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    Home » Recipe Index » Main dish

    Mexican Baked Potatoes

    Published: May 23, 2020 · Modified: Apr 4, 2024 by Jessica

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    These Mexican baked potatoes are easy to make and SO satisfying. Baked potatoes are stuffed with a quick lentil-tomato stew and topped with a vegan cheese sauce. Perfect for meal prep and lunches to-go, plus it makes for a fun eye-catching meal for everyone to love.

    Showing is a Mexican baked potatoes stuffed with a lentil chili stew, a vegan white queso and fresh cilantro, jalapeno and green onion. There are a few slices of avocado on the side of the avocado. Also on the table, there are a few bowls with more of the vegan white queso, half of an avocado, sliced jalapeno, cilantro and green onion.

    I know I have a lot of potato fans who will be pleased with this recipe! 

    I have heard lots of good things about this mashed potato-filled lentil shepherd's pie and this spinach potato soup, and I think this baked potato recipe will also become a favorite among all potato lovers!

    And these loaded potatoes are the ultimate meal for when you are starving and craving comfort food. It is filled with fiber and protein-rich lentils that will make sure you feel full for a while. And the combination of a warm soft potato, savory Mexican-style lentil chili and cheesy queso sauce will surely hit the spot. 

    This recipe is also perfect if you love to meal-prep: you can bake the potatoes, make the lentil stew and vegan white queso in advance and layer up when ready to eat. 

    It makes for a perfect weekday dinner to plan ahead or fun lunches to bring to work. I also love to serve this meal with the potatoes deconstructed right on the table. 

    Everyone can layer and choose the toppings they prefer, which makes it a fun way to serve dinner, especially with kids!

    Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️

    Why you will love this recipe

    • Filling complete meal, but also is great as a delicious side dish
    • Very versatile and can be customized to your preference
    • High-fiber and packed with plant-based protein (plus, no cholesterol)
    • Family-friendly meal, kids love them!
    • Combine hearty potatoes, lentil chili with fresh ingredients
    • 100% vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free
    Showing is a potato stuffed with a lentil stew and topped with a vegan cheese sauce. The meal is garnished with fresh cilantro, jalapeno and green onion. There are a few slices of avocado on the side of the plate. Also on the table, there are a few bowls with more of the vegan white queso, half of an avocado, sliced jalapeno, cilantro and green onion.

    What you will need 

    Don't be impressed by the long list of ingredients! This recipe is super versatile and most ingredients are easy to swap for what you have in the house.

    1- Baked potatoes

    Look for large Russet potatoes for this recipe as they work well to bake and they usually are bigger, giving you enough room to stuff them.

    If you don't have large potatoes, then you can also roast cubed potatoes and pile the toppings over them on a plate.

    2- Vegan cheese sauce

    Vegan white queso is hands down the BEST vegan cheese sauce you can use for this recipe. We have been addicted for years, you should try it out! It is super easy to make and made healthier too without refined fats and lower in sodium. 

    That being said, you can also use a store-bought cheese sauce if that's more convenient, such as the vegan queso sauce from Primal kitchen.

    3- Lentil stew

    Here are the ingredients you will need to make the lentil stew:

    • onion: yellow onion or sweet onion work well.
    • bell pepper: I prefer to use red pepper, but green pepper works well for Mexican recipes.
    • garlic: add as much as you want! I used 3 cloves to add a lot of flavor.
    • baby spinach: optional, but adds nice texture and more nutrients too.
    • spices: chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper. Cumin would be great too and feel free to add some cayenne pepper for some heat.
    • lentils (canned or dry): I like cooking lentils from scratch as they cook quickly and easily, but if you can find canned lentils, then use this instead, it is so convenient! 
    • canned tomatoes: you can choose fire-roasted for more flavor.

    4- Toppings

    There is a lot of room for what you can use to garnish the baked potatoes with, but here are my favorites:

    • fresh cilantro
    • hot sauce
    • avocado (or vegan avocado crema or protein guacamole)
    • sliced green onions, diced red onions or Mexican-style lime pickled red onion
    • sliced fresh jalapeno or marinated jalapeño
    • finely sliced crunchy romaine
    • lime juice

    What type of potatoes to use for Mexican potatoes

    The best potatoes for baking are the ones that have a lower moisture content and more starch. This creates a light and fluffy texture that's classic and so loved from baked potatoes.

    For these reasons, Russet potatoes are the best kind of potatoes for this recipe. That being said, I have made this recipe using Yukon potatoes and even sweet potatoes and it was amazing too. If your potatoes are smaller, then you can cube them to bake (they will cook faster!) and simply layer the other ingredients over, just like nachos.

    Showing is a Mexican baked potatoes stuffed with a lentil chili stew, a vegan white queso and fresh cilantro, jalapeno and green onion. In the background, there are more fresh cilantro, avocado and jalapeno.

    How to make these Mexican baked potatoes

    There are a few steps to this recipe, but they are easy and can be all made at the same time. Start by putting the potatoes in the oven and while they cook, make the cheese sauce and Mexican lentils.

    Also, each component can be made ahead, making this recipe an ideal weekend meal prep idea.

    Bake the potatoes

    This can take up to 1 hour, depending on the size of the potatoes, so start with that (or bake them days ahead).

    Preheat the oven to 400º.

    Clean them in plenty of cold water, then dry out their peel with a towel. Poke through their peel and flesh with a fork and then, wrap in aluminum foil (optional). 

    Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake until soft and tender about 45-60 minutes.

    You can do a poke test after 40-50 minutes to see if they are ready. If not, then add another 10-15 minutes.

    Make the vegan white queso

    To make this cheese sauce, you will need to cook some extra potatoes (yes, there is potato in the sauce!) and soak some cashews. The sauce is then blended until smooth. 

    Make the lentil chili stew

    If not already done, then cook the lentils in plenty of water. You can use canned lentils if you can find them so you save that step.

    Warm up a large non-stick pan with a little olive oil (or oil spray) and then, cook the onion and peppers for 4-5 minutes on medium-high heat (or until slightly golden browned and soft). 

    Add the garlic and spices and cook for one more minute stirring constantly.

    Then, add the water, canned tomatoes and cooked lentils and cook on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes or until desired consistency. 

    Once the stew looks mostly done, then add the spinach and let the leaves wilt, for about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings. 

    Serve

    Slice the cooked baked potatoes on their top and use a fork to fluff the potato flesh.

    Then, add the lentil stew over and top with the vegan white queso. 

    Garnish with the fresh toppings of your choice and enjoy!

    Recipe variations

    This recipe is SO versatile!

    • If you have leftover bean chili, then use it in place of the lentil stew! This can be a fun way to serve leftover chili. Or try pairing with this tofu bolognese.
    • This vegan taco meat would be great in this recipe.
    • If in a rush, then you can use vegan tofu sour cream or even vegan yogurt instead of the vegan queso.
    • You can use any type of bean instead of the lentils, like black beans, kidney beans or even white beans.
    • Instead of chili powder, you can use taco seasoning!
    • Also, you can use other vegetables to make the lentil stew, like chopped carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes or corn.
    • If you love smoky flavors, then try topping your filled potatoes with this vegan chipotle sauce instead of the vegan white queso or garnish with some high-in-protein vegan TVP bacon bits.
    Showing is a potato stuffed with a lentil stew and topped with a vegan cheese sauce. The meal is garnished with fresh cilantro, jalapeno and green onion. There are a few slices of avocado on the side of the plate. Also on the table, there are a few bowls with more of the vegan white queso, half of an avocado, sliced jalapeno, cilantro and green onion.

    Storage tips and how to reheat leftovers

    Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Each component of the stuffed baked potato will keep better if kept apart from each other.

    To reheat the leftovers, I recommend you warm up the potatoes, lentil stew and queso apart, then serve. You can use the microwave or the stove (a mini toaster oven is great to reheat the potatoes). You might have to loosen up the queso with a splash of water before reheating.

    Other Mexican recipes you might like

    • Mexican Buddha bowl
    • Mexican Horchata
    • Vegan chipotle mayo
    • Vegan white queso sauce
    • Peach salsa
    • Mexican shell soup
    • Chickpea enchiladas
    • Vegan white bean chili
    • Mexican bean soup
    • Chili-lime bean and corn salad
    • Mexican pickled onions
    • Loaded vegan nachos
    • Vegan taquitos
    • Mexican black bean avocado toasts

    I hope you enjoy these Mexican baked potatoes as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

    Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

    📖 Recipe

    Showing is a Mexican baked potatoes stuffed with a lentil chili stew, a vegan white queso and fresh cilantro, jalapeno and green onion. There are a few slices of avocado on the side of the avocado. Also on the table, there are a few bowls with more of the vegan white queso, half of an avocado, sliced jalapeno, cilantro and green onion.

    Mexican Baked Potatoes

    5 from 1 vote
    These Mexican baked potatoes are easy to make and SO satisfying. Baked potatoes are stuffed with a quick lentil-tomato stew and topped with a vegan cheese sauce. Perfect for meal-prep, lunches to-go and makes for a fun eye-catching meal.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr
    Servings 3
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Ingredients
      

    To make the lentil stuffing:

    • 1 white onion - diced
    • 1 orange or red pepper - diced
    • 3 clove of garlic - crushed
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • ½ tbsp chili powder + 1 tsp - or to taste
    • 2 cups cooked lentils - or canned lentils
    • 15.5 oz canned diced tomato
    • ½ cup water
    • 2 large handful of leafy green (spinach, kale, collard green) - roughly chopped
    • salt and black pepper - to taste

    Build the stuffed potato:

    • 3 large russet potatoes
    • 1 batch vegan white Queso - see in description
    • fresh toppings of your choice - such as fresh cilantro, avocado or guacamole, green or red onion, sliced jalapeno, hot sauce, etc.

    Instructions
     

    Cook the russet potatoes (recommend to cook ahead):

    • Pre-heat the oven at 400°. Poke the potatoes with a fork a few times and wrap them in aluminium foil. Cook the potatoes for about 60 minutes. Depending on the size of your potatoes, you might need to cook them more or less. Test them after 45 minutes and then, every 15 minutes or so: the potatoes are ready when you can enter a knife all through their flesh very easily without resistance.

    To make the lentil stuffing:

    • If the vegan white queso is not prepared ahead, now is a good time to start making it as well (you will have to boil potatoes and cashews to make it)
    • Warm a large pan, then add the onion, pepper and a pinch of salt and black pepper and cook over medium high heat for about 5-6 minutes until soften. Use oil or a small amount of water to prevent the veggies from burning.
    • Add the garlic, oregano and chili powder and cook for one more minute while stirring.
    • Then, add the lentils (cooked), canned tomatoes (with all the juice) and water. Cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat stirring regularly (keep on a gentle simmer). Keep cooking until thicker: the lentil stew is ready when you reach a saucy texture without being too watery. Then, add the leafy green and keep cooking for about 1-2 more minutes or until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasonings (salt, pepper and chili powder).

    Build the stuffed potatoes:

    • Make an opening through the cooked potatoes lengthwise (without cutting them all the way through). Using a fork, fluff the flesh to loose it up a bit.
    • Add one or two large spoonfuls of the lentil stew inside the potato as well as on the side.
    • Drizzle with the vegan white queso or add a dollop of vegan tofu sour cream.
    • Garnish with the fresh toppings of your choice and enjoy!

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftovers store better if apart from each other.
    • Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving (including the queso sauce) provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 1838mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1896IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 8mg
    CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Presley says

      May 11, 2024 at 6:41 am

      5 stars
      We make this recipe all the time. My husband is a big fan. The queso is the best part! Thanks for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        May 11, 2024 at 6:45 am

        Hi Presley, thank you for your comment, I'm glad you guys like the recipe!

        Reply

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    Profile picture for Plant Based Jess in the kitchen.

    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

    Join me in my kitchen to discover fun and creative recipes or click to find out more. Welcome!

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