01 -
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Scrub the golden potatoes under running water and pierce each one several times with a fork to prevent bursting during baking.
02 -
Place the pierced potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for 45 to 60 minutes until they're tender when pierced with a knife.
03 -
While the potatoes bake, blend the mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, fresh lime juice, and optional minced garlic in a food processor until completely smooth. Season with salt to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl.
04 -
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the thick-cut bacon strips until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to cool. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in the skillet. Once cooled, crumble the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
05 -
Season the ribeye cubes generously with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Let them rest at room temperature for 10 minutes - this helps them cook more evenly.
06 -
Increase the skillet heat to medium-high with the reserved bacon fat. Sear the steak cubes for 2 to 3 minutes per side until beautifully caramelized on all sides. Don't overcrowd the pan - work in batches if needed. You want a nice crust while keeping the interior medium-rare (around 130 degrees internal temperature).
07 -
Remove the baked potatoes from the oven. Cut an X in the top of each potato and fluff the insides gently with a fork. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter to each potato and season lightly with salt and pepper.
08 -
Top each fluffed potato with a generous serving of the seared steak bites, crumbled bacon, shredded Colby Jack cheese, a dollop of chipotle mayo, and sliced green onions.
09 -
Serve immediately while the potatoes are still hot and the cheese is melty. Offer extra chipotle mayo on the side for dipping!