Easy Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice Baked Potatoes are a classic side dish to elevate any meal. A restaurant favorite that you can easily make at home. Tender and fluffy baked potatoes mixed with loads of cheese, sour cream and garlic, topped with crispy bacon and baked until creamy and delicious.
Serve twice baked potatoes alongside prime rib, juicy grilled ribeye steaks, smoked chicken or any holiday main dish. They are a great addition to holiday dinners and special celebrations but easy enough for weeknight dinners for the family.
Ingredients for Twice Baked Potatoes
- Russet Potatoes – 4 large potatoes or 6 medium size
- Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt
- Cooked Bacon
- Butter
- Fresh Garlic
- Sour Cream
- Heavy Cream
- Black Pepper
- Shredded Cheese: Sharp Cheddar Cheese or Colby
- Green Onions or Chives
How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes
- Scrub potatoes and pat dry.
- Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt salt is optional). Prick with a fork or make a small slice about 1/16 inch deep down the center of each potato. and place on a baking sheet.
- Cook for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes.
- Slice potatoes in half, length-wise.
- Scoop potato flesh into a large mixing bowl, carefully leaving skin in tact.
- Add butter, garlic clove, salt, pepper, sour cream, heavy cream and shredded cheese.
- Mix with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down sides of the bowl if needed and mix thoroughly. If you don’t have a mixer, you can use a potato masher to mash the potatoes and blend the filling.
- Spoon potato mixture back into potato shells and top with crumbled bacon.
- Bake filled potatoes for 20 -25 minutes or until potatoes are heated through.
- Garnish with green onion slices and serve immediately.
Tips for Making Twice Baked Potatoes
You don’t have to use giant baking potatoes for twice baked potatoes. I prefer to use medium size potatoes and cut them in half after baking the first time. They are rich and decadent and when cut in half, it’s easy to eat half of a baked potato if you are having a big meal.
How to Store and Reheat
- Storage: Store leftover twice baked potatoes wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Cook on a baking sheet at 350° for 15- 20 minutes.
How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes in Advance
Prepare the potatoes up to the point of filling the potatoes with the potato and cheese mixture. Place in a baking dish and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Top with bacon and bake according to directions, adding 5- 10 minutes baking time.
Can you freeze twice baked potatoes?
- Twice Baked Potatoes can be frozen and are super handy to have in the freezer. Prepare following the directions to make ahead. Do not bake for the second time. Wrap in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil.
- Label the potatoes with the date and pop them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To bake from frozen, unwrap the foil and plastic wrap and place in a baking dish. Top with additional cheese if desired and cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes or until heated through.
- Potatoes can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before baking and they will heat quicker, about 35 minutes.
Twice baked potatoes have always been one of our favorite side dishes. Sometimes I make loaded mashed potatoes and bake it into a Twice Baked Potato Casserole recipe for the holidays or if we are feeding a crowd. It’s just as delicious without the hassle of stuffing the potato skins. We also love Potato Gratin for holiday dinners.
Whether you are meal prepping for the week or planning a special dinner celebration, these easy twice baked potatoes are sure to be a hit. They are loaded with delicious flavors and are really simple to make.
Have you tried this Easy Twice Baked Potatoes recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!
Easy Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes 6 medium or 4 large
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt divided use
- 5 slices cooked bacon crumbled
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream or milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar or colby
- 2 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Scrub potatoes and dry well.
- Drizzle with olive oil, rubbing all over each potato. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt.
- Prick with a fork.
- Cook for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes.
- Slice potatoes in half, length-wise and scoop insides of potatoes into a mixer bowl, carefully leaving skin in tact.
- Place potato skins on the baking sheet.
- Add butter, salt, pepper, sour cream, heavy cream and shredded cheese to the potatoes in the mixer bowl and beat until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the side of the bowl if needed and mix well.
- Fill potato skins with mixture. Top with crumbled bacon.
- Bake for 20 -25 minutes.
- Garnish with green onion slices and serve immediately.
Notes
- Store leftover twice baked potatoes wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on a baking sheet at 350° for 15- 20 minutes.
- To Freeze: Wrap in 2 layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator before baking. Top with bacon and bake according to directions, adding 10- 15 minutes baking time.
Nutrition