Loaded Baked Potato (Kumpir) Recipe – Turkish Street Food Style

Prep Time: 15 minutes   |   Cook Time: 2 – 2.5 hours   |   Total Time: About 2.5 hours   |   Servings: 4

If you love hearty, comforting, and highly customizable meals, this Loaded Baked Potato, known as **Kumpir** in Turkish cuisine, is a must-try recipe. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and generously filled with butter, melted cheese, and your favorite toppings — it’s the ultimate comfort food that’s fun to eat and surprisingly easy to make at home.

Originally a popular street food from Turkey, Kumpir has gained worldwide popularity because of its versatility. You start with a perfectly baked large potato, split it open, and load it with creamy butter and cheese, then top it with a variety of savory fillings like fried sausages, mushrooms, beets, pickles, jalapeños, corn, and black olives. The combination of textures and flavors makes every bite exciting and satisfying.

This recipe is perfect for a fun family dinner, casual gatherings, or when you want something different from regular baked potatoes. It’s budget-friendly, filling, and allows everyone to customize their own potato with their favorite toppings. The long baking time ensures a crispy skin and an incredibly soft, fluffy interior that mixes beautifully with all the fillings.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 4 large potatoes
• Butter
• Salt and black pepper
• Mozzarella cheese
• For the toppings:
• ½ kg fried sausages (or sucuk)
• Fresh mushrooms, fried
• 1 boiled beetroot, chopped
• Pickles, chopped
• Jalapeños
• 1 can sweet corn
• Black olives, sliced
• Ketchup and mayonnaise for serving

Instructions

1. Wash the large potatoes well and pat them dry thoroughly.
2. Rub the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper.
3. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack. Bake at high temperature for 30 minutes, then flip them and lower the heat to medium. Continue baking for a total of 2 to 2.5 hours until the skin is crispy and the inside is very soft.
4. Once baked, remove from the oven and let them cool slightly. Cut each potato lengthwise and gently open it.
5. Add a spoon of butter and 2 spoons of mozzarella cheese inside the potato. Mash and mix the flesh with the butter and cheese until it becomes creamy and soft.
6. Add your favorite toppings generously according to taste: fried sausages, mushrooms, beetroot, pickles, jalapeños, corn, and black olives.
7. Finish with an extra layer of mozzarella cheese on top, then drizzle with ketchup and mayonnaise. Serve immediately while hot.

Tips for Success

• Use large, starchy potatoes for the best fluffy texture.
• Baking directly on the oven rack (not on a tray) gives a crispier skin.
• Don’t rush the baking time — the long bake is what makes the inside perfectly soft.
• Customize the toppings according to your taste. You can add garlic sauce, spicy sauce, or coleslaw.
• For a quicker version, microwave the potatoes first, then finish them in the oven for crispiness.

Enjoy this delicious Loaded Baked Potato (Kumpir) — a fun, filling, and highly customizable meal that everyone will love! 🥔🍟