Twice Baked Potatoes

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Made with creamy, cheesy filling and a crispy potato skin, Twice Baked Potatoes are the ultimate way to serve a baked potato.

Twice Baked Potatoes on white serving platter.

What is a Twice-Baked Potato?

A twice-baked potato is a potato that has been baked twice, just as the name implies.

After baking the potatoes until tender, the inside of the potato is scooped out and mixed with butter, sour cream, and cheese and then stuffed back into the baked potato and baked again until the filling is warm, golden and the cheese is melted and gooey.

From the creamy, cheesy filling to the salty exterior of the potato skin, Twice Baked Potatoes make a show-stopping side dish, yet are incredibly easy to prepare.

Notes on Ingredients

Potatoes, butter, sour cream, salt and cheese on counter.

Potatoes: Medium to large russet potatoes are the best option when it comes to making twice-baked potatoes.
Salt: Potatoes need a lot of salt to bring out their flavor of the potato. Kosher salt is best to use for this recipe, as kosher salt enhances the flavor of foods instead of making them just taste salty.
Cheese: I prefer using sharp cheddar for these twice-baked Potatoes, however, you can use whatever cheese you like.
Sour Cream: Sour cream adds tangy and creaminess to the potatoes, it really is a key to making the best filling for stuffed potatoes. Feel free to use plain nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream to achieve the same results with less fat and calories.

How To Make Twice-Baked Potatoes

Scrub and dry russet potatoes and pierce each potato several times with a fork. This will keep the potatoes from exploding or splitting in the oven when baked.
Place each potato on a sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Roll the potato to coat the skin with oil and salt. Wrap each potato in the foil and then place the potatoes onto a baking sheet.
Bake the potatoes until fork-tender.

Once the potatoes have been baked, allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes until still warm, but easier to handle, and then slice in half.
Using a spoon, melon baller, or cookie scoop, scoop out the flesh of the potato, leaving about ¼ to ½- inch border around the potato skins.

Place the flesh of the potato in a bowl and mash well with a fork. I do NOT recommend using a handheld mixer to mix the potato filling, as this will cause your potatoes to get gummy and not taste as delicious.
Add in warm butter, milk, and salt and mix well to incorporate. It is important to use warm milk and butter so that the potato filling does not seize up.
Gently fold in the sour cream and shredded cheese.
Generously fill the stuffing into 4 of the potato skins and top with additional cheddar cheese if desired.
Return the stuffed potatoes back to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is warmed through.

Baked Potato Stuffed with Sour Cream and cheese.

Make-Ahead Directions

Twice-Baked Potatoes are great to make in advance, as they store well in both the refrigerator for up to 3 days or can be frozen for up to 6 weeks and baked from frozen for an effortless side dish at your fingertips!

Prepare the recipe up to stuffing the potatoes.
Instead of baking a second time, allow the stuffed potatoes to cool completely.
If planning to serve within the next 3 days, place the potatoes into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking a second time. When ready to bake, remove the potatoes from the refrigerator while the oven is preheating to 375 degrees F. Bake for 30 minutes, or until warmed through and cheese is melted.
If you will not be serving the potatoes within 3 days, it is best to freeze them for future use. Place the stuffed potatoes on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, about one hour. Remove potatoes from the baking sheet and place them into an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. To bake frozen twice-baked potatoes, place the frozen potatoes on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 60 minutes, or until warmed through and cheese is melted.

Speed It Up

Instead of par-baking russet potatoes, you can speed up this recipe for double-baked potatoes by starting with Instant Pot Baked Potatoes. After pressure cooking the potatoes, cut the potatoes in half, remove the flesh of the potatoes, mix with cream and butter as directed, and then restuff the potato skins. Bake as the recipe directs.

Recipe FAQs

Do you have to wrap potatoes in aluminum foil when baking?

No. I myself prefer the results of baking potatoes wrapped in foil, as they get don't get as dried out and there is less clean-up. However, you can simply place the potatoes on a baking sheet and brush each potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, and bake as directed.

Can I add bacon to the twice-baked potato filling?

Absolutely! Add up to 4 slices of precooked bacon that have been diced up into bite-size pieces into the potato mixture before restuffing the potatoes.

Serving Suggestions

Twice-Baked Potatoes are the perfect side dish for serving with just about any entree. I love pairing them with Chicken Marsala, a Ribeye Steak, or New York Strip Roast. Add a Caesar Salad and you really have an impressive restaurant-quality meal.

If you enjoyed this recipe for twice-baked potatoes, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.