The Layout for the Baked Potato Bar
Next, consider the layout of your baked potato bar. Do you have room for one long line with an easy flow back to seating? Or will you need to create stations? Then, assemble all your serving dishes you need for the toppings and the serving spoons, forks and knives. While you are doing that, go ahead and set up your paper plate/bowl, plastic flatware, napkin station.
Stations of the Bar
No, this is not a slight to the Catholic Stations of the Cross! (I grew up Catholic. Now, I am what they call a “C and E’r” at best, which means I show up for mass only at Christmas and Easter, at best). But go ahead, take your moment. There was a Pastor, a Priest and a Rabbi that walked into a bar. Here, let me share this one with you!
Okay, back to our Baked Potato Stations of the Bar
I can always appreciate a good laugh! And a baked potato bar is fun! People love to dress their own potato, kids especially. I rarely see a plate not smothered with goodies atop the beautiful potato. So, let’s keep everyone smiling and move on to the toppings.
Depending on what toppings you have selected, you can divide them into groups creating stations. This is useful and does decrease the amount of toppings people will pile on their potato. Still, most will visit each station but instead of piling a little bit of all toppings on each potato, they may decide to do two different potatoes.
Baked Potato Bar Station and Topping Ideas:
1 Station: Butter – Chives – Sour Cream
(Hint: Substitute bacon with finely diced Spam, render in a fry pan or on a baking sheet same as bacon, until desired crispiness)
Don’t forget the BACON – A Must for the first station…and any of the optional stations!
2 Station: Cubed Ham – Broccoli – Queso cheese
(Hint: Take full advantage of grocery store cheats. If you don’t have to chop, cook, or create it — it saves you time!)
3 Station: Ground Beef (Taco flavored) or Chili – Guacamole – Salsa – Olives – Cheese Sauce – Shredded cheese – Jalapenos
(Hint: Make big batches of chili and put some in the freezer. Pull it out and use it for that homemade touch rather than canned! For a fresher shredded cheese, you can buy a brick and use your food processor to shred it in a zip. Obviously, when you can use fresh from your garden ingredients for salsa and guacamole, it is WELL worth the time to do it. But you can easily have these on hand regularly in your pantry — packaged guacamole in the freezer. The biggest advantage is then all you need are the potatoes and you have last minute baked potato bar in a flash.)
More Topping Ideas Still…
4 Station: Shredded Chicken – Buffalo Sauce – Crumbled Blue Cheese – Barbecue Sauce – Pineapple tidbits – Sliced Pepperoncini
Check out Amazon Prime Pantry! Especially for bulk items that are heavy, such as several cans of chili. Amazon Prime is a great way to find savings year round for just about any
(Hint: Use a store bought pre-shredded rotisserie chicken. They get all the meat possible off those carcasses. Also, you can add more kick to your buffalo sauce added extra cayenne pepper and a bit more silky with a couple extra pats of butter).
5 Station: Thinly shaved beef or Ground Beef (Stroganoff style gravy) – Diced & Sauteed Sweet Peppers (red, green, yellow) – Sauteed Mushrooms – Sauteed Onions – Queso Blanco – Shredded Provolone
(Hint: The steak holds its own with simple salt and pepper seasoning. However, I like to add a splash or two of soy sauce and worcestershire to flavor the onions, mushroom, onion and peppers.)
6 Station: Shredded Pork – Fresh sliced red and green cabbage slaw – Mango salsa – Lime cilantro crema
(Hint: The Instant Pot is a massive time saver kitchen tool for kicking out a tender and moist shredded pork. Again, I keep it fairly simple with the seasonings. However, I do bring on the cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powder. A couple cups of chicken broth and then let the Instant Pot do the hard work. All I have to do is shred the meat when done.) #Instantpot
Clearly, all options are on the table when it comes to topping your potato! Try one of these stations, mix and match toppings from these suggestions to create your own favorites. Expand from here and create stations for Italian, Asian, Cheeseburger or Pizza. Think lamb and curry. This is whatever you wish!
Delegating Toppings for the Baked Potato Bar
To make it easier on yourself, consider telling your guests you will provide the potato, butter, salt and pepper. You will also have a station of sour cream, bacon and chives. Then let your guests build a themed station with 3-5 toppings. Have them prepare enough of their toppings to cover at least one third of the potatoes you have calculated.
Also, to minimize cost, you might decide to eliminate your station, grouping it all as the basic potato and eliminate the bacon. Those who want bacon can provide it. My guess is more than one station will include bacon. For your own sanity, have bacon prepared but set aside. If nobody brings bacon, you have it. If people do and you don’t need it, then you have it for other recipes, including leftover potato recipes.
To Serve or Not to Serve a Dessert
You can do whatever it is that makes you happy! If the occasion for the baked potato bar is a birthday, then we will make sure a dessert of some sort is available. Otherwise, the potatoes tend to bring on a food coma and rarely is anybody interested in having a dessert.
Adult beverages on the other hand continue to flow after dinner. At least on game days. It slows down but it still is ongoing. My monthly wine delivery makes this an easy offering. With fine wines from the stunning Napa and Sonoma Valley, California vineyards, my guests are generally eager to try a new one with me.
BAKED POTATO BAR SERIES and RELATED ARTICLES
Next Article: Event Planning for a Group #1
Baking Potatoes for Baked Potato Bar Series 2
Baked Potato Leftovers Meals from Baked Potato Bar Series #4
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