The first time I had a BBQ stuffed potato was at a rustic-styled restaurant called The Silo in Knoxville, Tennessee. That was a LONG time ago and it’s now part of the Calhoun’s Restaurant chain owned by the Copper Cellar folks.
I can’t remember who I went with but I was single back then so it could have been a date. What I DO remember is what happened on the day I ate the first of many bbq stuffed potatoes.
As I was sitting there minding my own business, one of my employees went by and saw me. The look on her face was the eponymous deer in headlights stare. No hello, how are you, go to hell, nothing. She went back to her table, got her handbag and walked out.
I didn’t think much of it at the time because people finish their meals and leave and dear old Margaret wasn’t on my radar that night. I’d heard about these bbq stuffed potato appetizers and that’s what I’d come for.
The potatoes were exactly as described and the wonderful hickory-smoked bbq stuffing was perfectly sauced and the mix of cheese on the top, along with a generous serve of sour cream with green onion tops made me happy. I didn’t think about Margaret until Monday morning when I walked on to the factory floor and there she was.
At the time, Margaret was about 68 years old and worked as a sewing machine operator making leather work gloves. She loved her job and had done the same job for more than forty years. Yes, I know, I couldn’t imagine doing that either. In truth, Margaret and her husband were really well off but she worked for the enjoyment and camaraderie with her workmates.
When I walked past her, Margaret’s face turned the color of my favorite beet salad. I said hello and she indicated she needed to talk. Off to my office we went with me wondering what the heck was wrong with her this time. Margaret always had a problem and was always a challenge.
Upon closing my office door she blurted out, “Maureen, you aren’t going to lower my wages are you?”
I was gobsmacked by this one and wasn’t too sure what she was talking about. “Of course not, Margaret, why did you think I would?” I said.
“Well, you saw me eating the most expensive thing on the Silo menu and I thought maybe you’d think I earned too much but honestly, Ralph earns way more than I do.”
It was a classic ‘what the heck?’ moment for me. But I’ve never forgotten my first bbq stuffed potato!
When you make bbq next time and it can be beef, pork or even chicken – try this – it’s wonderful stuffed inside a baked potato and topped with cheese. I know those potatoes in the photos look small and there are only two of them. That’s because I’m the only one who eats this. Those around me who shall remain nameless thinks bbq looks like someone else ate it first. (obviously no class)
- 1 potato (I would choose russet if it was available)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon melted butter
- ½ cup pork bbq (or chicken or beef)
- ¼ cup shredded mozarella and cheddar
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives or green onion tops (optional)
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F
- Scrub potato and dry with a towel. Remove bruises or any sprouts and pierce with a sharp knife in several places to let the steam escape
- Rub the potato with the olive oil and sprinkle with the sea salt and place in the middle of the oven to bake.
- Bake for 45 minutes and test the potato by squeezing (use a clean potholder or cloth so you don't burn yourself). If the potato gives, it's done.
- If you're cooking more than 4 potatoes, increase the time by 15 minutes before checking.
- When cooked, remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes.
- Slice the potato in half and scoop out some of the potato leaving a nice pocket to place the bbq.
- Brush the potato halves with the melted butter and place back in the oven to crisp. It takes 10-12 minutes. Start by putting the potato cut side down and half way through, turn the potato over.
- Put ¼ cup of the bbq in each potato half and top with half the cheese mixture
- Place back in the oven until the cheese has melted and has just begun to turn golden brown.
- Serve with sour cream garnished with chopped chives.
Hey there creativity!
People pour chili over baked potatoes so bbq’d ‘stuff’ isn’t way out there in my book. I have some pulled pork that would probably be really good too. 🙂 I’m looking forward to giving it a try.
I’ve been coming home tired from work so I haven’t been doing any ‘real’ cooking since the 2 soups I made last weekend, just eating out of my freezer. And … based on the way today went, I may not do any at all this weekend. But soon cause I can hardly wait to give this a try. 🙂
I hope you rest and get your energy back!
You must have sent me some energy through the internet cause I actually did some baking today. Thank you. 🙂
whoa – this sounds pretty amazing – like I could crawl in that potato and wouldn’t care if I smothered to death….
Oh, that bbq looks so good right now! I’m on a cleanse, so I can’t have any of this deliciousness.
I’d much rather have the meat on a potato than a bun. Now I’m hungry at 5am!
I remember those early morning feeds. You wonder if you should go back to bed or start the day. I hope you went back to bed.
Wow, these sound delicious!
I enjoyed reading your story. =)
This sounds delicious. I have a bit of a thing about pulled pork at the moment. GG
I’ve had a thing for years 🙂
Margaret is STRANGE. What a weird assumption. I love the look of your BBQed potato. What great comfort food! xx
What a story Maureen, unforgettable! I’m a huge fan of potatoes, this makes them even better. Love recipes with a history.
Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! You’ve lived in the Southern US and you how serious we are about BBQ. Nicely done, Maureen. Poor Margaret. What on earth was wrong with her??
Oh Maureen these look delectable! Anything of the pull pork variety and I’m sold! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Krissie x – http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au
Good evening Maureen! Your BBQ pork stuffed baked potatoes looks delicious. We just finished eating dinner but I believe I could eat a couple of your pork potatoes! 🙂
We have not eaten at Calhoun’s for at least a year, only when we get back to TN to visit friends but sometimes they don’t want to go there because they go often. I can remember when it was call The Silo too, a long time ago. I can’t remember if I had mentioned to you that we lived in Crossville TN for about 6 years and visited Knoxville often, most every Saturday.
Has your weather gotten cooler?
Michael
I haven’t had a stuffed baked potato like this in ages! You can pile all sorts of good things on baked potatoes, but nothing beats BBQ. Never thought of it looking as if someone else ate it first. Digesting that thought somehow puts me in mind of Vegamite. 😉
Hey, Maureen, tell the ‘nameless’ that they look and sound great! I have have many a stuffed potato and they are all wonderful. I have yet to tried a BBQ one though. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This would be a hubby approved recipe for sure! He gets giddy if I stuff our potatoes with a some sour cream and cheddar, so I know he’d be on cloud 9 with your pork BBQ version!
Maureen, you’re a riot! I would eat the BBQ potatoes with you – they look delish! Funny about your former employee – amazing how some people think! Different generation?
What? What a funny question to ask on her part 😮 But as you say, you’ll always remember your first bbq stuffed potato! 😛
So many good things in one bite…or two. 🙂 ela
I’m sold for the first BBQ of the year, not sure when that’ll be though.
What a laugh I cant imagine you even thinking of lowering her wages M, the poor old dear. I totally understand you loving these potatoes and I wonder why “the others” have no taste.
Forget ordinary potato, I am trying this next time! 😀
Love stuffed baked potatoes.. yours looks tempting.
Yummmmmmmmmm!
What the heck indeed?! I have a load of pulled pork in the freezer I’ve been wondering what to do with it. Problem solved.
Looks so tasty!
This recipe totally looks like something that would be very well received on a Superbowl menu, putting pulled pork into a bbq baked potato is genius! What a strange person that Margaret was…though I am glad it didn’t affect your evening.
Maureen, I do hope one day you write a book, you have such a nice way with words, loved the “No hello, how are you, go to hell, nothing. ”
too good!
and of course, the potatoes plus pork, well, that would make Phil marry me all over again (I hope!) 😉
Wow I haven’t had a stuffed BBQ potato in years! Love everything about it – thanks for the reminder – Yum!
Cool story. Love how the dish looks. I would never thought of putting BBQ pork but why not? Sending this recipe to my kids, they would love it.
I am all for decadence in food! Fantastic recipe!
Maureen, I’ve got a hankering for BBQ and these stuffed potatoes hasten the desire. If nameless doesn’t want their portion, don’t hold back from making less potatoes—I’ll be happy to join you!
Where have I been living all my life and have not heart of these? They sound amazing and I love the story. It’s so funny what people think compared to reality!
WOW! I’ve never had a BBQ stuffed potato. These look really, really good!!!!
Ha ha ha… Looks like someone ate it first. That’s the first time I’ve heard that, but…
I’d eat it for sure.
I love it! These look delicious and so up my alley. I made pulled pork last night and had a smokey pulled pork salad sandwich for lunch. These are so much more interesting however. I assume Margaret soldiered on after your discussion, people can be so amusing 🙂
Dear Maureen, That is a story to remember. I guess you never know what someone is thinking and I feel bad for Margaret to be that worried about enjoying a meal. It is too bad.
Though Maureen, those stuffed bbq potatoes look and sound wonderful.
Blessings dear. Catherine xo
p.s. I hope you are feeling better.
this sounds like a very delicious american dish! something you cant get here!
Oh Maureen, these are a blast from the past, bringing up such good memories of Southern food for me. 🙂
this is home cooking at its best! I love it. so many flavors and textures going on and just plain delicious!
I love stuffed potatoes and I could never turn down these great BBQ flavors!
Maureen, your “Margaret” story was priceless and your BBQ Stuffed Baked Potatoes are “what’s for dinner” tonight. Thank you for both!
Next time I make pulled pork I’m definitely serving it this way. Great idea!
What a funny story. You never know how people are going to think.
Stuffed potatoes take me back to my childhood – they really are comfort food. Yours look great.
My goodness, how could anyone not like BBQ. I would happy share your stuffed potatoes. 🙂
Maureen these BBQ stuffed baked potatoes look very good and tempting. I think I know what I’m having for dinner tonight 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
This I tell you is a very nice idea, never had thought of stuffing that on potatoes. I love this recipe!
My, my! What a clever idea! This looks truly delish, Maureen! 😀
Toodles,
Tammy<3
This is such a delicious idea. I know my teenage boys would give this recipe 2 thumbs up! Wishing you a lovely weekend. pinned! BAM
This is timely! I have some shredded chicken that I made in my slow cooker. Now to cook up some potatoes! Too funny to hear why Margaret was so off that day 🙂 Happy Easter, Maureen!
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I’ve got to make it very soon. I was just going through some very old blog posts and found a horrid photo of BBQ pork and made a note to remake and rephoto. Those leftovers will be in some potatoes pronto.
OK….I’m not sure if you had me at BBQ or potato, but these sound utterly fantastic!
They are 🙂
I want, I need, I must have. Oh Lordy Maureen, way to go giving this fat oompa loompa pregnancy cravings…sounds soooo good!
Hope you had a most wonderful Easter xx
I always love the BBQ with potato but the pictures you have here are so mouth watering and looks delicious. The preparation seems easy and the ingredients are not that expensive. Might try your recipe and thanks for sharing this with us.
YUM! If this hasn’t made me hungry enough I’ve just followed you on Twitter to read more great foodie tips!!
You know how much I love bbq, so I am so all over this fabulous recipe! This is a perfect meal, it would be hearty…..and oh my yum! Hugs, Terra
MMMMMMMM yumm I love BBQ. Thanks for the sharing..