Loaded Potato Rounds with Cheddar & Bacon

These Mediterranean Loaded Potato Rounds with Cheddar and Bacon are crispy, cheesy, and packed with savory flavor. We prepare these potato rounds with russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, smoked paprika, olive oil, and lemon juice. These potato rounds have approximately 285 calories and 30 g of net carbs per portion. We make them in about 50 minutes. These Mediterranean Loaded Potato Rounds are ideal for family gatherings, parties, game nights, casual snacks, appetizers, side dishes, and Mediterranean-inspired meals. You can prepare these potato rounds earlier because we refrigerate them for up to three days and freeze the baked potato rounds for almost two months. You can serve these potato rounds with Tzatziki, Hummus, Greek Salad, Cucumber Salad, or Grilled Chicken.

STATS:

• Course: Appetizer, Snack, Side Dish
• No. of Calories: 285 kcal
• Diet: Mediterranean
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cuisine: Mediterranean, American
• Cook time: 35 minutes
• Portion size: 5 potato rounds
• Cooking mode: Oven
• Total servings: 6
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Total time: 50 minutes

TOOLS:

• Tray
• Baking paper
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Bowl
• Spatula

INGREDIENTS:

POTATO ROUNDS:

• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 3 russet potatoes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp salt

TOPPINGS:

• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 5 slices bacon
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes
• ⅓ cup Kalamata olives
• ¼ cup red onion
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 2 tbsp feta cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:

POTATOES:

• We use russet potatoes to create crispy potato rounds with a tender center.

CHEDDAR CHEESE:

• We use cheddar cheese to provide a rich, creamy, and cheesy topping. Other options include mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a cheddar-Mozzarella blend.

BACON:

• We use bacon to provide a smoky and savory flavor to these loaded potato rounds.

KALAMATA OLIVES:

• We use Kalamata olives to provide a salty Mediterranean flavor. Green olives or black olives can also be used.

CHERRY TOMATOES:

• Cherry tomatoes provide freshness, color, and a slightly sweet flavor.

PARSLEY:

• Fresh parsley provides a fresh herbal flavor and bright color. Fresh basil or cilantro can be used as a replacement.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Warm the empty oven to 220° Celcius.
2. Make one-fourth-inch rounds by slicing and completely dry it.
3. Mix the potato slices with black pepper, olive oil, salt, oregano, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
4. Put the potato rounds on a tray in a single layer.
5. Bake for almost twenty minutes.
6. Change the side of the potato rounds and bake till become crispier and golden, for an extra ten minutes.
7. Garnish all the potato rounds with crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese.
8. Bake till the cheese get melts, for an extra three minutes.
9. Garnish with feta cheese, chopped tomatoes, parsley, Kalamata olives, and red onion.
10. Drizzle the lemon juice and serve these potato rounds hot.

TIPS:

• We slice the potatoes uniformly to make sure they cook perfectly.
• Completely dry the potatoes and then include the olive oil to get a crispier texture.
• We avoid crowding the tray too much for perfect browning.
• Include the fresh Mediterranean toppings after baking to maintain their fresh texture.
• Serve these potato rounds quickly for a perfect crispy texture.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

DIPS:

• Tzatziki
• Hummus
• Garlic Yogurt Dip
• Lemon Herb Dip
• Roasted Garlic Dip

MEDITERRANEAN PAIRINGS:

• Greek Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Roasted Vegetables
• Marinated Olives
• Hummus Platter

PROTEIN PAIRINGS:

• Grilled Chicken
• Lemon Herb Chicken
• Turkey Meatballs
• Grilled Salmon
• Garlic Shrimp

STORAGE INFORMATION:

FRIDGE:

• Put these potato rounds in a closed box and refrigerate them for 3 days.

FREEZER:

• Store the baked potato rounds without fresh toppings for almost 2 months.

FAQs:

Could we utilize sweet potatoes?

• Yes, you may use sweet potatoes, although they will have a softer texture and slightly sweeter flavor.

May we prepare these potato rounds vegetarian?

• Yes, you can skip the bacon and include additional mushrooms, feta, vegetables, or olives, roasted.

Will we prepare these potato rounds by air frying?

• Yes, you can air fry these potato rounds at 200° Celsius for approximately sixteen minutes.

Will we prepare these potato rounds earlier?

• Yes, you can bake the potato rounds beforehand and include the fresh toppings and cheese when warming up.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Proteins: 9 g

Caloric Content: 285 kcal

Net carbs: 30 g

Sodium: 560 mg

Fiber: 4 g

Sugar: 3 g

Fats: 14 g

Portion Size: 5 potato rounds

Total carbs: 34 g