Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Baked Potatoes
Big baked potatoes piled high with smoky pulled pork, cheese, and crunchy toppings, a full dinner in one hot spud.
Prep: 10 · Cook: 60 · Total: 70 · Serves: 4 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.8/5 (262 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
This is my favorite way to turn leftover pulled pork into a full meal. The potato is the plate, the pork is the headliner.
Story
Roll up to any honest little smoke shack and you will see somebody carrying a potato loaded like a brick. That is the vibe here, hot spud, smoked pork, cheese doing the melt, and a mess of crunchy stuff on top. The pickles keep it sharp, the BBQ keeps it sweet, and the whole thing eats like a victory lap. If you have extra pulled pork in the fridge, this is how you make it feel brand new.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups cooked pulled pork, warmed
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, plus more to drizzle
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/3 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup crispy fried onions or crushed kettle chips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F. Scrub potatoes, dry well, then rub with olive oil and salt. Prick each potato a few times with a fork.
- Bake potatoes directly on the oven rack for 50 to 60 minutes, until the skins are crisp and a knife slides in easily.
- Meanwhile, toss warmed pulled pork with BBQ sauce so it is glossy and saucy, not soupy.
- Split each potato lengthwise. Fluff the insides with a fork and smash the potato open a bit to make room for toppings.
- Pile on pulled pork, then sprinkle with cheddar. Return to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the cheese melts.
- Top with sour cream, green onions, pickles, and crispy onions. Drizzle with more BBQ sauce and serve hot.
Chef Tips
- For extra crisp skins, bake the potatoes directly on the rack, not on a sheet pan.
- If your pulled pork is salty, use a sweeter BBQ sauce to balance it.
- Swap cheddar for pepper jack if you want a little kick.
- Make it a party bar: set out toppings and let everyone build their own.
Cook's Notes
- **Pulled pork shortcut:** Store-bought refrigerated pulled pork works fine, just warm it gently before saucing.
- **Potato size:** If your potatoes are huge, plan on 1 per person. If they are medium, serve half potatoes with a side salad.
- **Topping swap:** No fried onions, use crushed kettle chips or toasted breadcrumbs.