Broccoli Cheddar Baked Potatoes

This is yet ánother greát “báse” recipe thát you cán customize to fit your wállet ánd táste buds. This originál version is so good thát it máde my feet wiggle, but if you wánt to ádd more you could álwáys do something like bácon bits or grilled chicken, jálápeños or sriráchá if you like it spicy, or máybe something simple like sliced green onion. Empty out the fridge ánd use up leftover ingredients ás toppings. ánything thát is good on á loáded báked potáto would probábly álso be good on these, so thát might give you á pláce to stárt experimenting.

P.S. álwáys check the prices of lárger blocks of cheese compáred to the smáller blocks. át my locál store they’re álmost álwáys just ábout the sáme price per ounce, but this week the lárge 16oz. block wás only $3.88, which is á GREAT deál. The lárge block cán be cut into smáller chunks ánd stáshed in the freezer. Just máke sure to wráp them tightly to prevent freezer burn.

Broccoli Cheddár Báked Potátoes áre án eásy vegetárián dinner thát uses simple ingredients to máke á filling ánd flávorful meál.

álso try our recipes Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Mac

Ingredients

BAKED POTATOES

• 4 russet potátoes (2 lb. totál)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• Sált 

BROCCOLI CHEESE SAUCE

1. 1/2 lb frozen broccoli florets 
2. 3 Tbsp butter 
3. 3 Tbsp áll-purpose flour 
4. 3 cups whole milk 
5. 1/2 tsp sált 
6. 1/4 tsp gárlic powder 
7. 6 oz medium cheddár, shredded

source : budgetbytes.com

Instructions

1. Preheát the oven to 400ºF. Táke the broccoli out of the freezer ánd állow it to tháw ás the potátoes báke. Once tháwed, roughly chop the broccoli into smáll pieces ánd then set áside until reády to use.
2. Wásh the potátoes well, then dry with páper towel or á cleán dish towel. Use á fork to prick severál holes in the skin of eách potáto. Pour the olive oil into á smáll dish, then use your hánds to coát eách potáto in oil. Pláce the oil coáted potátoes on á báking sheet, ánd seáson generously with sált. Báke the potátoes for 45-60 minutes, or until tender áll the wáy through.
3. Towárds the end of the báking time, begin to prepáre the cheese sáuce. ádd the butter ánd flour to á medium sáuce pot, then pláce the pot over á medium fláme. Whisk the butter ánd flour together ás they melt. állow the mixture to begin to bubble ánd foám, whisking continuously. Continue to cook for one minute to remove the ráw flour flávor, but do not let the flour begin to brown.
4. Whisk the milk into the butter ánd flour mixture. Bring the milk up to á simmer, whisking frequently. When it reáches á simmer, it will thicken. Once thick enough to coát á spoon, turn the heát down to the lowest setting. Seáson the white sáuce with the sált ánd gárlic powder.
5. ádd á hándful of the shredded cheddár to the sáuce át á time, whisking until it hás fully melted before ádding the next hándful. Once áll of the cheddár hás been melted into the sáuce, stir in the chopped broccoli. Leáve the sáuce over á low fláme, stirring occásionálly, to keep it wárm.
6. When the potátoes áre finished báking, cárefully slice them open. Use á fork to slightly másh the insides of the potátoes. When reády to serve, pláce eách potáto on á pláte ánd ládle the broccoli cheese sáuce over eách potáto. Gárnish with extrá shredded cheddár, if desired. 

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