Twice Baked Potatoes

Name: Twice Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 4 medium russet potatoes; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tbsp bacon grease (or use olive oil); ¼ cup whole milk; ¼ cup butter (melted); 2 tbsp sour cream; 1 ¼ cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided); ½ cup crumbled bacon (divided); ¼ tsp salt

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Twice Baked Potatoes have crispy skin stuffed with mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon! Make them in the oven, air fryer, or as a casserole.

bacon and cheddar melted on twice baked potatoes

My grandmother used to make us twice baked potatoes when I was a kid, and I’ve been a fan ever since! It’s like having your favorite mashed potatoes and baked potatoes at once, and somehow they are even better when combined.

Ingredients Needed

The main ingredient in this classic dish is potatoes, of course! Add in sour cream, melted cheese, and crispy bacon crumbles, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Potatoes: Choose Idaho or russet potatoes for their high starch content and low moisture content.
Kosher Salt: Use salt to add flavor and make the skins crispy.
Bacon Grease: Brush on the skins to make them crispy.
Milk: Add milk to make the filling creamy.
Butter: Use butter to add fat and flavor to the filling.
Sour Cream: It adds a tangy flavor and makes the filling creamy.
Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheese makes the potatoes cheesy and adds flavor.
Crumbled Bacon: Add bacon bits for flavor and texture.
Salt: Make the potatoes more flavorful with a little salt in the filling.

How To Make Twice Baked Potatoes

a hand poking holes into a potato with a fork

Start by using a fork to poke holes on all sides of the scrubbed potatoes.

4 potatoes sprinkled with salt arranged on a baking rack

Rinse the potatoes with water, place them on a wire rack on a sheet pan, and sprinkle them with kosher salt on both sides.

Bake the potatoes at 450˚F for 45-55 minutes, until tender.

a hand holding a knife that is cutting a baked spud

Remove the potatoes from the oven and cut them in half. Use tongs or oven mitts to hold the hot potatoes.

use an ice cream scoop to remove insides leaving skin intact

Allow the potatoes to cool slightly, then scoop out the insides leaving the skins intact. A metal ice cream scoop is the perfect tool for this step!

add cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon to bowl

Mash the potatoes in a bowl and then add the milk, melted butter, sour cream, one cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/3 cup of bacon bits. Stir to combine.

eight russets tipped with cheese and bacon on a wire rack

Brush the potato skins with bacon grease and place them back on the wire rack. Fill the skins with the mashed potato mixture. I like using a medium-sized dough scoop for this step. Return the filled skins to the oven and cook them for the second time at 450˚F for 10-13 minutes.

top with cheese and bacon before returning to the oven

Remove the stuffed potatoes with bacon from the oven and top them with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Return them to the oven for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Other Ways To Make Them

Mashed Twice Baked Potatoes

You can also prepare them as mashed potatoes! This is a great option if you don’t enjoy the skins.

Bake the potatoes as directed in the recipe. Or, if you are short on time, you can peel, dice, and boil the potatoes instead.
Make the filling but add two additional tablespoons of sour cream, one additional tablespoon of butter, and increase the milk to 1/3 cup.
Spread it into a small greased casserole dish instead of putting it back into the skins.
Bake it at 350˚F for 20-25 minutes until heated through.
Add the toppings and return to the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.

Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes

To make them in the air fryer, follow the recipe as directed but reduce the temperature to 400˚F and cook them for 35-45 minutes, turning them halfway through.
After adding the filling, work in batches to finish cooking them since they won’t all fit in the air fryer at once. Cook the stuffed potatoes at 400˚F for 8-10 minutes and then melt the cheese on top for 2-4.

several twice baked potatoes on a wire rack

Toppings For Double Baked Potatoes

There are so many toppings choices! You can add the topping before putting them in the oven for the second time or add the toppings afterward.

Cheese: cheddar, pepper jack, parmesan
Meat: bacon bits, diced ham, cooked sausage
Veggies: cooked broccoli, sliced green onions, mushrooms, minced garlic
Other: sour cream, black beans, salsa, mac and cheese, french fried onions

twice baked potatoes with bacon and cheese cooling on a wire rack

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

What to serve with stuffed potatoes?

They go well with a main dish such as steak, chicken, pork, or pot roast. Add a green salad, oven-roasted veggies, and a dinner roll to complete the meal.

How to reheat twice baked potatoes?

To reheat them, preheat the oven to 350˚F. Place the potatoes on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until heated through.

What are the best potatoes for baking?

The best potatoes for baking are ones with a high starch content and a low moisture content. Choose either russets or Idaho potatoes.

a twice baked potato with a bite out of it

More Vegetable Side Dishes

Make perfectly roasted asparagus for dinner or serve it as a holiday side dish!
Boiled corn on the cob is a classic that we look forward to every summer.
Serve these tender glazed shredded carrots with chicken, beef, fish, or pork!
Mac and cheese spaghetti squash is the veggie version of macaroni and cheese.