Twice Baked Potatoes

Each bite of these Twice Baked Potatoes is loaded with creamy butter, tangy sour cream, melted cheese and fresh chives.  Baked until crispy, golden brown and bubbly, this flavorful side dish will have the whole family raving! 

I could eat potatoes any time of day, any day of the week! I mean seriously, serve them up fried, baked, smashed, or boiled and I’m there. 

Today’s recipe is one of my absolute favorite ways to eat a plate of spunky spuds. Twice Baked Potatoes are like crispy, salty potato skins stuffed with creamy, cheesy, fluffy mashed potatoes. It doesn’t get any better than that! 

These dreamy and creamy little boats make for the perfect appetizer or side dish! 

What is a Twice Baked Potato?

Twice Baked Potatoes are potatoes that are baked twice in two different parts of the recipe. The potatoes are first cooked until tender, then scooped out to create a hollow potato shell. The fluffy potato innards are then mixed with an assortment of tasty toppings and stuffed back into the empty shells. 

Once refilled, the potatoes are typically topped with cheese and baked for a second time. The result is a crunchy, creamy, cheesy potato that you will absolutely want more than one of! 

Perks and Highlights

Cuisine Inspiration: American Comfort

Primary Cooking Method: Baking

Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free 

Key Flavor: Cheesy Richness

Skill Level: Intermediate

Special Perks:

1. Flavorful Versatility: These potatoes are your canvas, so paint away! They’re friendly with a range of add-ins, so feel free to get creative with your favorite cheeses, spices, and more. Bacon bits? Go for it. Broccoli? Why not!
2. Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare these beauties in advance and pop them in the oven for a quick reheat when you’re ready to serve. They’re perfect for stress-free entertaining or even a family dinner on a busy weeknight.
3. Crowd-Pleaser Alert: Haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love a good twice-baked potato! These are a universal delight, perfect for kids and adults alike. Plus, they’re a vegetarian dish that even carnivores can’t resist.
4. Comfort Food Classic: Warm, cheesy, and oh-so-satisfying, these twice-baked potatoes are the epitome of comfort food. They’re the culinary equivalent of a hug from your grandma.
5. Nutrient Knockout: Despite their indulgent taste, these spuds are packed with nutrients! Potatoes are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and when you pack ’em with all this dairy goodness, you’re also looking at a calcium boost!

Ingredients

A Twice Baked Potato worth its weight in gold has a stellar filling! That’s why I made sure to stuff my potatoes to the brim with creamy, cheesy, tangy, flavorful ingredients. You’ll want to eat this stuff by the spoonful! 

The filling is made with: 

• Russet potatoes: The MVP of the potato world. These starchy beauties bake up fluffy and light, ready to soak up all the creamy, cheesy goodness you can throw at them.

  Unsalted butter: Oh, the rich, melty foundation of flavor! It’s like a warm hug for your potatoes, ensuring they’re anything but dry.

  Heavy cream: This is where the magic happens! It’s like a silk robe for your potato filling, making it rich, creamy, and oh-so-indulgent.

  Sour cream: Tangy and terrific, sour cream balances the richness and adds that classic baked potato zing.

  Chives: A little pop of green goodness! These subtle, onion-like darlings provide a fresh contrast and color that’ll make your spuds sing.

  Cheddar cheese: Hello, gooey delight! Cheddar brings a perfect melt and a sharp, cheesy drama that’s absolutely irresistible.

  Parmesan: Salty, nutty, and utterly delectable. It’s the secret weapon that elevates everything with a sophisticated twist.

  Eggs: Not just for breakfast, these guys are the unsung heroes that keep your potato filling fluffy and light.

  Salt and pepper: The classic duo, turning up to tie everything together with their simple, perfect touch. They’re like the rhythm section in a band – not always noticed, but everything’s off without them.

   

NOTE: This recipe is totally customizable! Make it your own by adding a protein like bacon, shredded chicken, or pulled pork. Choose a different variety of cheeses or load up on veggies! The options are endless! 

How to Make a Twice Baked Potato

There ain’t much to this recipe! Just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps. Wanna know how it’s done?

Here’s how: 

• BAKE ‘EM- To get these potatoes nice and tender, we bake them at 425 degrees for a little over an hour. Be sure to poke around the potatoes with a fork or knife, ensuring it cooks evenly. Once out of the oven, allow the potatoes to cool for at least 20 minutes; they are very hot and you don’t wanna get burnt. 
• STUFF ‘EM-  This is the fun part! Scrape out the flesh of the potatoes into a mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients to the bowl, making sure to reserve half of the cheddar cheese. Mix everything until it’s combined, then stuff the mixture back into each one of the empty potato jackets. 
• THEN BAKE ‘EM AGAIN!- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of each potato. Transfer the baking sheet back into the oven and bake until tender and bubbly, about 30 minutes. 

And that’s all she wrote! Serve your potatoes immediately with a side of extra sour cream and chives, if desired. 

What to Serve them With? 

Twice Baked Potatoes can be a meal all in themselves or you can serve them as a show stopping side. Some of my favorite main courses to serve them with are: 

• Honey Glazed Ham
• Nashville Hot Chicken
• Grilled Ribeye Steak
• Chicken Fried Steak
• Harvest Fall Salad
• Buffalo Fried Cauliflower
• Orange Honey BBQ Wings
• Baby Back Ribs

CAN I REFRIGERATE THE LEFTOVERS? 

Of course! Twice Baked Potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Properly stored, these potatoes will keep in the fridge for about five days. If you aren’t going to eat your potatoes by then, you can freeze them instead. See freezing instructions below. 

Reheating

You can reheat your Twice Baked Potatoes in the microwave or oven.  Keep in mind, the microwave is quicker but you won’t get the same crisp that the oven gives you. 

MICROWAVE: Place the potato(es) on a microwave safe plate. Heat on high power, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. 

OVEN: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the potatoes on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. 

How to Freeze

Allow the Twice Baked Potatoes to cool completely, then place the baking tray in the freezer and freeze until solid, about an hour. Next, either wrap the individual potatoes in foil or store them all in a freezer-safe zip top bag. Keep frozen for up to 3 months. 

Reheating from Frozen

When ready to eat, thaw the potatoes for 24 hours in the fridge. Unwrap the potatoes, top with extra cheese (because why not), and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Proceed with one of the reheating methods below. 

MICROWAVE: Place the thawed potatoes on a microwave-safe plate. Heat on high power, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. 

OVEN: Bake 350 degrees until heated through, about 20-25 minutes. Alternatively, you can bake the potatoes from frozen for about 60-70 minutes. 

GRANDBABY CAKES’ BEST POTATO RECIPES

Now, I just know that most of y’all have got a bag of potatoes lying around just waiting to go bad. Don’t let them go to waste! Instead, put ‘em to work and whip up a few of my FAVORITE potato recipes.  

• Smashed Potatoes
• Smothered Potatoes
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Perfect Baked Potatoes
• Baked Potato Salad 
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Potato and Squash Gratin