Twice Baked Potatoes

These are the best Twice Baked Potatoes! This easy recipe is loaded with all your favorite ingredients! Make Ahead, family friendly, and perfect on their own or as a side.

Can’t get enough potatoes? Don’t miss our other classics, like Smashed Potatoes and Mashed Potatoes.

Easy Twice Baked Potatoes

Now that my kids finally like potatoes, I’m working them into every single meal, making up for lost time! HA. I’ve been cooking baked potatoes and these twice baked potatoes with reckless abandon.

In this twice baked potato recipe, potatoes are baked to tender perfection, then the flesh is scooped out and mixed with butter, milk, cheese, bacon, and seasonings, placed back in the potato shell and baked again. They are so good!

What is a Twice Baked Potato?

A twice-baked potato is creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes nestled in crisp, salty potato skin. Basically a potato boat! First you roast the potatoes whole so they get tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Then you take all the innards and mix it with goodies like butter, cheese, milk, and/or bacon and fill the potato skins back up and bake it again. Comforting, satisfying, and loved by millions.

Twice Baked Potato Recipe

Here’s what what you’ll need to make these baked potatoes:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Russet potatoes: These are the best type of potato to use. Make sure they’re all uniform in size, so they cook the same.
• Sour cream: Makes the potatoes nice and creamy, with a slight tangy flavor.
• Milk: Whole milk is ideal, but you can use as low as 1% if preferred.
• Butter: We use salted butter for this recipe. If using unsalted, we suggest adding in some salt. Potatoes need salt.
• Cheddar cheese: For best flavor, use sharp cheddar cheese and freshly grated off the block.
• Bacon: Salty, crisp bacon adds awesome flavor.
• Scallions: We love this mellow onion that has a subtle peppery flavor. Simply omit if you don’t like them.
• Vegetable oil: Rubbed on the outside of the potatoes, which helps achieve the crispy potato skin while baking.
• Seasonings: Kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Recipe Variations

Pretty much anything goes well mixed into a twice baked potato! The filling is so versatile. Here are some other suggestions:

• Try different cheeses: If cheddar isn’t your thing, try swiss, Pepper jack, or one of your favorite soft cheeses.
• Add in a veggie: We love the addition of roasted broccoli.
• Want it spicy? Add in some horseradish or Sriracha.
• Use chives: Swap out the scallions for chives.
• Need it vegetarian? Just omit the bacon.
• Keep them simple: Nothing wrong with just butter and cheese!

How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes

If you know how to make a baked potato, then you can definitely make a twice baked one! Here’s a brief summary:
(For all the details, scroll below to the complete printable recipe card.)

1. Prep and bake the potatoes: Clean and dry the potatoes, then prick them all over with a fork. Rub them with the vegetable oil and bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees F, or until tender.
2. Slice the potatoes and scoop out the flesh: Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop flesh into a large bowl, leaving a small rim of the potato intact so you don’t tear the shell. Lay the hollowed out potato shells back onto the baking sheet.
3. Add the mix-ins: Add cooked bacon, sour cream, half of the cheese, the scallions, milk, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into the bowl. Using a handheld mixer, blend until combined and creamy.
4. Stuff the potato shells: Divide mixture among the potato skins, then sprinkle with reserved bacon, cheese, and onion.
5. Bake again: Place back into the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F until warmed through and cheese had melted.

Make Ahead and Storage

Not only are these potatoes absolutely delicious, but everything can be made ahead of time, if necessary.

• Make Ahead: Prep them up to 3 days ahead, stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator, then just pop them in the oven when you’re ready.
• Can you freeze twice baked potatoes? Yep! You can freeze them individually on a baking sheet and once solid, store them in a freezer-safe resealable plastic bag up to 2 months.
• How to reheat twice baked potatoes: To reheat the potatoes, you’ll basically be baking them a third time. Reheat chilled potatoes in the oven at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or about 30-40 minutes if they’re frozen.

More Potato Recipes:

• Baked Sweet Potato
• Funeral Potatoes
• Roasted Potatoes
• Potato Latkes
• Mashed Potato Cakes

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Twice Baked Potatoes

5 from 11 votes

These are the best Twice Baked Potatoes loaded with all your favorite ingredients! Perfect on their own or as a satisfying side.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 large russet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 12 ounces bacon , diced
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 scallions , diced
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup butter , softened
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes on a baking sheet; prick them in several places with a fork. Rub them with the vegetable oil and bake for 1 hour, or until tender. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• In the meantime, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop flesh into a large bowl, leaving a small rim of the potato intact so you don’t tear the shell. Lay the hollowed out potato shells back onto the baking sheet.
• Add the bacon (reserving some), sour cream, half of the cheese, the onions (reserving some), milk, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into the bowl. Using a handheld mixer, blend until combined and creamy.
• Divide mixture among the potato skins, then sprinkle with reserved bacon, cheese, and onion. Place back into the oven for 15 minutes until warmed through and cheese had melted.
• Dig in and enjoy!

Notes

1. These can be made up to 3 days ahead, stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator, then just pop them in the oven when you’re ready.
2. You can also freeze them individually on a baking sheet and once solid, store them in a freezer-safe resealable plastic bag up to 2 months.
3. To reheat the potatoes, you’ll basically be baking them a third time. Reheat chilled potatoes in the oven at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or about 30-40 minutes if they’re frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 606mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 658IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Twice baked potatoes

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