chili and one vegan chili option. Set out cheese and Greek yogurt for the dairy-lovers, but don’t forget plant-based toppings like green onions, cilantro, and hot sauce for the veggie-heads.
• Beware cross-contamination. If you have any food allergies in the group, it’s best to avoid whatever the ingredient is altogether so you don’t have any mishaps. If you’re making it a potluck, make sure to alert the food-bringing participants of anything they need to omit. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cheap Ways to Feed a Crowd

Alright, spuddies — you've got all the tools you need to put together The Ultimate Potato Bar. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying a casual get-together, this spud-tacular spread offers something for everyone. So go ahead, give it a try, and watch as your guests delight in creating their perfect potato masterpiece — and don't forget to let me know how it goes in the comments below!

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