As the weather gets colder, I find myself craving more warm dishes throughout the day. While I love a good bowl of soup, I find myself searching for more. I also want something that I can throw together in a short amount of time since I will now be able to come home for lunch. I recently visited a cafe and their menu had an entire section of loaded potatoes. I picked the veggie one but it got me thinking about what else I could toss on a potato and make a meal. The possibilities are endless and can be made extremely healthy. I think potatoes get a bad rap and while I prefer sweet potatoes, there is something really comforting about a loaded baked potato. This meal is thanks to my slight obsession with Buffalo sauce.
Buffalo Chickpea Loaded Potato
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 2 medium russet potatoes
- 1 cup chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ medium onion, sliced
- ¼ cup franks red hot
- 1-2 tablespoons butter (no necessary but reduces heat.)
- Topping options: Bleu Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, and/or Ranch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F. Wash potatoes, poke a few times with a fork, and cook until tender, 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how large your potato is).
- Once the potato is about done, heat a skillet over medium. Add olive oil, followed by onion.. Cook until onion is translucent. Add in chickpeas and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the hot sauce (and butter if you don't like it spicy.) Continue to heat and stir for 1 to2 more minutes.
- Slice potato in half and mash the insides slightly. Top with chickpea mixture and cheese. Serve with ranch or blue cheese.
Variations for the Vegetarian Loaded Potato
While this meal is pretty much as is for most of the time I eat it, there are a few swaps/additions I've made for one reason or another in this vegetarian loaded potato.
Vegetables: Sometimes a bit more produce forward meal is nice. Add some roasted cauliflower or broccoli to the mix.
Ranch: Not a ranch fan, this potato is just as good toped with blue cheese dressing or even just a few blue cheese crumbles.
Potato: The color is slightly off-putting (it's a lot of orange) but using a sweet potato in place of the regular potato can up the nutrients this meal contains.
Featured Ingredient: Chickpeas
Chickpeas are my go-to legume when I'm in the need for a quick meal. If you're making this meal for one, you will most likely have a few chickpeas left over. You can:
Add to Salad: Avocado Salad with Chickpeas
Make a snack: Moroccan Roasted Chickpeas
Toss with Pasta: Mediterranean Einkorn Pasta
natalie (the sweets life) says
umm hellooooo awesome idea!! love it!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
That looks so good! I agree, regular old white potatoes get a bad rap, but there is nothing wrong with them. And sometimes that's exactly what I'm craving 😀 The buffalo chickpeas sound awesome!
Kate says
That looks delish! I love a good baked potato! I may have to save this one to my pinterest so I don't forget to try it out 🙂
~KAH
dana @ my little celebration says
I just showed my husband this recipe and I got the OK to try it out for dinner soon! Yipeeee!!!!!
Kevin (Closet Cooking) says
I like the idea of buffalo chickpeas!
Katie says
This was very good and so easy to make, thanks!
★★★★★
Mollie says
I tried this concept tonight! Sometimes when I put beans on baked potatoes it seems a little heavy so I made the same recipe with steamed and chopped brussel sprouts, delicious!
Caitlin says
Seriously?? When I ate meat I use to LOVE buffalo wings, but since becoming a vegetarian I have just put the idea out of my mind, of course, until my Fiance tells me about his hot wings he had for lunch and raves about them (that jerk!) I'm totally going to make these with some wing sauce I have in the pantry. Thank you!!
Brooke says
Throw a large handful of spinach in the pan at the last minute and let it wilt...extra vitamins and yummy, too!
N-Ice says
Hmmm delicious and didnt take long to make.
Jennie Cluck says
This recipe is so good! It's on the menu at least once a week at my house. It's perfect for busy days when I want to cook something simple.
★★★★★