Twice Baked Potatoes

These twice baked potatoes are a family-favorite recipe that easily upgrades your standard baked potatoes! They make the ultimate loaded baked potatoes that are full of flavor from sour cream, ham, bacon, cheese, and more! They're easy to make and a great side dish to make in advance or have in the oven while you are busy with other cooking!

Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

These easy-to-make ultimate loaded stuffed potatoes are simply the best way to enjoy them! Especially if you love cheese and bacon and food you can make in advance, and what's not to love about all of that?!

Jump to:

• Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
• 📍 Origin
• 🥘 Twice Baked Potato Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
• 🔪 How To Make Twice-Baked Potatoes
• 🍽️ What To Serve With Twice Baked Potatoes
• 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
• 🙂😀 Testimonials
• 🥄 Make Ahead Options
• 🥡 Storing & Reheating
• ❓ Why Are My Twice-Baked Potatoes Falling Apart?
• ❓ What Is The Difference Between A Baked Potato And A Twice-Baked Potato?
• ❓ What Are The Best Potatoes For Twice-Baked Potatoes?
• 🥔 More Potato Side Dishes
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

📍 Origin

With their creamy filling and crispy skin, twice-baked potatoes have been a beloved dish in American households for decades. Their origins can be traced back to early European settlers who sought to elevate the humble potato into a dish worthy of special occasions.

🥘 Twice Baked Potato Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions

Baking Potatoes

• Russet Potatoes - 4 large russet potatoes. The starch content makes these perfect for baking! Read my post on the best potatoes for baked potatoes to learn more.
• Oil (optional) - 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Use this as an optional step of coating the potatoes while baking.
• Salt (optional) - A pinch of coarse Himalayan or Redmond salt.

Twice Baked Potatoes Filling

• Butter - ½ cup of butter (or 1 stick), softened at room temperature. This adds richness and creates a creamy texture.
• Milk - ½ cup of milk or buttermilk (or a buttermilk substitute) are all excellent in these easy potatoes! I suggest whole milk or half & half, but any dairy will do. You can also use non-dairy milk types like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.
• Cheese - 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese. I like sharp cheddar cheese for more flavor, but the mellow flavor of mild cheddar or colby cheese is great, too.
• Sour Cream - 1 cup of sour cream (or a sour cream substitute), Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or cottage cheese.
• Ham - ½ cup of diced ham. You can fry it before adding it, the caramelized ham adds depth of flavor.

Twice Baked Potato Topping

• Bacon - My range of 4 - 6 slices is varied because you require fewer thick-sliced bacon slices than standard bacon slices to reach roughly ¼ cup of cooked, chopped bacon.
• Cheese - ¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese. Parmesan is also an excellent cheese to top these taters with!
• Chives - 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped chives. Other tasty herbs that can be sprinkled on the topping include thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, basil, or herbes de Provence.

Consider replacing the ham with sautéed mushrooms or sauteed onions for a vegetarian version. If you're looking for a spicier kick, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice-baked potatoes are easy to make, so don't let them intimidate you! You will need a baking sheet or dish, measuring utensils, and a small mixing bowl.

This recipe will make 8 twice-baked potatoes. I usually serve each half per person, but there's always a fight for leftovers!

Bake the Potatoes Until Tender

Step 1: Preheat. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C/Gas Mark 8).

Step 2: Prepare the potatoes. Clean and fork 4 large russet potatoes, and place them on squares of aluminum foil. If desired, drizzle them with 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and sprinkle with coarse-grain Himalayan or Redmond salt.

Step 3: Bake. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Squeeze the potatoes to see if they're tender (wear an oven mitt to protect your hand). Remove from oven and allow to cool before handling.

Assemble The Twice Baked Potatoes

Step 4: Slice. Slice each baked potato in half lengthwise.

Step 5: Scoop. Scoop out the inside white of the potato, being careful not to get too close to the skin as it will tear easily. Then, place the scooped-out potato into a mixing bowl.

Step 6: Combine. Add ½ cup (113.5 grams) of softened butter, ½ cup (118 milliliters) of milk, and 1 cup (230 grams) of sour cream, then combine with a hand mixer or masher. Stir in ½ cup (70 grams) of cooked ham and 1 cup (113 grams) of cheddar cheese, season with salt & pepper to taste, and mix again.

Step 7. Fill each halved potato. Spoon filling portions into hollowed-out baked potato skins.

Step 8: Add the topping. Top each filled potato with some of the ¼ cup (59 grams) of bacon and 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of chives (or scallions), and add more cheese if desired.

Step 9: Bake. Bake at 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5) in a greased baking dish for 30-35 minutes, until the cheese topping is melted and/or the filling is turning golden brown.

Step 10: Serve. Remove from the oven when done, and serve immediately.

🍽️ What To Serve With Twice Baked Potatoes

Pair your twice-baked potatoes with any of your favorite entrees! I like to serve them with some Mississippi pot roast, pan-seared lamb chops, or baked boneless short ribs!

Check out my post on what to serve with baked potatoes for more ideas and recipes!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• There are many other optional stir-ins that could be included! Things like chopped broccoli or cauliflower, tasty horseradish, blue cheese, pesto, chicken, cooked ground beef, or mixed vegetables. Try your favorite baked potato toppings!
• Don't forget to pierce the potatoes all over with a fork before baking them. This allows steam to escape and will prevent them from bursting.
• Add the milk in small increments. This way, you can easily add more until you reach your desired level of creaminess.
• Bake your potatoes only until they are just tender during the first bake. Overbaking can make the skin tough and the filling too dry.

🙂😀 Testimonials

I make these all the time! They are my family's favorite! Sometimes I add extra protein and eat it as my main dish!

Kristyn from Shreveport, Louisiana

🥄 Make Ahead Options

Prep these yummy potatoes and set them in the fridge until you're ready to make dinner for a super-fast side dish.

This makes holiday meals easy, too! Your stuffed twice-baked potatoes can be made a day in advance and just popped into the oven after your amazing prime rib roast is finished and resting!

Freezing Twice-Baked Potatoes

Plus, in a pinch, a fully loaded twice-baked potato works as a quick meal! I've been known to make big batches with some super-sized russet potatoes and save each halved and filled potato skin in the freezer for ready-to-eat individual servings.

Freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet for about 2 hours. Once frozen, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them all into a large container or storage bag.

They can be frozen for up to 3 months before or after baking. If before baking, let them thaw overnight before cooking them.

If they were already cooked, you can reheat them straight from frozen.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Let your potatoes cool to room temperature before storing them. Place them into an airtight container (or wrap them tightly) and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating Twice-Baked Potatoes

Place your twice-baked potatoes on a baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) until hot.

Read my guide on reheating baked potatoes for more tips and tricks.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Why Are My Twice-Baked Potatoes Falling Apart?

If your potatoes are falling apart, you most likely scooped too much out of them. You'll want to leave a border of potato still inside (about a quarter inch of flesh).

If you scoop all of the flesh out (only leaving the skin), it will easily tear or break.

❓ What Is The Difference Between A Baked Potato And A Twice-Baked Potato?

As the name suggests, a baked potato is baked once, and a twice-baked potato is baked two times! Standard baked potatoes are baked until tender in the oven, and then you can add your favorite toppings.

A twice-baked potato is baked until tender, then the flesh is scooped out and mixed with your preferred toppings. The mixture is then put back into the potato and baked a second time.

❓ What Are The Best Potatoes For Twice-Baked Potatoes?

Russet potatoes are easily the best potato variety for this recipe! They hold their shape and yield fluffy potatoes due to their high starch content.

Read my ultimate potato guide here!

I'd love to know how you like to customize your twice-baked potatoes. Share your favorite toppings in the comments below, send photos to me at angela@bakeitwithlove.com, or tag BIWL on Instagram with #bake_it_with_love.

🥔 More Potato Side Dishes

• Fondant Potatoes - Sophisticated and creamy potatoes that can upgrade any meal.
• Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Classic mashed potatoes with roasted garlic added for intense flavor!
• Au Gratin Potatoes with Diced Ham - Thinly sliced potatoes layered with a rich cream sauce.
• Homemade Hash Browns From Scratch - Perfectly crisp hashbrowns make a wonderful side dish at breakfast.
• Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions - Chunks of potatoes and onions are fried to perfection.

📖 Recipe Card

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