45 mins
Party Night Baked Potatoes
Recipe by Graham
Party Night Baked Potatoes are perfect for when you're planning a fun get-together. Ideal, too, for barbeques to serve with the spicy meats that are grilled over the hot coals. Learn how to easily transform a basic baked spud with a rich melted cheese topping.
Parkin 
Pasta and Artichoke Salad Ingredients for Party Night Baked Potatoes
Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements
How to Cook Party Night Baked Potatoes
- Wash the potatoes and prick them all over with a fork. Rub with half the oil, some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray and bake in a preheated moderately hot oven (Mk 6 - 400ºF - 200ºC) for about 1 hr 15 mins, until the skins are crisp and they are completely tender when gently squeezed.
- Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the onion and roughly chop the bacon. Heat the remaining oil and half the butter in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the onion and gently cook for 15-20 minutes until softened and golden. Remove from the pan and set aside, turn up the heat and add the chopped bacon and fry until just crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain.
- When the potatoes are cooked, halve each one lengthways. Remember - they will be hot, so hold them with a towel or oven glove. Scoop out most of the potato into a bowl, leaving a potato skin shell with a thin layer of potato. In the bowl, crush the potato with the remaining butter and the double cream. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fold in the onion and bacon and mix well.
- Grate (shred) the cheeses and chop the parsley. Add three-quarters of the cheese and half the parsley to the bowl, combine well and spoon the potato-cheese mixture back into the potato shells. Top with the remaining cheese, place back on the baking tray and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until melting and golden. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve with a sharply dressed crisp salad.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
Try and use a mixture of two or three cheeses. You can use any good melting cheese for this (like Cheddar, Lancashire or Wensleydale) but if you get hold of some French cheeses like Reblochon, Raclette or Gruyère you'll feel you've been transported to the French Alps without ever having to go through Passport Control!
Reviews of Party Night Baked Potatoes
 January 07 2015Instead of baking, I cook the potatoes in the microwave for about 10-15 minutes (depends how many there are). You must prick them first of they will burst! Scoop out the flesh and follow the rest of the recipe then bake them (or grill them) until golden brown on top...beautiful. The skins are not hardened, but that really doesn't matter. The taste is the same and you save about 1 hour! Kennedy (2 reviews) |
December 27 2014 Was SO good the other night. Served it with some chicken breasts and peas - simple, but such comfy, warming food for winter time. Recommend you finely chop a few scallions into the potato mix. Going to make it again tonight!! :) thehendrygirl (1 review) |
 April 16 2014These are ourageously good. After much trial and error, I recommend a mix of Gruyere and cheddar at the ratio of 2:1 for good flavour. Also I believe these taste nicer with chives as opposed to parsley. This has now become a regular. Thank you so much mrbean (6 reviews) |
What To Eat Tonight
Stir-fried foods are a great way to get a meal together quickly and, with our range of recipes, you need never be stuck for ideas again.
Fish can be so easily spoiled by careless cooking, yet its delicate and light meat is so easy to get right if you have the right recipes.
These are our editorial choices that we have tried and really enjoyed. A real mixture of recipes but all of them certain to please.
Other Vegetables Recipes
Spicy Vegetable Tagine is a superb way to enjoy fresh vegetables. In fact, you can get your day's vegetable quota all in one go... the perfect dish!
The best of English street food in a sandwich. This bacon, squeak & cheese butty oozes with roast dinner leftovers, melting Cheddar and crisp bacon.
Simple Rajma Curry is so named because (a) it's simple to make !! and (b) Red Kidney Beans are known as Rajma in India.
