Heat oven to 350º and adjust oven rack to the middle position. Lightly rub each potato with vegetable oil and place directly on the oven rack. Bake for 1¼ hours. Use a fork to pierce an X into each potato, then press the ends to open and allow steam to escape. Alternately, if you’re in a hurry, you can microwave the potatoes in a shallow baking dish for 9-12 minutes, turning after every 3, or until a knife pierces the potato with little resistance.

Warm the chicken and toss with desired amount of barbecue sauce. Top the cooked potatoes with butter and/or sour cream, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add a generous serving of chicken, then top with bacon, scallions and cheese.