Cheesy Hasselback Potato Recipe

Name: Cheesy Hasselback Potato Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 6 medium russet potatoes (about 2 ½ lbs. total); 6 Tbsp. butter* melted; 2 Tbsp. oil (olive or avocado); 2 cloves garlic (crushed); 1 tsp. salt; ½ tsp. black pepper; 6 oz. sliced cheddar cheese (cut into 1-inch squares); 4 oz. cooked bacon (crumbled*); Sour cream (optional); Green onions (optional)

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This fully loaded and Cheesy Hasselback Potato recipe will impress your guests with the fanned slices, crispy edges, and how secretly easy it is to make. Russet potatoes are coated in a buttery sauce, stuffed with cheese, and baked in the oven for a fancy Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday side dish. Plus, learn my trick for how to cut them properly so they do not accidentally get chopped in half!

Baked loaded hasselback potatoes are filled with cheese and topped with bacon.

Stop right there.

There is no need to be intimidated by these beautiful, fan-shaped potatoes stuffed with cheese and loaded with bacon bits.

Because below you will find the best and easiest way to cut hasselback potatoes before roasting them in the oven until perfectly crispy.

And yes, they might take just a little time, but the process is actually super easy – and even a little fun!

Especially after I teach you a little trick to cut them into thin slices WITHOUT chopping them in half.

You’ll become such a hasselback potato makin’ pro that you’ll be serving this up on just any ordinary weeknight BECAUSE. YOU. CAN.

(And once you master this savory version, you might want to check out these Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.)

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this loaded hasselback potatoes recipe include:

Potatoes. Russet potatoes are the best, but new or Yukon gold potatoes work as well with a slightly reduced cook time. Choose small to medium potatoes as close to the same size as possible. Also, try to find potatoes that have an even thickness throughout so one end doesn’t cook faster than the other.
Butter and Oil. A combination of melted butter and either avocado or olive oil make up the bulk of the sauce in this recipe. You can use all of one or the other, but a mix of the two delivers a great flavor.
Garlic. Minced garlic adds a nice bite to the potatoes and roasts up beautifully in the oven. You can substitute with garlic powder if that’s what you have on hand.
Cheese. Cheddar cheese slices are cut into 1-inch pieces so they can be stuffed in-between the potato pieces. Look for thin-sliced cheese and not the thick-cut kind for the best results. You can also swap it out for Swiss, Colby Jack, or even a vegan or dairy-free cheese.
Bacon. Cooked bacon that has been crumbled is added on top after the potatoes are baked in the oven. You can also make Air Fryer Bacon or save a little time with bacon bits.

How to Make Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes

The basic steps for making hasselback potatoes are simple to follow:

Clean and Dry

Clean the potatoes well under running water with a vegetable brush and dry thoroughly. This is super important since you’ll be baking the entire potato with the skin on.

The russet potatoes are cleaned and prepared before being sliced.

How to Slice Hasselback Potatoes

The most crucial step, and also the hardest, is slicing the potatoes without accidentally cutting them in half. Prevent this hasselback catastrophe using the chopsticks trick!

Place two chopsticks on a cutting board and set one potato in between them lengthwise. Choose chopsticks with squared ends so they do not roll around.

You can also use wooden spoons if that is all you have, but find the smallest handles you can.

Make cuts approximately ⅛-¼-inch apart starting at least ½-inch from the end of the potato. Stop cutting when your knife hits the chopsticks so the bottom is still connected.

Square chopsticks are used to help cut the potato. — Find square chopsticks.

The potato is sliced with a knife for this easy side dish. — Find square chopsticks.

Brush with Butter

Whisk together oil, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

Brush half of the mixture over all of the potatoes. Spread apart the slices using your fingers or a fork to ensure the sauce gets in-between the pieces.

Melted butter and oil are combined in a bowl with garlic, salt, and pepper. — Whisk the sauce.

Bake and Stuff

Cook in a 425°F oven for 30 minutes on a large baking sheet.

Brush the remaining sauce over the potatoes and return to the oven for an additional 20-25 minutes.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes so they are safe to touch.

Place a 1-inch square of cheese in-between each potato slice. Repeat with all slices and in all potatoes.

Return the potatoes to the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and insides are tender.

Potatoes are brushed with more butter after baking in the oven. — Brush with butter again.

Sliced cheddar cheese is added to the sliced, oven-baked potatoes. — Brush with butter again.

Load Up and Serve

Top the baked potatoes with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of chopped green onions, and a bit of crumbled bacon. Any of your favorite toppings will work, really.

Stuffed hasselback potatoes are erved on a plate for a gluten-free side dish.

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: Hasselback potatoes are best when served immediately so they keep their crisp texture. However, you can pre-bake the bacon in advance.
To Store: Place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Keep the bacon, sour cream, and onions separate if they are not already added.
To Freeze: Tightly seal un-topped hasselback potatoes in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Warm on a baking sheet or in a baking dish in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.

FAQs

What is the hasselback technique?

Hasselback potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes that are still held together at the base to create a fan-like presentation. They are often filled with savory ingredients such as butter, garlic, and even cheese. Or sometimes they are accompanied by sweeter toppings, like brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.

Where did hasselback potatoes come from?

These impressive looking potatoes got their claim to fame back in 1953. What started as a very popular dish in a Swedish restaurant called Hasselbacken, soon became known and loved across the world.

Do you cut the potato before baking for hasselback potatoes?

Yes, the potatoes should be cut before baking in order to hold their form best.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Go small. For individual servings it is best to use smaller potatoes.
Choose even. To ensure proper baking, find similarly sized potatoes and make sure they have a uniform thickness throughout.
Make it foolproof. Place chopsticks along the potato to prevent cutting it all the way through.
Prep ahead. Bake the bacon in advance to save time on the day of serving.
Think skinny. Select a thinly-sliced cheese for the best results.

Loaded hasselback potatoes are topped with sour cream and bacon for a Thanksgiving side.

What to Serve with Hasselback Potatoes

Much like a loaded baked potato, there are so many main dishes that go well with this side. A few of the best include:

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Easy stuffed potato side dish is served with bacon, cheese, sour cream.

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