Isabella Keeling - health writer
It’s hard to beat the humble jacket potato, hot out of the oven with a crisp, golden exterior and a delightfully fluffy inside. Low fat, fibre-rich potatoes also make a brilliant base for a healthy meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. Choose from our top 10 nutritious filling ideas and pile your plate high!
Get to know the health benefits of potatoes – some of them may surprise you. Discover our delicious healthy lunch recipes, cheap and healthy family meals and healthy potato recipes.
1. Healthy baked beans
Try our speedy, healthy recipe for homemade baked beans. It wins hands down when it comes to taste and texture, and delivers three of your five-a-day.
2. Mushroom jacket potatoes
Put a pot of sour cream and chive dip to good use in this delicious veggie dinner, using vitamin B-rich mushrooms. It only requires five ingredients but makes for a really satisfying lunch or dinner.
3. Feta & kale loaded sweet potato
Pile your plate high with colourful ingredients including baked sweet potatoes, kale, red onion and rocket. We’ve rounded out the crunchy textures and vibrant flavours with filling chickpeas, creamy feta cheese and pumpkin seeds.
4. Vegan chickpea curry jacket potatoes
Gluten-free and low in fat, this chickpea curry makes a fantastic topping for buttery baked sweet potatoes. It’s a great recipe to use storecupboard spices including cumin seeds, turmeric, garam masala and tikka masala paste.
5. Baked potatoes with spicy dhal
Cheap and cheerful red lentils and chickpeas form the base of this satisfying vegetarian supper. Have a rummage in the cupboards to find all the ingredients – the spicy dhal pairs perfectly with a dollop of mango chutney or lime pickle.
6. Vegan chilli
Jam-packed with a colourful array of vegetables, plus two types of beans, this vegan, gluten-free, low-fat feast is a truly feel-good dinner option. Here it’s served with rice, but it would work wonderfully spooned over a fluffy jacket potato, too – the lime wedges and avocado slices are optional, but recommended.
7. Air fryer baked potatoes
The joy of having an air fryer means you can pop your potatoes in and bake to fluffy perfection. It’s quicker and more energy efficient than using the oven, and means you’ll have nice crispy skins. Use this recipe as a healthy base and add whatever toppings you like.
8. Chunky chilli
For the carnivores among us, you can’t go wrong with this Mexican-style recipe. We’ve used diced stewing beef steaks which hold their shape well, resulting in a robust, chunky dish that’s healthy, gluten-free and freezable.
9. Turkey chilli jacket potatoes
Budget-friendly and low in fat, turkey mince makes for a tasty alternative to beef in this low-calorie, healthy chilli recipe. Spring onions and Red Leicester cheese add a pop of colour and flavour to the humble spud.
10. Jacket potatoes with home-baked beans
Canned baked beans can be high in sugar and salt, but luckily, it’s super simple to make your own and much better for you. Tomatoes, paprika and Worcestershire sauce all go into this comforting, classic meal – and you’ll get the goodness of celery and carrot too. A real family winner.
More ways with potatoes
How to make the ultimate baked potato
What to do with sweet potato
Healthy potato salad ideas
Healthy sweet potato recipes
What are your favourite healthy jacket potato fillings? Let us know in the comments below…
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