The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (2024)

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Twice Baked Potatoes are the ultimate side dish and the perfect addition to any meal! You’re going to love the creamy filling that is loaded with bacon, sour cream and two types of cheese! And don’t forget about that crispy potato skin – so good! Are you all about the sides? Me too! Make sure to try these favorites: spinach artichoke dip,strawberry spinach salad, and ambrosia salad!

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (1)

Twice Baked Potatoes

If you love potatoes, chances are you’ve had your fair share of Twice Baked Potatoes. There’s a lot to love about this decadent side dish. Creamy, cheesy, fluffy goodness that just melts in your mouth. The good news is they are super easy to make at home!

I’m obsessed with potatoes and will take them any way I can get ’em. Quite possibly our favorite side dish ingredient, we love these Garlic Roasted Potatoes,Oven Roasted Herb and Garlic Parmesan Potatoes,Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and our all time favorite Twice Baked Potato Casserole.

I have found the best Twice Baked Potatoes recipe starts with the BEST baked potatoes. So let’s start there.

What Kind Of Potatoes Should I Use?

Good old russet potatoes are the way to go here. A drizzle of olive oil and a generous amount of kosher salt sprinkled over the top of each potato ensures the skins get nice and crisp and extra flavorful.

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Easy Twice Baked Potatoes

This Twice Baked Potatoes recipe is so easy to make and if you don’t want the hassle of stuffing individual potatoes, you should try my Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole – it’s AMAZING.

If you want to make “quick twice baked potatoes”, you can microwave the potatoes instead of baking – this will cut about 45 minutes off of the cook time.

I definitely recommend you do the final baking in the actual oven though. That will get the skins crisp and melt the cheese nicely.

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (2)

Let’s Make Twice Baked Potatoes!

  • Start with russet potatoes. Rub with olive oil and salt and bake until tender.
  • Let potatoes cool until you can handle them with ease. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh leaving a 1/4 inch shell.
  • Combine potato flesh with cream cheese, sour cream, butter and cheese.
  • Fold in bacon and green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Scoop the filling into the potato shells.
  • Top with remaining shredded cheese.
  • Bake and serve!

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (3)

What Ingredients Are Needed?

  • russet potatoes
  • olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • cream cheese – twice baked potatoes with cream cheese results in an ultra creamy filling
  • sour cream – if you want to make the twice baked potatoes without sour cream, just add in an extra 4 oz of cream cheese)
  • butter
  • shredded cheddar cheese (or any other cheese you prefer)
  • green onions (can also use chives)
  • bacon
  • salt and pepper to taste

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (4)

Make Ahead Twice Baked Potatoes

A common question especially during the holidays and thankfully, the answer is YES. This side dish is a must make for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I love that I can get most of the work done ahead of time.

  • Bake the potatoes and mix up the filling. Fill the potato shells with the filling and wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Sprinkle on cheese and bake on serving day.

Can You Freeze Twice Baked Potatoes?

Sure can!

  1. Follow the instructions in the recipe card below but stop before sprinkling cheese on top and final baking. Let the potatoes and filling cool completely.
  2. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and flash freeze (uncovered) for one hour.
  3. Place frozen potatoes in a freezer bag and place bag in the freezer.
  4. To cook, let potatoes thaw in fridge for 24 hours, top with cheese, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 35o°F.
  5. Potatoes can be frozen for up to 3 months.

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (5)

Extra Delicious Sides To Try

  1. Broccoli Salad – my mom’s recipe and anyone who tries it asks for the recipe
  2. Dinner Rolls – soft little pillows of awesome
  3. Turkey Gravy – hands down, the best turkey gravy I’ve ever had
  4. Twice Baked Potato Casserole – in casserole form, ie. potato perfection
  5. Stuffing Recipe – made with sausage, cranberries and apples – super festive
  6. Cranberry Sauce – easier than you think and WAY better than store bought

How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (6)

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5 from 13 votes

Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes are the ultimate side dish and the perfect addition to any meal! You're going to love the creamy filling that is loaded with bacon, sour cream and two types of cheese! And don't forget about that crispy potato skin - so good!

Course Side

Cuisine American

Keyword potatoes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Calories 309kcal

Author Trish-Mom on Timeout

Ingredients

  • 8 medium russet potatoes scrubbed clean and dried
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp kosher salt
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 12 oz shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 4 green onions thinly sliced
  • 8 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
  • salt and pepper to taste

Garnish

  • chives or green onions
  • bacon crumbles
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • Rub potatoes with olive oil and salt and place on a large baking sheet.

  • Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork, flipping halfway through.

  • Let cool for at least 15 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides leaving a 1/4-inch shell.

  • Combine potato flesh with cream cheese, sour cream, butter and 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese in a large bowl.

  • Use a potato masher to mash together until desired consistency is reached.

  • Fold in crumbled bacon and green onions. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Scoop the filling into the potato shells. You want the filling to be pretty generous.

  • Top each potato half with the remaining shredded cheese.

  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and potatoes are heated through.

  • Serve immediately.

Notes

MICROWAVE OPTION

  • If you want to make "quick twice baked potatoes", you can microwave the potatoes instead of baking - this will cut about 45 minutes off of the cook time.

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 1142mg | Potassium: 524mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 520IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 193mg | Iron: 1.2mg

The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (7)

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The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with twice-baked potatoes? ›

Twice baked potatoes are the perfect side dish to almost any meal and they are always a hit during the holidays. You will often find them on the menu at Easter and Christmas time. You can serve them along side ham, chicken, fish, steak, soup, or salad!

Why are restaurant baked potatoes so good? ›

Sans the foil, chefs typically coat the outside of the potatoes with some olive oil. As briefly mentioned, drizzling the well-seasoned outer shell with olive oil creates an even crispier outside that compliments the extra fluffy inside of the potato.

Why are my twice-baked potatoes falling apart? ›

I learned the hard way not to wrap the potatoes in foil before baking. It softens the shells and they will fall apart not good! Baking them unwrapped makes the shells stronger for scooping out the potato flesh later.

Why are my twice-baked potatoes gummy? ›

They are gummy because they were either overbaked, under-baked, or wrapped while baking. To make fluffy twice-baked potatoes, you need to start by baking the potatoes perfectly the first time because when you return them to the oven for the second time, it is only for 10-13 minutes.

How do I cook Kansas City twice-baked potatoes? ›

Preheat oven to 400°F. For 8 oz. potatoes, bake 40 minutes and for 5 oz. potatoes, bake 25 minutes.

Do you cover twice-baked potatoes when reheating? ›

Reheating Twice Baked Potatoes in the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place potatoes on an oven-safe baking dish and cover loosely with foil. Heat for 15-20 minutes until warmed through. Check potatoes and re-cover them to prevent drying out.

Can you eat the skin of a twice baked potato? ›

The skins of twice-baked potatoes can absolutely be eaten. They are salted and crispy and are absolutely excellent to eat. In addition, there is quite a bit of nutrient in the potato skins.

How long can twice-baked potatoes sit out? ›

You want to be able to eat your potato without worrying if you are going to get food poisoning or botulism. Here's how you can ensure that your baked potatoes are safe to eat. DON'T let your potato sit out in the open at room temperature for over four hours regardless of whether or not it is wrapped in aluminum foil.

Why do restaurants put salt on the outside of baked potatoes? ›

Why is it common to salt the exterior of a baked potato? A: Chefs started doing this years ago to allow the salt to absorb or draw out the moisture of the potato while baking, which results in a dry, fluffy potato. They used to do something similar with prime rib, sometimes baking it over rock salt.

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400? ›

We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

How do restaurants make baked potatoes so quickly? ›

According to Restaurant Ninjas, restaurants that serve baked potatoes bake their potatoes in advance and keep them in warming equipment. Moreover, there is a constant cycle of new potatoes going out to ensure the food is fresh.

What is the difference between baked potato and twice-baked potato? ›

What Is the Difference Between a Baked Potato and a Twice-Baked Potato? Baked potatoes are whole potatoes (usually russet or Idaho) baked until the insides are tender and fluffy. Twice-baked potatoes take two trips into the oven. First the potatoes are baked until soft and tender on the inside.

Why are my twice-baked potatoes runny? ›

The likely cause of runny potatoes is too much liquid.

Can you over bake a baked potato? ›

Visual signs: The potato skin will start to wrinkle when over cooked. The potato, when wrapped in foil or placed on the bottom of a pan will have a dark brown spot on the bottom, a sure sign of over cooking. Foil traps the moisture in the potato causing the skin to be wet and the inside flavorless or gummy.

Can I bake potatoes ahead of time and reheat? ›

Cool baked potatoes completely, place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and refrigerate them. The USDA says they can be safely refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. Like all foods that have been cooked and cooled, potatoes should be reheated to at least 165 degrees F.

Can you eat the skin of a twice-baked potato? ›

The skins of twice-baked potatoes can absolutely be eaten. They are salted and crispy and are absolutely excellent to eat. In addition, there is quite a bit of nutrient in the potato skins.

Does Gordon Ramsay own one potato two potato? ›

One Potato Two Potato is a joint venture production company co-owned by world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay and Optomen Television.

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