Vegan Baked Potato Toppings

When I don’t have time to do a lot of cooking, or I’m just not in the mood to be in the kitchen long, one of my favorite go-to meals is Vegan Baked Potatoes with Toppings like beans, noodles, vegetables, and so much more!

Confession of a potato-lover. I have had an obsession with potatoes since birth. I love them any way you cook them–baked, roasted, boiled, grilled and most any cooking method possible.

Baked potatoes are one of my favorite foods because they’re…

• So versatile
• Wholesome
• Low-fat
• Satisfying
• Can be topped with SO many different things

Baking potatoes in the oven

My favorite is to bake them in the oven, wrapped in a layer of parchment paper, then foil, and bake for an hour or so. But, if time is limited, I wrap them in parchment paper and microwave for 7-8 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.

Once the potatoes are cooked, cut them open and fill them up! There really are SO MANY options. Take a look at the list of suggestions below.

Best way to cut open a baked potato

An old friend of mine used to work at a restaurant when she was a teenager, and she showed me years ago the best way to soften a potato when you are about to load it up. Simply cut baked potatoes open and press on sides like this.

Press a little firmer and it breaks up the potato flesh inside to create a softer bed for a toppings landing.

Now, it’s time to fill the potatoes up with any of your favorite toppings. Below, I list some of our favorite ways to load them up!

Other potato cooking methods:

There are more ways to cook a potato than in the oven, especially if you only need to make one or a few.

Microwave method

Using a microwave is the quickest cooking method, and I like to use a microwave potato bag to make it even more simple.

• Wash one or two medium-size potatoes and poke a few holes in them using a sharp knife.
• Place in a potato bag and set microwave on high to cook for approximately 4-minutes.
• Check for doneness and, if it needs more time, cook another 1-2 minutes.

Air fryer method

I often make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes because they come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

• Place clean medium-size potatoes in the air fryer. They can be coated with Homemade Mayo and seasoned with salt if desired.
• Set to 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Use a fork or knife to check for doneness. Add 5 minutes at a time if they need to cook for longer.

Boiling method

• Place potatoes in a large stockpot and fill with enough water to cover them well.
• Cook on stovetop on high heat for approximately 25-30 minutes.
• Check for doneness by poking one with a knife or fork.

List of healthy potato toppings

• Tofu Sour Cream
• salsa
• Vegan Cheese Sauce
• beans
• noodles
• roasted veggies: corn, broccoli, asparagus, carrots
• steamed broccoli with vegan cheese
• Chipotle Sauce
• leftover curry or stew
• baked beans
• chili
• sautéed mushrooms and onions
• gravy
• hummus
• nutritional yeast

My homemade Vegan Cheese Sauce is always a great topping option.

Other times we heat up a McDougall noodle cup (Pad Thai, Teriyaki, Spicy Szeuchuan, or Tortilla Soup) and dump it on top of our warm, soft, fluffy baked potatoes. McDougall cups are not gluten-free.

These low-fat, oil-free, healthy noodle cups can be ordered on amazon.com. Our local health food store carries them, and they are only about $2 per cup. Click picture to view on Amazon.

Taco potato toppings

Taco Potato is a great way to spice it up a bit. Delicious, healthy baked potatoes stuffed and seasoned with your favorite taco toppings like salsa, vegan sour cream, green chives, and Cheese Sauce! It’s time for a fiesta!

This can be a quick, easy, completely nutritious meal that fills you up, and provides loads of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You won’t be hungry for many, many hours after a Baked Potato Bonanza kind of night!

Nothing better than a loaded baked potato with my Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce, onion, cilantro, and spices!  YUM!

If you reeeeally want to kick it up a notch, check out my Best Vegan Potato Recipe: Fully Loaded.

Tofu Sour Cream

Nutrition in potatoes

All potatoes contain a variety of B vitamins, including thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, folate and B-6. These vitamins help keep you healthy by powering your metabolism and pulling energy out of the foods you eat.

You’ll also get roughly 10 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. Vitamin C boosts your immune system and blocks free radicals that try to damage cells. All potatoes have a small amount of vitamin A, which preserves your eye health and vision.—LiveStrong