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 74 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! Baking them unwrapped makes the shells stronger for scooping out the potato flesh later.

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.

What to have with twice-baked potatoes? ›

What To Serve With Twice Baked Potatoes (25+ tasty dishes!)
  1. Caesar Salad Recipe. ...
  2. Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. ...
  3. Kale Avocado Salad. ...
  4. Bacon Blue Cheese Chopped Salad. ...
  5. BLT Chopped Salad with Green Goddess Dressing. ...
  6. Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  8. Roasted Green Beans.
Feb 9, 2024

How do you cook potatoes without falling apart? ›

Most often, then, the solution to evenly cooked potatoes is cooking them twice: First, boil, steam, or steam-roast (a fancy term for cooking them with water in the oven) until they're mostly tender but not fall-apart finished. Second, brown the outsides and finish cooking the interiors on the stovetop or in the oven.

Is 400 too hot for baked potatoes? ›

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. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

What is the best temperature to bake potatoes? ›

We recommend 400° F. In previous studies with Kitchen Consultants, out of Los Angeles, we raised our baking time suggestions from 45 or 55 minutes to one full hour or when the internal temperature of the Idaho® baked potato reaches 210° F. Baking in foil is NOT recommended, as it steams the potato.

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

Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400 degrees? To get a nice, fluffy interior and the crispiest skin, bake your potatoes at 400 degrees. It'll take about an hour.

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.

Can twice-baked potatoes go bad? ›

Then it's likely safe to reheat and eat your leftover twice-baked potatoes as long as they haven't been in the fridge for more than that four-day maximum.

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

What Is the Difference Between a Baked Potato and a Twice-Baked Potato? Baked potatoes are whole potatoes (usually russet or Idaho) baked until the insides are tender and fluffy. Twice-baked potatoes take two trips into the oven. First the potatoes are baked until soft and tender on the inside.

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.

How long does it take to heat up a twice baked potato in the oven? ›

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.

Do you cover twice baked potatoes when reheating? ›

If you want to use a conventional oven to reheat them, place any leftover potatoes on a baking sheet and over with foil. Bake at 425 degrees Farenheit for about 15 minutes.

Why are my potatoes falling apart? ›

If your potatoes have been growing in very dry soil, the potatoes themselves will have a fairly low moisture content when harvested. What this then means is that when the potatoes are build they absorb more water and fall to pieces quite quickly.

Why are my potatoes crumbling? ›

Overcooking: Potatoes can become mushy and fall apart if they are overcooked. To avoid this, it's important to boil them for just the right amount of time, usually around 10-15 minutes, or until they are tender but still firm.

Do you cover twice-baked potatoes when reheating? ›

If you want to use a conventional oven to reheat them, place any leftover potatoes on a baking sheet and over with foil. Bake at 425 degrees Farenheit for about 15 minutes.

What causes potatoes to split while growing? ›

Growth cracks typically form when a prolonged dry period is followed by heavy rainfall or irrigation. The rapid uptake of water by the tubers causes them to split or crack. Cracking can be reduced by maintaining an even moisture supply during tuber development. Water on a regular basis during dry periods.

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