Chili Stuffed Baked Potatoes

These Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes are basically piling comfort food on top of comfort food for a warm, delicious meal that will fill up everyone. They’re also a great way to use up leftover Chili or Chili Mac! Simply bake your potatoes and smother them with the warm, delicious chili and sour cream and cheese for pure food heaven.

Original post: October 2017 | Updated: April 2025

Why This Easy Potato Recipe Works

• Such a tasty way to use up chili leftovers and it’ll fill everyone up easily.
• Warm, delicious full meal and the ultimate comfort food in one.
• Choose the toppings you enjoy and load the potatoes up as you desire. I’ve included a bunch of options below.

These Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes are SO GOOD. If I could eat any meal every day of my life, this would be it. Steaming baked potatoes smothered in chili and cheese, it’s the ultimate comfort food

I highly recommend using leftover Homemade Chili to top the potatoes with, that way the flavors have really had time to develop. Repurposing food always feels (and tastes) good. If you don’t have leftovers or time to make a slow batch, check out my Easy 5-Ingredient Chili for a 30-minute version of homemade chili! 

What would be the meal that YOU could eat every single day of your life? Leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom!

Chili Stuffed Potato Ingredients

Potatoes – Russet potatoes work best. They are hearty and sizable enough to hold a good serving of chili and other ingredients.

Olive oil – Any type of oil can be used to coat the potatoes.

Seasoned salt – Use your favorite variety (such as Lawry’s) or just replace with coarse kosher salt.

Chili – Any already prepared chili is easiest! Here are some options: World’s Best Chili recipe or 5-Ingredient Chili or Chili Mac.

Cheese – Cheddar cheese or favorite melty variety.

Toppings – Sour cream, chives or green onions, extra cheese, bacon crumbles.

How To Make Chili Stuffed Baked Potatoes

This is a shorter form of the complete instructions found in the recipe at the bottom of the post. Refer to full instructions for specific temps and times.

Make the Baked Potatoes: 

Step 1

Preheat the oven and scrub the potatoes clean under cold water. Pat dry and use a fork to poke holes all around the potatoes.

Oil and salt the surface of the potatoes and place them on a baking sheet.

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a knife or fork can be easily inserted into the center of each.

Step 3

During the last 10-15 minutes of baking the potatoes, heat the chili in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering.

Assemble the potatoes: 

Step 1

Remove the potatoes from the oven, keeping them on the baking sheet. 

Cut down the centers lengthwise using a sharp knife. 

Step 2

Top each potato with warm chili and cheese. Return to the oven until cheese has melted.

Remove from the oven and top each potato with a couple dollops of sour cream and chives. 

Recipe Notes & Tips

• Use large potatoes. Smaller potatoes won’t be able to hold all the loaded chili on them.
• Some people wrap baking potatoes in foil for a softer skin, but I find this can often lead to mushier, steamed potato flesh rather than baked fluffy potato.
• Check the thickest part of the potato with a sharp knife to ensure they’re cooked all the way through.
• To make the perfect pocket potato: Use a sharp tip knife and place a small slit near each end of the potato, slice potatoes the length between each small cut, lightly push each end of the potato toward the center. Fluff the inside of the potato with fork tines if needed.
• Use ground beef chili, ground turkey or white chicken chili, or even vegan chili.

What to Serve With Baked Potatoes

• Toppings bar! Break out everybody’s favorite toppings so they can make their own super spud creations! I’ve included lots of options in the section just below. 
• Soups! Broccoli Cheese Soup, Easy Crab Soup, or Garlic Roasted Tomato Soup are all great options! Click over here for even more Homemade Soup Recipes you’ll love!
• Veggies! Lemon Roasted Veggies, Zucchini Fritters, Roasted Broccoli, or Sauteed Asparagus are all great veggie side options.

Potato Bar Toppings Ideas

A potato bar is a great idea for everything from a simple buffet-style family meal for movie night to any game day gathering. Here’s a few different ways to dress up your potato bar!

• Sour Cream
• Butter
• Shredded cheese or cheese sauce
• Bacon bits
• Chopped ham or sausage
• Mac and Cheese
• Scallions or chives
• Black Beans or chili beans, or any bean really.
• Corn Salsa
• Guacamole or diced avocado
• Chili
• Sloppy Joe mix or Taco meat
• Sauteed mushrooms

What To Do With Chili Leftovers

If you have chili leftovers (and it’s very possible that you will because I ALWAYS make a large batch), please check out these delicious recipes to help use them up:

• Best Ever Chili Dogs recipe
• Replace a portion of the sauce with it in lasagna to create a hearty chili lasagna.
• Add it to your morning eggs and make a breakfast burrito.
• Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Use as an enchilada, taco or burrito filling/topping.
• Add as a filling for stuffed peppers.
• Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Serve over corn chips to create a tasty batch of nachos.
• Spoon over French fries or tater tots and top with shredded cheese to create chili cheese fries.

What To Do With Leftover Potatoes

• Home fries or hash browns
• Potato pancakes
• Potato soup
• Sausage, cheese and potato skillet meal
• Cheesy chicken and potato casserole

How to Store Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes should cool completely before storing to avoid condensation forming during storage. For quick cooling, place leftover potatoes on a plate or sheet pan lined with a paper towel and place in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. 

Transfer potatoes to a large ziploc bag or airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can You Freeze Baked Potatoes?

Baked potatoes can be frozen, but be advised the texture does degrade a little after thawing. Potatoes should be completely cool before storing in the freezer. Wrap the cooled potatoes tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Place wrapped potatoes in a freezer safe bag and store for up to 3 months.

More Potato Recipes

• Mashed Potatoes Made With Red Potatoes
• Homemade Potato Chips
• Loaded Baked Potato Slices
• Instant Pot Potato Soup