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Loaded potato bowls are everywhere right now, and for good reason. They’re cozy, filling and endlessly customizable. Start with crispy roasted or creamy mashed potatoes, pile on a protein, and finish with all your favorite toppings.
They also make some of the best meal prep lunches. Cook a big batch of potatoes and protein on Sunday, store the toppings separately, and you’ve got hearty work-from-home lunches ready all week.
I rounded up 12 of the best loaded potato bowl recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers, from copycat KFC bowls to steak and chimichurri bowls. Every one has at least 25 grams of protein per serving.
Loaded Potato Bowls for Easy Lunches and Dinners
This article is all about loaded potato bowls.
1. High Protein Copycat KFC Bowls
Protein per serving: 64g
This lightened-up take on the famous fast food bowl packs a massive 64 grams of protein. Crispy baked chicken sits on mashed potatoes blended with cauliflower, with corn, peas, cheddar and homemade gravy on top. Space the chicken out on the baking sheet so it gets extra crispy, and store everything separately for easy lunches.
2. Steak Bowls with Crispy Potatoes and Chimichurri
Protein per serving: 55g
Crispy roasted Yukon Gold potatoes and seared sirloin bites are loaded up with arugula, corn salsa, guacamole, pickled onions, cotija and a bright chimichurri. Get your skillet really hot before adding the steak, and cook it in batches so it browns instead of steams.
3. Copycat KFC Famous Bowl
Protein per serving: 54g
The classic comfort bowl, made at home. Creamy mashed potatoes are layered with sweet corn, crispy popcorn chicken, brown gravy and melted cheddar. Reheat the chicken in the air fryer so it stays crunchy.
4. Spiced Chicken Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 53g
A meal prep favorite with smoky spiced roasted potatoes, buffalo-style chicken, fresh pico de gallo and a tangy hot sauce yogurt. Keep the pico in its own container so it doesn’t get watery, and roast the potatoes in the air fryer if you’re short on oven space.
5. Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 44g
Everything you love about a loaded baked potato in bowl form. Creamy mashed potatoes are topped with homemade chicken nuggets, crispy bacon, cheddar, corn, green onions, sour cream and a drizzle of ranch. Add the sour cream and ranch after reheating so they stay cool and creamy.
6. Steak and Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 41g
A fresh twist on meat and potatoes. Grilled flank steak, roasted baby potatoes, sweet caramelized onions and cherry tomatoes sit on a bed of greens with creamy ranch. The steak, onions and potatoes can all be made a day ahead.
7. Buffalo Chicken Mashed Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 35g
Spicy shredded buffalo chicken on creamy mashed potatoes, topped with a crunchy celery slaw and blue cheese crumbles. It’s all the flavor of buffalo wings in a filling bowl. Store the slaw separately so it stays crisp.
8. Chipotle Chicken and Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 33g
Slow cooker chipotle chicken is piled on smashed potatoes with romaine, white cheddar, pickles, pico de gallo and a smoky chipotle yogurt sauce. Pre-cooked microwave potatoes make this one come together fast, and it holds up great for leftovers.
9. Cheeseburger Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 32g
All the flavors of a cheeseburger without the bun. Crispy roasted potato wedges and seasoned ground beef are topped with cheddar, tomato, pickles and shredded lettuce, then finished with a homemade special sauce. Roast the potatoes right on the pan without parchment for the crispiest edges.
10. High Protein Potato Taco Bowls
Protein per serving: 30g
Crispy roasted potatoes replace the tortilla in these taco bowls. They’re topped with seasoned ground beef and a creamy cottage cheese taco sauce, plus guacamole, pico de gallo and pickled onions. Spread the potatoes in a single layer so they roast instead of steam.
11. Greek Ground Beef and Potato Bowls
Protein per serving: 29g
A fresh Mediterranean-style bowl with roasted potatoes and eggplant, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers and crumbled feta. Let the beef get a little crispy in the pan for the best texture.
12. Sausage, Egg and Potato Breakfast Bowls
Protein per serving: 25g
Potato bowls aren’t just for lunch and dinner. These make-ahead breakfast bowls combine crispy roasted red potatoes, sausage, scrambled eggs, peppers, onions and cheddar. One batch makes six breakfasts, and they freeze well. Keep the eggs just set so they don’t get rubbery when reheated.
Tips for the Best Loaded Potato Bowls
- Pick your potato base. Yukon Golds make creamy mash and crispy roasted potatoes. Russets are fluffier for mashing. Baby potatoes are great for smashing.
- Don’t crowd the pan. Spread potatoes in a single layer so they roast and crisp up instead of steaming.
- Batch cook the basics. Make a big tray of potatoes and one or two proteins at the start of the week.
- Store components separately. Keep crunchy and cold toppings, like slaw, pico, lettuce and sauces, in their own containers so nothing gets soggy.
- Reheat smart. Use the air fryer or oven for crispy potatoes and chicken, and the microwave for mashed potatoes and gravy.
- Boost the protein. Greek yogurt or cottage cheese sauces, extra cheese and an egg on top are easy ways to add more.
Protein info is per serving as listed by each recipe creator and will vary with the ingredients and portions you use.
I hope these loaded potato bowls make lunch and dinner a little easier this week. Pin this post so you can find it again for your next meal prep day!
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