Cheesy and spicy, these jalapeño hasselback potatoes are sinfully delicious! Sliced almost all the way through and shaped like an accordion, these potatoes are stuffed with jalapeños, smothered with cheese, and drizzled with an avocado cream sauce!
Who knew the humble potato could get so fancy?! From herb and garlic potato stacks to domino potatoes to these hasselback potatoes, they are so versatile and can look super impressive on your dinner table!
For a little Mexican twist on potatoes, try these cheesy jalapeño hasselback potatoes. They are cheesy, a little bit spicy, and soooo tasty. Drizzle with the avocado cream sauce to take them over the top.
We love to serve these with chipotle baked chicken and a black bean and corn salad for a real fiesta.
Reasons you'll ♡ jalapeño hasselback potatoes
- they are impressive and will wow your guests
- they are deceptively simple to prepare
- you can't beat the jalapeño and avocado flavors in this recipe
What's with the name?
Thank you, Sweden for this culinary contribution! Hasselback potatoes originated in the hotel Hasselbacken in 1953, hence the name. They quickly became popular in Sweden, and eventually, across the world for both their flavor and beautiful appearance. While traditionally seasoned with caraway seeds, paprika or breadcrumbs, these days you can find a variety of toppings including fresh herbs and spices, grated cheese, bacon and more.
Use any potato
You read that right, you can make hasselback potatoes from any type of potato! I've used small (6 oz) russet potatoes for this recipe, but you can use Yukon gold, white potatoes, red potatoes and even baby potatoes!
When choosing your potatoes, I advise picking ones of a similar size so that they will all cook through at the same time.
Keep in mind that different potatoes will have a different cook time and you will need to adjust the recipe.
How to make the slices
The trick is to slice almost all the way through, but leave a section at the bottom which is still attached. One trick I've learned is to place a chopstick on either side of the potato while slicing to prevent cutting fully through the potatoes.
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Try to make slices ⅛ of an inch apart, and try to slice them as evenly as possible across the potato so that they cook through evenly.
TIP- Rinse the potatoes after slicing
One trick to help the folds separate during baking is to rinse them after slicing under cold water. Carefully and gently pull the potato apart at each fold so the water can run down into the potato.
Brush with oil- twice
When you first slice the potatoes, the layers will be stuck together. Don't worry too much about this. Brush the whole potato with oil and pop them into the oven.
Once the potato begins to bake, the layers will shrink as they loose moisture. After 30 minutes, a second application of oil will get in between the layers.
The toppings
For this recipe, we are placing a jalapeño slice between the layers. As the jalapeño roasts, the sharp, spicy, raw jalapeño flavors mellow out into a sweeter, less spicy and super delicious flavor.
During the last 5 minutes, we will also smother with shredded cheese.
Avocado cream sauce
The last step, which is optional but so so delicious, is to make a quick avocado cream sauce. Combine a ripe avocado with room temperature cream cheese, milk, lime juice, salt and pepper. It's creamy, tangy and so perfect on the potatoes!
Recipe tips
- Cook times are specific for 6 oz potatoes, and will differ if you have different sized potatoes
- To prepare ahead- bake all the way through but do not add the cheese. Cool and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in a covered dish at 350°F for 20 minutes, then add the cheese and bake uncovered for the last 5 minutes
- Adjust the number of jalapenos to your taste level; reduce if you don't like spicy food, and increase if you want it spicier
- While pictured in a 9 x 9 inch baking dish, you can also cook these on a baking sheet
- Feel free to get creative and stuff other ingredients between the folds: ham and bacon are two tasty options
More tasty side dishes
- Unbelievably Crispy Grilled Potatoes
- Herb and Olive Oil Crock Pot Potatoes
- Grilled Potato Salad with Onions, Peppers and Arugula
- Slow Cooker Potato, Corn and Jalapeno Soup
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes for Meal Prep
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Accordion Potatoes (Hasselback Potatoes) With Avocado Cream Sauce
Ingredients
Jalapeno Hasselback Potatoes
- 6 small russet potatoes (6 oz each; see note *)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided (and more as needed))
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 jalapeno (membrane and seeds removed, and sliced into thin rounds; see note **)
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Avocado Cream Sauce:
- 1 avocado (ripe)
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Jalapeno Hasselback Potatoes
- Pre-heat oven to 425°F.
- Scrub russet potatoes clean. Place a wooden spoon on either side of the potato, and slice slits ⅛ inch apart that do not go completely through the potato. Repeat along the length of the potato.
- Run the sliced potato under cold water, gently fanning out the potato. This rinses off extra starch and helps the potato fan while cooking.
- Place the potato in a baking dish and repeat with other potatoes.
- Brush potatoes with around 1 tablespoon of oil, to coat. Don't worry if you can't get it between the folds yet.
- Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Brush potato with more oil, getting it down between the potato folds (at this point, they should be fanned out).
- After one hour, remove dish from oven. Gently place jalapeno slices into every second or so fold in the potato. Drizzle remaining oil over potatoes so that it seeps into the folds, brush for coverage, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper. Return to the oven for another 30 minutes (or until potatoes are cooked through in the center).
- Top each potato with around ¼ cup of shredded cheese, working the cheese down into the folds of the potato.
- Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes, until cheese has melted.
Avocado Cream Sauce:
- In a medium bowl, beat together all ingredients until smooth. Add additional milk as needed to thin out the sauce. Taste and add additional salt, if desired.
To serve
- Drizzle the sauce evenly over the potatoes.
- Serve immediately.
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Tips:
- Bake all the way through but do not add the cheese.
- Cool and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in a covered dish at 350°F for 20 minutes, then add the cheese and bake uncovered for the last 5 minutes
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Maureen says
I love that this recipe gives out great cheesy, spicy and creamy flavors! This is absolutely amazing and delightful!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
That cream sauce is making me drool! I have never made hasselback potataoes! What is wrong with me? I think I need to remedy that with these asap!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
Oh my these look amazing! I could eat potatoes for dinner and be content with just those. These hasselbacks are calling my name and I need to make these asap! Great idea Denise!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Totally agree, there can never be too much Mexican food. These look incredible, Denise! I love hasselback potatoes but these cheesy jalapeno ones are totally amazing!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
These are awesome and that gooey cheesiness is drool worthy.
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
Okay, what?! These are amazing! Totally genius!
Renee says
I love potatoes and adding jalepeno is a great idea! Pinning this for later!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
These potatoes look just perfect, Denise! I'm a huge fan of hasselback ones but am too afraid to make them! These look so good! Love the avocado cream sauce, too!
Izzy says
I agree, there can never be too many Mexican recipes! I think I even have another one planned for Thursday, haha! These potatoes look awesome and cheesy and delicious! Definitely better than a boring baked potato 🙂
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Denise these looks so delicious and love the idea of putting jalapeno in between! Yumm!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
What a great idea, Denise - a Mexican twist on the classic baked potato! Definitely better than a baked potato though - you get a bit of flavor in every bite. Looking forward to trying this!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This looks delicious! I love all the cheese and potato goodness 🙂 And you can't go wrong with jalapenos.
Ashley says
One can never have enough mexican food! haha I'm right there with you. These potatoes look to die for!
Danielle says
I can't get over how amazing and delicious these look! I love anything and everything with cheese and that avocado cream sauce sounds perfect!
Denise says
Thanks, Danielle! I guess I'm a baked potato convert now 😛
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
Oooh these look gorgeous! I've yet got to make hasselback potatoes but I bet mine will never look as gorgeous as yours. I love the Mexican food is not overly popular over here so I never really got into it until I started blogging! Now it's my absolute favorite 🙂
Denise says
I always thought Mexican flavors had to be heavy, but they can be so light, too! Although I guess this potato is not really an example of their lighter flavors...ha ha! Thanks, Nora!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
These potatoes are a masterpiece!
Denise says
Thanks, Jocelyn!
Annie @Maebells says
Your a genius! These potatoes are incredible! I have got to make them! I actually have a hard time getting hasselback potatoes to turn out that well, they never want to "fan" for me which makes stuffing them hard. So I have got to try your trick about rinsing them!
Denise says
Thanks so much, Annie! The rinsing really helps! I will admit it took me many many tries to get these just right...I find that most recipes don't cook them long enough, and nothing is worse than a raw potato 🙁
Tina Jui | The Worktop says
Yum yum yum. I love how so much cheese can melt right into the hasselback potatoes!
Denise says
Thanks, Tina! It was a little more work to get the cheese into the folds, but 100% worth it!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Believe it or not I had baked potatoes JUST last night and I kept thinking, wow I REALLY need to start getting creative in the baked potato department. And then you post these cheesy beauties! Uhmm, DYING over how fabulous these look, Denise! I love the perfect accordion cuts and naturally all that cheesy jalapeno goodness!
Denise says
Baked potatoes are totally a blank canvas...can't wait to see how you 'paint' yours! Thanks so much, Sarah!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Denise - These hasselback potatoes are a meal in and of themselves. They look extremely delicious and perfect for surprising your house guests. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Denise says
Totally! We had them with salmon and a salad and it was perfect...they are definitely filling! Happy Cinco de Mayo, Erin!