Best Jacket Potatoes

Looking for the crispiest, fluffiest, most flavorful baked potatoes you’ve ever made at home? These really are the Best Baked Potatoes Ever — simple ingredients, one game-changing technique, and perfect results every single time. Here’s exactly how to get that restaurant-quality skin and cloud-like interior with this crispy skin baked potato recipe.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword baked jacket potatoes, best baked potatoes, best jacket potato, How do you bake a potato, jacket potatoes, seasoned baked potatoes

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Brine Time 4

Total Time 1 15

Servings

Calories 176kcal

Author Evelyn Osborn

Equipment

Ingredients

2 Baking Potatoes
¼ cup kosher salt
Olive oil
1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Butter
chives

Instructions

Start with two large russet potatoes — they’re the best choice for that classic fluffy interior and thick, crispy skin.
Give them a really good clean: using a potato scrubber, vegetable brush, or even a clean kitchen scrubber, rinse the potatoes thoroughly under cool running water. Scrub away any dirt, eyes, or rough spots until the skins feel completely clean and smooth. This step is key because you’ll be eating that delicious crispy skin later!
Once they’re spotless, place the potatoes in a large bowl or deep pot — something big enough to hold them comfortably and deep enough to completely submerge them in water in the next step.
Once the potatoes are in the bowl or pot, fill it with enough cold water to completely submerge them.
Sprinkle in ¼ cup of kosher salt (this is the key to that ultra-crispy, restaurant-worthy skin!).
Give everything a good stir so the salt dissolves evenly in the water, then let the potatoes brine for at least 4 hours. This simple salted soak draws moisture to the surface of the skin, helping it dry out and crisp up beautifully in the oven. The longer they brine (up to 8–12 hours if you have the time), the better the results—but even 4 hours makes a huge difference.
While the potatoes are brining, go ahead and prepare your seasoning mix. Measure out 1 teaspoon each of: garlic powder, seasoned salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Add all three spices to a gallon-size zip-top bag (or a large resealable plastic bag). Seal the bag tightly, then give it a good shake to blend the seasonings evenly. This simple mix will coat the potatoes later and create that irresistible, flavorful, crispy skin we’re all craving. Set the bag aside—you’ll use it soon!
After the potatoes have finished brining, remove them from the saltwater and place them on a clean kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels. Gently pat them completely dry — you want the skins as dry as possible so they can crisp up beautifully in the oven.
Important: Do not poke or pierce the potatoes with a fork or knife. We’re keeping all that steam and moisture locked inside to create the fluffiest, most tender interior possible.
Next, lightly rub the entire surface of each potato with olive oil — this helps the seasoning stick and encourages that golden, crispy skin.
Place the oiled potatoes into the gallon-size zip-top bag with your pre-mixed seasoning (garlic powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper). Seal the bag tightly, then gently shake and roll the bag around so the potatoes get an even, generous coating of the seasoning mix on all sides.
Once your potatoes are perfectly coated with the seasoned oil mixture, place them on a large baking sheet. For the best results, arrange them so they’re not touching — this allows the hot air to circulate evenly around each potato for maximum crispiness.
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C), then pop the baking sheet in the middle rack.Bake the potatoes for about 60 minutes, or until the skins are deeply golden, crispy, and crackly, and a fork slides easily into the center with no resistance.
Note: Depending on the size of your potatoes, it may take anywhere from 55 to 70 minutes — larger ones might need a little extra time.)
Slice them open, fluff the insides with a fork, and load them up with all your favorite toppings. We love classic combinations like a generous pat of butter, a big dollop of cool sour cream, and a generous sprinkle of fresh chopped chives. But feel free to get creative — shredded cheese, crispy bacon bits, green onions, chili, steamed broccoli, or even a drizzle of ranch — whatever sounds good to you!

Nutrition