Stuffed Baked Potato Boats

Steps

1. 1Halve and hollow potatoes

   Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the interior, leaving a boat-shaped shell with walls thick enough to hold their shape during baking.

   Save the scooped potato flesh for another use like mashed potatoes.

   Potato
2. 2Par-bake potato shells15 min

   Arrange the hollowed potato halves on a parchment-lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven until they are just tender but still hold their shape, about 15-20 minutes.

   This pre-bake ensures the potato shells are fully cooked when the filling is ready.

   Potato
3. 3Fill with meat and cheese

   Season the ground meat with salt and pepper. Divide the seasoned meat among the par-baked potato boats. Top each with a layer of shredded cheese.

   You can cook the meat beforehand if you prefer, but raw ground meat will cook through during the final bake.

   Ground beefCheeseSaltBlack pepper
4. 4Add béchamel sauce

   Spoon a generous amount of béchamel sauce over the meat and cheese filling in each potato boat, spreading it to cover the surface.

   The béchamel will form a golden crust on top during baking.

   Béchamel sauce
5. 5Bake until golden20 min

   Return the filled potato boats to the oven and bake until the béchamel is golden and bubbling, and the meat is fully cooked, about 20-25 minutes.

   Check that the internal temperature of the meat reaches a safe level.

6. 6Garnish and serve

   Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle fresh herbs over the top and serve warm.

   Parsley or chives work beautifully as a garnish.

   Fresh herbs