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.
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. 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.
What are some good mix-ins?
Pretty much anything goes well mixed into a twice baked potato! The filling is so versatile.
- Mix in crispy chopped bacon
- Roasted Broccoli
- Horseradish or Sriracha
- Scallions or chives
- Or keep it simple with just butter and cheese
Can Twice Baked Potatoes Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes! Not only are these potatoes absolutely delicious, but everything can be made ahead of time, if necessary.
- Make 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.
- You can also freeze them individually on a baking sheet and once solid, store them in a freezer-safe resealable plastic bag.
- 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.
Other Potato recipes we love!
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How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes
The Best Twice-Baked Potatoes
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
- 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.
- You can also freeze them individually on a baking sheet and once solid, store them in a freezer-safe resealable plastic bag.
- 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
Other Notes
adapted from allrecipes
`I was looking for a great potato recipe to add for thanksgiving day. I tried it out tonight. Fantastic. Can’t wait to make it again for thanksgiving this year
My brother made these for our family for Mother’s Day. His wife is a retired cooking teacher so he has never cooked ANYTHING! I coached him through but he did the work. We had to use chives instead but they tasted wonderful. We also doubled the recipe which was very easy and baked the potatoes the day before.
Made these and loved them!! Had leftovers a few days later and they reheated beautifully.
Thank you for another great recipe…
Thanks, Patricia! So happy you loved them.
I am a sucker for anything potatoes, and these here twice baked potatoes sound delicious! just the images alone are stunning, thanks for the inspiration :)
“deal with homework I don’t understand” hahahaah yes and Charlotte’s only in 1st grade, shhhh. it’s more like I don’t know how to explain it but yes, the struggle is real. I’m so glad we are starting out with comfort food in January, I’m so not ready for gross kale smoothies.
Potatoes are my love language, Amy! Pinned these so I can try them ASAP!
These look (and sound) wonderful!!!
Thank you, Val!