Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (2024)

Twice Baked Potatoes are the perfect party food. Stuffed with sour cream, green onions, and cheese and baked to perfection, they are one crowd-pleaser of a side dish.

Obsessed with spuds? While you’re at it, try out our Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Creamy Potato Soup, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (1)

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What are Twice Baked Potatoes?

Twice-baked potatoes are a classic American side dish that is essentially stuffed potatoes. It blends two favorites – Creamy Mashed Potatoes and tender baked potatoes. They are called “twice baked” because the whole potatoes are first baked, then you scoop out the flesh and season it, re-stuff the potatoes, and bake them one more time in the oven until golden brown. The result is an ultra-creamy, decadent stuffed potato that’s worth writing home about.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (2)

Ingredients

The ingredients for making stuffed twice-baked potatoes are simple pantry and refrigerator staples. This recipe is also very versatile and you can change up the fillings based on what you have on hand. Feel free to experiment with various herbs and cheeses.

  • Russet Potatoes – Select similar-sized potatoes for even cooking.
  • Sour Cream – Full-fat sour cream brings a nice tang to the filling. If you’d like, you can use half sour cream and half Greek yogurt instead.
  • Half and Half – Half and half will help thin out the filling and give it that mashed potatoes texture. You can substitute with equal parts of milk and heavy cream.
  • Green Onions – Fresh, minced green onions or chives provide a pop of color and freshness.
  • Bacon Bits – cook up some bacon using our Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe or Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe (make sure to drain the bacon of excess grease before adding it to the filling).
  • Cheddar Cheese – Extra sharp cheddar cheese is our top pick, but feel free to switch things up and use the cheese blend you love best. Sometimes we do half cheddar cheese and half bleu cheese for the extra tang and depth of flavor.
  • Garlic Parsley Salt – This all-in-one seasoning blend adds nice garlic and herb flavor to the filling. Alternatively, you can use equal parts salt and garlic powder. If you like, you can also add a bit of fresh cracked black pepper.
Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (3)

Pro Tip: Russet Potatoes are the best potatoes for making twice-baked potatoes because they are sturdier than other potatoes so their shells/skins are perfect for stuffing. They also have a high starch content that makes for the creamiest filling.

How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes

  1. Prepare Potatoes – Wash potatoes under cold water and pat them dry. Set on a baking sheet, leaving space between each, and poke each potato several times with a fork.
  2. Bake the Potatoes – at 400°F for about 60-75 minutes until easily pierced with a fork.
  3. Scoop out the potatoes – cut the potatoes in half and keeping the skins intact, scoop out the insides into a large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork.
  4. Make potato filling – Add sour cream, half and half, and parsley salt to the potato flesh and mash the mixture until it’s creamy. Then, stir in the green onions, bacon bits, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
  5. Stuff the potato shells with the mashed potato filling and sprinkle the tops with more cheddar cheese.
  6. Bake Again – Bake stuffed potatoes at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (4)

Pro Tip: To prevent the potatoes from bursting on the first bake, you must poke holes or slice slits in each one in several places. This vents the potato and prevents internal pressure (and a mess) from building up.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (5)

Serve Twice Baked Potatoes with

Stuffed potatoes are a super versatile side dish that pairs well with just about any meat or salad. Pair your stuffed potatoes with:

  • Beef – We like to serve them alongside Pan-Seared Steak or Beef Kabob.
  • ChickenAir Fryer Chicken Wings or Spatchco*ck Chicken are the perfect matches.
  • Salad – add freshness with Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad or Caesar Salad.
  • Kid-Friendly – If you’re whipping up the potatoes for kids pair them with Baked Chicken Nuggets or Popcorn Chicken.

Common Questions

Why are your twice-baked potatoes falling apart?

This can happen if you scooped out too much of the insides, making the potato skins too flimsy. To prevent this, make sure to leave about a quarter of an inch of the flesh intact when scooping.

What’s the best way to scoop potatoes for twice-baked potatoes?

The best way to scoop the potato flesh for twice-baked potatoes is with a large spoon. The smooth back of the spoon will help guide you and make a smooth potato skin for stuffing.

What happens if you overcook a twice-baked potato?

If you overcook your twice-baked potatoes, they will be gummy and dry. To prevent this from happening, make sure to only pre-bake the potatoes until fork tender and reduce the heat to 350˚F for the final bake.

Can you store twice-baked potatoes in the freezer?

It’s not recommended to put twice-baked potatoes in the freezer. Cooked potatoes don’t tend to thaw well and tend to get a bit gummy when reheated.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (6)

Make-Ahead

  • Storing: keep up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Make-Ahead: stuffed potatoes can be prepared 1-2 days in advance, do all the steps except for the last bake. Just before serving, bake until heated through.
  • Reheating: Place them on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the potato is warmed through. Avoid reheating the potatoes in the microwave, as they will turn dry, and gummy.

More Delicious Potato Recipes

  • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
  • Easy Boiled Potatoes Recipe
  • Breakfast Potatoes
  • Crispy Baked Potato Wedges
  • Easy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Twice Baked Potatoes are also a wonderful stand-by to repurpose leftover baked potatoes for an easy lunch and they never taste like leftovers. How do you make your stuffed potatoes? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe

5 from 79 votes

Author: Natalya Drozhzhin

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (8)

Twice Baked Potatoes are a delicious way to use baked potatoes and even leftover baked potatoes. These potatoes are stuffed with creamy potatoes, sour cream, cheese, and chives for the ultimate comfort food. If you're short on time, you can make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or Instant Pot Baked Potatoes and finish them off in the oven after they are stuffed.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 4 people (makes 8 potato halves)

  • 4 russet potatoes, (about 2 lb)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup half and half, or whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp green onions, diced
  • 1/4 cup cooked bacon, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp garlic salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Wash the potatoes under cold water and pat them dry. Place them on a baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between each. Poke each potato in several places with a fork. Bake potatoes at 400°F for about 60-75 minutes or until they are easily pierced with a fork and give a little when pressed.

  • Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides (leaving about 1/4” in the shell) and transfer into a large bowl. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork.

  • Add sour cream, half and half, and parsley salt to the bowl with the potato insides. Mash the mixture together until creamy.

  • Add green onions, bacon bits, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese and stir to combine.

  • Fill the potato skins with the potato mixture and sprinkle the tops with the remaining cheddar cheese. Reduce the oven temperature and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are heated through.

Nutrition Per Serving

392kcal Calories47g Carbs22g Protein13g Fat7g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat4g Monounsaturated Fat30mg Cholesterol575mg Sodium1047mg Potassium4g Fiber3g Sugar321IU Vitamin A14mg Vitamin C294mg Calcium2mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

392

% Daily Value*

Fat

13

g

20

%

Saturated Fat

7

g

44

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

4

g

Cholesterol

30

mg

10

%

Potassium

1047

mg

30

%

Carbohydrates

47

g

16

%

Fiber

4

g

17

%

Sugar

3

g

3

%

Protein

22

g

44

%

Vitamin A

321

IU

6

%

Vitamin C

14

mg

17

%

Calcium

294

mg

29

%

Iron

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: stuffed potatoes, twice baked potatoes

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 392

Natalya Drozhzhin

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (9)

Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.

Read more posts by Natalya

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my twice-baked potatoes falling apart? ›

Cook's Note. I learned the hard way not to wrap the potatoes in foil before baking. It softens the shells and they will fall apart not good!

How do you know if a potato is baked enough? ›

Simply slide the tip of a knife or skewer into the thickest part of the potato. If it pierces the center easily and meets no resistance, your baked beauties are ready to serve. You can also use an instant-read thermometer; inserted into the center of the potato, the temperature should read 208-211˚F.

Why are my twice-baked potatoes gummy? ›

Tip: Don't over mix the potato filling. Over-mixing causes mashed potatoes to become gluey instead of light and fluffy. To Make Ahead: Prepare potatoes completely, without baking them the second time. Place them on a large sheet pan, lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to one day, until ready to bake.

How long to heat up a twice baked potato? ›

Reheating them in the oven at 400° will re-crisp the potato skin while keeping the filling inside nice and creamy still. The potatoes will take about 15 to 20 minutes to reheat again. If you're in a rush, microwaving them is fine too, though parts of the potato might turn a little tough due to uneven heating.

What is a substitute for sour cream in twice-baked potatoes? ›

Greek yogurt replaces the sour cream often found in twice-baked potatoes for a healthier spin on this delicious classic. Meat-eaters will be happy to have bacon added to theirs, but this recipe is plenty delicious without it.

How long can twice-baked potatoes sit out? ›

You want to be able to eat your potato without worrying if you are going to get food poisoning or botulism. Here's how you can ensure that your baked potatoes are safe to eat. DON'T let your potato sit out in the open at room temperature for over four hours regardless of whether or not it is wrapped in aluminum foil.

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400? ›

We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more.

What happens if potatoes aren't cooked enough? ›

Raw potatoes contain solanine and lectins, two compounds that can cause gastric distress and potentially make you sick. Additionally, raw potatoes contain resistant starch, which is difficult to digest, and their overall taste and texture is nothing like the potatoes you know and love. When in doubt, cook that potato.

Do baked potatoes cook faster covered or uncovered? ›

Wrapping potatoes in foil does not hasten baking. On the contrary, since the foil itself has to be heated before the potato begins to bake, cooking times increase slightly. Not only do you get better baked potatoes when you bake them unwrapped, you also save money.

What is the best temperature to bake potatoes? ›

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a fork to poke a few holes into the potatoes. Place on the baking sheet, rub with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with sea salt all over. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.

What is the difference between baked potato and twice-baked potato? ›

The main difference is in the preparation of the mashed potato mixture before it is returned to the skins. Twice-baked potatoes are typically mashed with butter, sour cream, cheese, and seasonings, then spooned back into the potato skins and baked again until golden brown and crispy.

What goes good with twice-baked potatoes? ›

The best side dishes to serve with twice-baked potatoes are Mississippi pot roast, chicken drumsticks, roasted duck, braised beef, vegetarian chili, kalua pork, lamb chops, grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, shrimp scampi, steak, chicken Caesar salad, BBQ ribs, mushroom gravy, and green beans almondine.

How do you keep twice baked potatoes warm for a potluck? ›

  1. There are several ways to keep baked potatoes warm for a potluck:
  2. Slow cooker: After baking the potatoes, wrap them in foil and place them in a slow cooker on the "warm" setting. ...
  3. Insulated container: Wrap the baked potatoes in foil and place them in an insulated container, such as a cooler or insulated bag.
Jul 19, 2021

How long to reheat twice baked potatoes at 350? ›

How to Reheat Twice-Baked Potatoes. Reheat by baking the potatoes in an oven preheated to 350 degree F for 15 to 20 minutes or in the microwave (covered with a damp paper towel) for 2 to 3 minutes.

Can you microwave 2 baked potatoes at the same time? ›

If you're microwaving multiple potatoes, just add a minute per side for each additional potato (i.e., start at five minutes on the first side for two potatoes and six on the first side for three). Try to keep them from touching on the plate; this will allow them to cook more evenly.

Why are my potatoes falling apart? ›

If potatoes are produced during a very dry growing season, they will tend to have a higher than normal solid content and less moisture. When these are cooked, they absorb more water than usual and, as a result, fall apart at the end of cooking.

Why is my baked potato crumbly? ›

Baking at a low temperature or not giving it enough time -

The latest recommendations we have are to bake at 425 degrees F for one hour if using a conventional oven. You can lower the temp to 400 degrees F for 50-60 minutes in a convection oven, which cooks a little more evenly and consistently.

How do you keep shredded potatoes from falling apart? ›

The biggest culprit that's making your hash browns come apart is moisture. You need to make sure the potatoes are dry before adding them to the flour and egg mixture. Whether you squeeze them out in a dish towel or use a salad spinner, get the potatoes as dry as they can be.

How do you cook new potatoes without them falling apart? ›

For this season, if you've been struggling with potatoes that turn to mush, we'd recommend you steam them whole instead of boiling them. We've actually done a bit of testing on this and they definitely hold together far better if steamed whole (with skins on).

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