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A close look at freshly-baked loaded potato wedges.

Oven-Baked Loaded Potato Wedges

Prep time: 10 minutes; Bake time: 40-45 minutes; Serving size: 4-6 people
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Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 large Russet potatoes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese - your preference on the kind
  • 1/4 cup bacon bits or 2-3 slices of cooked bacon crumbled into tiny pieces

Instructions
 

Step One: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

    Step Two: Wash and scrub the potatoes.

    • Using a cutting board and a sharp chef's knife cut the potatoes into wedges. Don't peel the potatoes, you want to leave the skin on. You should the potatoes equally, making them about 1/2 inch to 3/4 of an inch thick. They should look like french fries, between the size of a shoestring and steak fry. Making sure the fries are as similar in size will help them to bake evenly. You don't want some to be burnt or overcooked while others are not cooked at all.

    Step Three: Spread the potatoes in an even layer on the baking sheet.

    • Drizzle oil over the potatoes and toss to coat. You want to make sure the potatoes are evenly coated so that the outer layer will have a slight crisp to them. Now sprinkle the salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder over the potatoes evenly.

    Step Four: Place pan in the center of the oven. Set timer for 20 minutes.

    • While you wait, you can start prepping for the rest of your meal to go with your side dish. Once the timer goes off, use a spatula to flip and stir the potatoes. This will help the potatoes to cook more evenly and not stick to the foil.

    Step Five: Place the pan back in the oven and set the timer for another 20 minutes.

      Step Six: When the timer goes off, take the pan out of the oven.

      • Check the potatoes carefully. They should be a light golden brown color. If they're not, return them to the oven for another 5-10 minutes until you're satisfied with the color. Next check to make sure it's the right consistency. Find the biggest or fattest wedge and poke it with a fork. It should be completely soft all the way through. You can also do a taste test to make sure it's to your liking. If it's not, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes.

      Step Seven: If you're satisfied with the texture, sprinkle cheese evenly over the potatoes and top with the bacon bits.

        Step Eight: Return the pan to the oven for 4-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

        • Serve hot and right from the oven. For additional flavor, and to make it really loaded like you would get in a restaurant, try topping your wedges with some sour cream and some chives. That will really make the dish wow everyone.