3 Magic Words At Texas Roadhouse Make The Baked Potatoes Twice As Good

Besides its tasty and relatively budget-friendly steaks, Texas Roadhouse is also known for its generously portioned sides. Many of these come free with an entree, including the baked potatoes. Baked potatoes are usually paired with savory toppings, but if you're in the mood to experiment you could try something sweeter. All you need to do is ask for honey cinnamon butter and voilà! The entire potato is transformed.

Honey cinnamon butter (or "buttery spread," as per the menu) is already a standard option with the sweet potato, which is another side dish offered by Texas Roadhouse. Sweet potatoes can also be upgraded with brown sugar and cinnamon, or toasted marshmallows and a honey cinnamon caramel sauce if you want a side that can double as a dessert.

Honey and cinnamon aren't typically used to flavor white potatoes, but there's no reason this flavor combination wouldn't work. White potatoes don't taste like much on their own, and this neutrality means they sometimes find their way into dessert recipes. If mashed potatoes can make for super moist chocolate cake and old-timey potato candy is a vintage treat deserving of a comeback, then honey-cinnamon baked potatoes really aren't much of a stretch. They basically occupy the middle ground between plain baked potatoes and sugary yam casserole.

Not everyone is a fan of sweet and savory flavor combos, but there are plenty of other ways to dress up that Texas Roadhouse spud. The two free options listed on the menu are "buttery spread" (aka margarine) and sour cream, but here's a hot tip: As in our Texas Roadhouse roll-ordering hack, it's possible to ask for a different flavor of butter(y spread) instead of honey cinnamon. Garlic butter and lemon pepper butter may both be available in the kitchen, and all you have to do is ask.

If you don't mind paying an upcharge to top your potato, the magic word you're looking for is "loaded." At Texas Roadhouse, loaded means you'll get sour cream, shredded cheddar, and bacon. The latter two items are also available as separate add-ons, as is chili with beans. Yet another idea is to order mac and cheese as your second side (main courses typically come with two). If you use Side #2 as a topping for Side #1, you'll have a double dose of carb-fueled fun. Sides of sauteed mushrooms or onions would also work, or you could again pay a little extra for a grilled shrimp sidekick. Finally, for the ultimate meaty potato topper, order a pulled pork dinner with a baked potato side and stuff some (or all) of the pork inside the potato.