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Italian Potato – Budget-Friendly Meal

An Italian potato is one of those go-to dishes for when you’re hungry but don’t have much time. Not only is it delicious but it also has a ton of flavor that satisfies even the pickiest of eaters.

Potato filled with Italian sauce, mushrooms, pepperonis, and cheese
Italian Potato

Add this tomato cucumber salad, and you still have a family dinner under $10.

We keep quite a few pantry basics on hand, so there is always something good to eat around here. And I’ve concocted some things that are surprisingly tasty—things we’ve added to our must-have-again list.

For example, this delicious potato dish is one of them. Another is the mac-n-cheese with ham casserole.

Basic Italian Potato

There are quite a few ways to prepare an Italian potato. Basically, it’s a potato with Italian sauce and seasonings. Then you can add whatever you like.

Italian potato with pepperoni, Italian sauce, mushrooms, and cheese

Even though I like made-from-scratch sauces, I usually purchase Italian sauce in the largest jar, just to have it on hand.

That way, I have something for dishes such as the Italian potato or even my scrumptious mini stuffed peppers.

Loaded for Flavor

My husband and I both like to add as much as we can to our potatoes. Of course, they overflow onto the plate, but that’s just fine with us.

There is a lot you can add to your potato. For example, you can top it with pepperoni, ham, or any other meat you have in the fridge. I also like mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, and sometimes, even broccoli.

If we’re having it for dinner, we add more than we would for a snack. Any kind of salad is good with it.

How to Make the Italian Potato

Start out with any type of potato you like to bake. This is a large baking potato.

Uncooked spud on a paper towel

Pierce the potato to allow the steam to escape as it cooks. Otherwise, you might have to clean chunks of potato off the microwave walls.

Potato pierced by a fork

Put it in the microwave and cook it on high until it’s done. The time can vary based on the size of the potato and strength of the microwave.

If you choose to bake this in the oven, I recommend cooking it on 350 for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the size of the potato.

After you let the potato rest for a few minutes, cut it open.

Cut the spud lengthwise with a knife.

Then scoop some of the white part into a bowl.

Scoop out some of the inside.

Mix the inside of the potato with the sauce. Put it back into the potato.

Italian sauce mixed into the inside of the potato

Add whatever filling you like, such as pepperoni slices and mushrooms. If you like the potato extra moist, add another spoonful of Italian sauce.

You now have an Italian potato, but you’re not done yet.

Potato with Italian sauce, mushrooms, and pepperoni

Cover the potato to keep it from splattering and microwave it again. You can use a paper towel, but I prefer using one of these microwave plate covers.

Remove from the microwave and sprinkle some cheese on top.

Italian potato covered in shredded cheese

Microwave it until the cheese melts.

Italian potato covered with melted cheese

Now you have a delicious Italian potato that goes well with a side salad. Or simply eat it all by itself.

Brown Bag It

If your office has a kitchen with a microwave, you can take an Italian potato to work with you. It’s easy if you do most of it at home and bring the cheese in a separate container.

All you have to do when it’s time for lunch is heat the potato, add the cheese, and then melt the cheese. Don’t be surprised if your lunch buddies copy you in the future.

Italian potato loaded with sauce, mushrooms, pepperoni, and cheese

More Quick and Easy Meals

There are obviously times when you want something hearty, but you can’t stop for long. That’s when you’ll need something like this Italian potato, a basic chicken salad sandwich, or a quick and easy egg muffin cup.

More Delicious Recipes

For more delicious recipes, check out Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage.

Yield: 1 potato

Italian Potato

Cutting into the loaded Italian potato

Easy to make, this Italian potato is both tasty and filling.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 potato (I used a medium baking potato.)
  • 3-4 tablespoons Italian sauce
  • 1/4 cup of cheese
  • 1/4 cup of filling (filling options: 5 pepperoni slices, diced ham, mushrooms diced peppers, chopped onions, olives, or broccoli)

Instructions

  1. Scrub the potato and puncture it about a half dozen times with a fork.
  2. Place the potato on a microwave-safe dish and microwave it on high for approximately 5 minutes. This can vary, based on the size of the potato and microwave strength.
  3. Remove the potato from the microwave and let it rest for approximately 5 minutes.
  4. Cut a slit lengthwise across the top of the potato and scoop out some of the insides. 
  5. Put the inside (white part) in a bowl. Add 2-3 tablespoons of Italian sauce and mash it up using a fork.
  6. Put the mashed potato and Italian sauce back inside the potato. Add the fillings you have chosen.
  7. Cover and place in the microwave for 45 seconds.
  8. Remove the potato and sprinkle with cheese. Put it back in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds, until the cheese melts.
  9. Now it is ready to eat. Enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to add more than the listed amount of ingredients if you prefer.

Serve this delicious potato with a side salad, and you have a complete meal.

Nutrition Information

Yield

1

Serving Size

1 loaded potato

Amount Per Serving Calories 543Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 85mgSodium 1359mgCarbohydrates 61gFiber 8gSugar 15gProtein 32g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

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Miz Helen

Tuesday 24th of September 2019

Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,450. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us soon! Miz Helen

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