Parmesan encrusted potatoes take baked potatoes to a new level with crispy parmesan, garlic and some salt and pepper. This simple side dish packs a big wow factor.
Place the butter in a nine-by-13-inch baking dish and place it in the oven while it preheats. Preheat to 400 degrees.
While the oven preheats, halve the potatoes, lengthwise.
When the oven is hot, carefully remove the baking dish and tilt it to coat the entire bottom as evenly as possible with the melted butter.
Evenly sprinkle the parmesan, garlic powder, salt and pepper over top of the melted butter. (Use just a touch more of each of the seasonings than you think you might want.)
Place the potatoes, cut-side down, onto the parmesan mixture, pressing them down just slightly.
Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
Serve the potatoes immediately, using a spatula to cut the crispy parmesan between each potato before scooping them out of the dish.