A crowd pleasing side dish these twice baked potatoes are made with baked potato shells stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes then topped with cheese!
Can’t get enough potato dishes? Try these easy potato skins, loaded baked potato soup or garlic mashed red potatoes, too!
Table of Contents
Best Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
This twice baked potatoes recipe is one of my favorite Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving side dishes to make. We never go a holiday without these or my make ahead mashed potato casserole!
If you are a potato, cheese and bacon lover like me, you are bound to love these! They have the same flavors as a loaded baked potato the skin is a little crisp like my hasselback potatoes recipe. This recipe really is worth the extra steps to take it over the top!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Potatoes: You can’t have twice baked potatoes without the potato. Russets are the best to use as they are easy to fill.
- Olive oil: This is used to coat the exterior of the potatoes before baking to help give them a crispy skin.
- Butter: Add a little to help make the filling extra creamy.
- Half-and-half: The creamy texture of theses mashed potato filling is no joke, thanks to the addition of half-and-half.
- Sour cream: The tang of sour cream works so well with the sharpness of the cheese and the salt from the bacon.
- Cheese: I love using a sharp cheddar cheese to help balance the all the flavors.
- Bacon bits: The saltiness of the bits cut through the creaminess.
- Green onion: This is optional, but I love the freshness and a little spice it adds.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt and ground black pepper are all that you need for seasoning.
How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes
For the perfect baked potato, preheat oven to 400°F 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 for one hour until fork tender, then allow to cool.
Slice 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 mixing bowl and then stir in butter, half and half, sour cream, salt and pepper.
Once potatoes are mashed, spoon mixture back into the skins. Top with cheese, bacon bits and chives. Bake in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Salt and pepper to taste. We love to serve them with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
Storing and Freezing
- Storing: Store leftover twice-baked potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days,
- Reheating: I typically reheat my twice baked potatoes in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes (I add a few extra minutes since they’re cold before baking). You can microwave them as well for 2-3 minutes, however I prefer the crispy texture that the oven gives them.
- Freezing: To freeze, allow to cool and then wrap each 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.
More side dish recipes with potatoes include loaded baked potato casserole, cheesy potatoes, cheesy scalloped potatoes and loaded baked potato salad!
More Favorite Potato Recipes
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Twice Baked Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
- 6 medium baked potatoes
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
Filling
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup half-and-half
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Topping
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup bacon bits
- 1 bunch green onions , chopped thin, optional
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Bake potatoes. Scrub 6 potatoes under cold water. Pierce each with a fork several times and place on the baking sheet. Brush with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon salt. Bake 1 hour. Let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
- Mash potato flesh. Cut potatoes in half. Scoop the white potato interior into a large bowl, leaving a little bit so the skins don’t tear. Add 6 Tablespoons butter, 1/3 cup half-and-half, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the bowl. Mash until combined, being careful not to over-mash.
- Add mashed potatoes back to shells. Scoop the potato mixture back into the skins. Top with cheese and bacon.
- Bake. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Top with sliced green onions, if desired, and season with salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQ
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 with cheese on top.
Large russet potatoes are the best potatoes to use when making this recipe. They are large enough to hold the filling, and the insides are nice and starchy, resulting in a super creamy and fluffy consistency. The skin also gets extra crispy when baked which adds an amazing texture and flavor.
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 the next day, preheat oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until nice and bubbly.
If the potatoes are gummy they you over-baked, underbaked or over mashed the potatoes. Only bake for 1 hour and test with a fork to see if they’re soft. When you’re mashing, be careful to not over-mix. Try to add all the ingredients at once and mash quickly.
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Nut-Free, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
SO good! I love twice baked potatoes!
Thanks Brady! They are a staple in my family through the holidays!!
My kids will love to have these baked potatoes for dinner!
They are always a hit with my kids! Hope you enjoy!
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!
These are 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! :)
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. :)
I make these with chopped shrimp they are so good.
The twice baked potatoes are fabulous!
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! :)
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! :)
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! :)
Oh these look so good! Thanks so much!
They are my absolute favorite, I hope you enjoy these Denise! :)
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 my! What a fabulous side dish. So delicious, I think I will make these again tonight. Love the photography too!
I hope you enjoy these Jessica, they are definitely a family favorite! Thanks for your comment. :)
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.
These are perfect! Especially for a rainy grey day like today!
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! :)
Fabulous recipes for potatoes! So delicious!
They’re my fave too! Perfect for a cold winter day. :)