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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Potatoes

Microwave Jacket Potato

Published: Jul 30, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 9 Comments

37 shares
Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
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Microwave jacket potato with a text title overlay.
Microwave baked potato with a text title overlay.

Microwave jacket potatoes are a quick and easy meal that can be prepared in just a few minutes. When we are short on time and want something comforting, a jacket potato in the microwave is our go-to. Unlike traditional oven-baked jacket potatoes, which can take up to an hour to cook, these can be ready in as little as 10 minutes.

A jacket potato cut open filled with tuna mayo and topped with sour cream.

This recipe is as simple as washing and drying the potato, pricking it all over with a fork, placing it in the microwave and cooking for 10 minutes, depending on the size of the potato and the power of your microwave. Once the potato is cooked, top with your favourite toppings.

This is such a versatile meal that can be enjoyed plain with a bit of butter or loaded with toppings like baked beans, grated cheese, or sour cream - we have lots of ideas below.

If you are looking for other jacket potato recipes, then why not try our crispy Air Fryer Jacket Potato, healthy Microwave Sweet Potato or easy Slow Cooker Jacket Potato?

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Make Microwave Jacket Potato - Step by Step
  • Jacket Potato Toppings
  • Crispy Jacket Potato
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Microwave Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

Three potatoes on a wooden surface with a text overlay label.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Potato - There are many different types of potatoes available, but not all of them are suitable for making jacket potatoes. The best variety to use is the floury potato, which has a dry, fluffy texture when cooked. Examples of floury potatoes include King Edward, Maris Piper, and Russet potatoes. Waxy potatoes, on the other hand, are not recommended for making jacket potatoes as they tend to have a firmer texture and do not fluff up as well.
  • Butter (optional) - This prevents the potato from being dry when serving.
  • Toppings - Is there anything you can't put on a jacket potato? We have lots of topping ideas for you below.

More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.

How to Make Microwave Jacket Potato - Step by Step

A washed potato on some kitchen towel.
  1. Step 1: Wash the potato and dry with kitchen towel.
A potato inside a microwave.
  1. Step 2: Pierce the potato all over with a fork and put into the microwave. Cook on high power for 8 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking.
A jacket potato cut open with a pat of butter melting in it.
  1. Step 3: Cut a cross into the cooked potato and pinch open. Serve with butter (optional).

Jacket Potato Toppings

The classic toppings for a jacket potato are butter and grated cheese - simple, but SO comforting. Simply slice open the potato in a cross and pinch it open and then add a generous dollop of butter, followed by a sprinkling of mature cheddar cheese.

But here are some of our other favourite toppings:

Baked Beans - Baked beans are a popular topping and provide a great source of protein and fibre. Simply heat up a tin of baked beans and pour them over the potato, then sprinkle with a little grated cheese if desired. Why not try our Slow Cooker Baked Beans recipe?

Tuna Mayo - Tuna mayo is a delicious and easy topping for a jacket potato. Simply mix a tin of tuna with some mayonnaise and sweetcorn (and some chopped red pepper for crunch), then spoon over the potato. For an extra kick of flavour, add some chopped spring onions, jalapeños or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Chilli Con Carne - This is a hearty and filling topping that is perfect for a cold winter's day. Simply heat up leftovers of chilli con carne and spoon it over the potato, then top with a dollop of sour cream and chive and some chopped fresh coriander.

Coleslaw - This is a refreshing and crunchy topping that adds a burst of flavour to a jacket potato. Simply mix some shredded cabbage, carrot and onion with some mayonnaise and a little vinegar, then spoon over the potato. Why not try our BEST Coleslaw Recipe or Mexican Coleslaw?

Take a look at our post on some healthy Jacket Potato Toppings.

A dollop of sour cream on top of a tuna mayonnaise filled baked potato.

Crispy Jacket Potato

Cooking a jacket potato in a microwave won’t give you a crispy skin. So, if you want that then you will need to transfer the potatoes to a preheated oven (220°C/200°C(fan)/400°F/Gas Mark 7) and cook for around 10 to 15 minutes, until they crisp up.

To make them super crisp, brush some oil over the skins before they go into the oven and sprinkle some salt over them.

Extra Tips

  • This recipe is based on a 1000w microwave. Adjust the time if your microwave has a different power rating.
  • When selecting potatoes for jacket potatoes, it's important to choose ones that are roughly the same size. This will ensure that they cook evenly in the microwave. Potatoes that are too small may cook too quickly, while larger potatoes may take longer to cook and may not cook through evenly.
  • It's important to let the potato rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows the potato to finish cooking and helps to distribute the heat evenly throughout. If you cut into the potato too soon, it may be undercooked in the middle and overcooked on the outside. Letting it rest for a few minutes ensures that it's cooked perfectly all the way through.
A baked potato on a wooden serving board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a jacket potato take in the microwave?

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the microwave used, so it is recommended to check the potatoes after a 5 minutes to ensure that it is cooking evenly. Ours took 8 minutes, but that is just for 1 potato. Once the potato is fully cooked, it should be removed from the microwave and allowed to cool for a few minutes before being cut open and served.

How to microwave more than one potato

As a general rule, add 4 extra minutes per potato on to the cooking time. We wouldn't recommend cooking more than 3 large potatoes at a time. For an extra small potato, just add an extra 2 minutes.

Do you need to pierce the skin of the potato?

Yes, don't skip this step because it allows some of the steam and heat to escape the potato so it doesn't split in the microwave.

More Microwave Recipes

  • Microwave bacon on a round plate.
    How to Microwave Bacon
  • Microwave fried eggs on slices of toast.
    Microwave Fried Eggs
  • A bowl of microwave Brussels sprouts.
    Microwave Brussels Sprouts
  • A plate of microwave pasta in a tomato sauce topped with cheese.
    Microwave Pasta

If you’ve tried this microwave jacket potato recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Microwave jacket potato topped with tuna mayonnaise and sour cream.

Microwave Jacket Potato

By: Dannii Martin
Unlike traditional oven-baked jacket potatoes, which can take up to an hour to cook, a microwave jacket potato can be ready in as little as 10 minutes.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
5 from 10 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: British
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 8 minutes mins
Total: 10 minutes mins
Servings: 1 servings
Calories: 216kcal
Allergens:
No Common Allergens

Ingredients

  • 280 g (10 oz) Potato
  • Butter - optional

Instructions

  • Wash 280 g Potato and dry with kitchen towel.
  • Pierce the potato all over with a fork and put into the microwave.
  • Cook on high power for 8 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking.
  • Cut a cross into the cooked potato and pinch open. Serve with Butter (optional).

Recipe Tips

  • This recipe is based on a 1000w microwave. Adjust the time if your microwave has a different power rating.
  • When selecting potatoes for jacket potatoes, it's important to choose ones that are roughly the same size. This will ensure that they cook evenly in the microwave. Potatoes that are too small may cook too quickly, while larger potatoes may take longer to cook and may not cook through evenly.
  • It's important to let the potato rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows the potato to finish cooking and helps to distribute the heat evenly throughout. If you cut into the potato too soon, it may be undercooked in the middle and overcooked on the outside. Letting it rest for a few minutes ensures that it's cooked perfectly all the way through.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 1179mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Kate says

    August 09, 2023 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    They were perfectly cooked! Thanks for the clear instructions. 5 stars!

    Reply
  2. Dina and Bruce says

    August 06, 2023 at 2:59 pm

    5 stars
    The perfect dinner for me when Bruce is out of town! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Ned says

    August 06, 2023 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious potato! I loaded it up and wow, it was such an amazing dinner! Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Tara says

    August 06, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yum! I love how easily these potatoes come together using the microwave. All those topping options sound fantastic too.

    Reply
  5. Farah Abumaizar says

    August 06, 2023 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    Love that this came about just when I had steak and needed an easy side. Will definitely try this microwave method, thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. Ali says

    August 05, 2023 at 3:24 pm

    5 stars
    Oooo this looks like such a tasty snack when I am hungry but lazy!! Going to save this recipe to try later.

    Reply
  7. Carrie Robinson says

    August 05, 2023 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    I just love how easy this is! :) I love to top my baked potatoes with a few scoops of chili to make a meal of it.

    Reply
  8. Holly says

    August 05, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great idea for busy weeknight meals. I think I will make them with some leftover brisket I have in the fridge!

    Reply
  9. Alison Corey says

    August 05, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    Microwave jacket potatoes have truly revolutionized my busy weekday dinners. When time is of the essence and the craving for a comforting meal strikes, these microwave marvels come to the rescue.

    Reply
5 from 10 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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