The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe – One of my all-time favorite side dishes! These twice baked potatoes make the perfect appetizer and are a true crowd pleaser! So easy and yummy!
This twice baked potato recipe is one of my favorite side dishes to make for the holidays. I also love easy potato skins, cheesy potatoes and baked parmesan potato wedges.
Twice baked potatoes
One of my all-time favorite side dishes is twice baked potatoes! You just can’t go wrong with them. If you are a potato, cheese and bacon lover like me, you are bound to love these! They are perfect for the holidays and are always a huge hit.
I’ve been making these easy twice baked potatoes with my Mom and Gramma ever since I can remember. I have such fun memories cooking with my Gramma during the holidays. If I had it my way, these twice baked potatoes would BE the meal…they are just that good. ;)
Using my best tip for baking potatoes really takes this twice baked potato recipe over the top! I love the skin when it has the added salt. Seriously, if you haven’t tried these twice baked potatoes yet, you have got to make them!
What are twice baked potatoes?
A twice baked potato is a potato that has first been fully cooked in the oven. The white potato interior is then scooped out, to leave the potato skin as the ‘shell.’ Then the potato interior is mixed with fillings such as butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon. Next the potato mixture is scooped back into the potato shell and baked in the oven again.
How to make twice baked potatoes
Scroll down for the printable twice baked potato recipe and video tutorial.
- Bake the potatoes. Pre-heat oven to 400° and line baking sheet with foil. Wash potatoes under cold water and then pierce with fork several times. Place potatoes on pan and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake potatoes for one hour, then allow to cool.
- Scoop out interior and make potato mixture. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out majority of inside of potato (leave a little bit so that skins don’t tear). Mash insides in large bowl and then mix in butter, half and half, sour cream, salt and pepper.
- Add potato filling back in potato shells. Once potatoes are mashed, scoop the potato mixture back into the skins.
- Bake again. Top with cheese, bacon bits and green onions. Bake in the oven at 375 for 10-15 min or until cheese is bubbly. Salt and pepper to taste.
Can you make twice baked potatoes the day before?
Yes! If making the day before, follow recipe instructions, however do not bake for the second time yet (step 4). Once the potato mixture has been scooped back into the potato shells, transfer the potatoes to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve twice baked potatoes the next day, preheat oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until nice and bubbly.
How long do you reheat twice baked potatoes?
I typically reheat my twice baked potatoes in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes (I add a few extra minutes since the potatoes are cold before baking). You can microwave them as well, however I prefer the crispy texture that the oven gives them. If microwaving, I’d reheat them for about 2-3 minutes.
How to freeze twice baked potatoes
To freeze twice baked potatoes, allow to cool and then wrap each twice baked potato individually in aluminum foil. Then place in freezer. To thaw, stick in the refrigerator overnight then bake in oven for 15-20 minutes the next day.
The BEST Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 baked potatoes (medium-sized)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
For filling:
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For topping:
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup bacon bits
- 1 bunch green onions (chopped thin)
- can add more S&P to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with foil. Prep the potatoes by washing them under cold water. Next pierce the potatoes with a fork several times and then place on baking pan. Brush potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle on the kosher salt. Bake potatoes for one hour. Allow potatoes to cool.
- Cut potatoes in half and then scoop out most of the inside of the potato. Leave a little bit, so the skins don’t tear. Mash the inside of the potatoes in a large bowl and then mix in the butter, half and half, sour cream, salt and pepper.
- Once the potatoes are mashed, scoop the potatoes back into the skins.
- Then top with cheese, bacon and green onions. Bake at 375 for 10-15 min or until cheese is bubbly.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Enjoy!!
Fabulous recipes for potatoes! And the fried mac & cheese sounds heavenly and a must try! Potatoes & pastas are my favs!
They’re my fave too! Perfect for a cold winter day. :)
Loading potatoes up with delicious toppings is one of our favorite meals! My husband and I had a very DIY wedding in September, and in an effort to feed our large guest list without spending a fortune, dinner was a loaded potato bar. We still have a freezer full of leftover baked potatoes so we’ve ben getting creative adding all sorts of vegetables, sauces, meats, and whatnot for quick and easy twice baked potato meals! :)
These sound perfect! Especially for a rainy grey day like today!
What I like to do is cook my potatoes in the microwave, cut in half and scoop out the insides. Mix insides with grated cheese, a little margarine and some chilli/flakes and seeds. Put back into the skins, and cover with grated cheese and put under the griller until nice and toasted. BEAUTIFUL !!
Yummy! What a great idea when you need a quick and delicious meal! Thanks for sharing Rita.
Oh my! What a fabulous side dish. This looks so delicious, I think I will make these tonight. Love the photography too!
I hope you enjoy these Jessica, they are definitely a family favorite! Thanks for your comment. :)
Is there a way to make this very same recipe but on the “skinny” side? Less calories, perhaps? Any ideas? Who can resist a baked potato…especially TWICE??? :)
Yeah, you could use less butter, lowfat milk, lowfat sour cream, and less cheese! It will still taste good! :)
Oh these look so good! Thanks so much!
They are my absolute favorite, I hope you enjoy these Denise! :)
I’m making these tonight! Quick question – on the recipe, is it supposed to be 1/3 cup of half & half? Thanks!
Yes it is! :)
Hi Jamielyn, I sometimes visit your site and really appreciate all the work you do. Just read the recipe for twice baked potatoes and notice that you throw out the left over skins. Instead of throwing them out cut in wedges, cover with cheese, bacon pieces, green onions etc., put back in oven until toasty. Serve with salsa an sour cream and anything else you crave.
Sounds delicious to dip those in salsa and sour cream Bev! Thanks for the idea! :)
These look fantastic. I definitelly want to try them. Just to make it clear since English isn’t my mother tongue and I’ve never made baked potatoes, in the first step, that baking for one hour means in an oven or on a pan?
Hi Lucy! Yes, bake them for one hour in an oven! :)
I just looked at this today. The twice baked potatoes sound fabulous. But i’m guessing the “1/3 half-&-half” is 1/3 CUP?
Yes, 1/3 cup of half and half! :)
I make these with chopped shrimp they are so good.
The unit for half and half is missing!
Thanks, Susie! I updated the post, thanks for pointing that out! It should be 1/3 cup. :)
These look great, could I make them ahead of time?
Definitely! I often assemble them the night before, cover with saran wrap and then bake the next day. :)
These are my favorite for the holidays! SO yummy!
Mine too! Such a staple! :)
Wow, what is an interesting potato recipe! This is absolutely fantastic! So YUMMY! Is good food and this looks like one of the BEST!
They’ve been a family staple for as long as I can remember. I’m glad you enjoyed them!
My kids will love to have these baked potatoes for dinner!
They are always a hit with my kids! Hope you enjoy!
Looks so good! I love twice baked potatoes!
Thanks Brady! They are a staple in my family through the holidays!!
This sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it out!
These twice baked potatoes are truly the BEST! They were so creamy and i loved the cheese and bacon! Such a yummy and easy recipe!