01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Prick russet potatoes several times with a fork. Rub each potato with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with salt.
02 - Arrange potatoes directly on the oven rack or use a baking sheet. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until potatoes are tender when pierced.
03 - Remove baked potatoes from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Lower oven temperature to 375°F. Slice a lid lengthwise from the top of each potato and carefully scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a quarter-inch shell.
04 - Season the interior of each potato shell with ground black pepper. Crack an egg into the hollowed center of each potato.
05 - Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the eggs. Return potatoes to the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until egg whites are set but yolks remain slightly runny, or to preferred doneness.
06 - Remove potatoes from the oven, garnish with chopped chives or green onions, and add sour cream or crumbled bacon if desired. Serve immediately while hot.