Cheesy twice baked potatoes are the perfect, healthy side dish for chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, fish, ham, pork chops & more! You can even use this recipe as a main course and serve your potatoes with a simple garden salad or roasted broccoli and cauliflower.
Leftover twice baked potatoes also make tasty lunches you can look forward to all week. Simply microwave for 30-60 seconds to reheat. They're even gluten free!
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A quick rundown – making cheesy twice baked potatoes:
Keep scrolling down to find complete instructions for this recipe. I’ll start here with a quick overview!
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Wash and dry potatoes. Use the prongs of a fork to poke small holes in the skin of each potato and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven. Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of olive oil to each potato skin & sprinkle with salt. Flip potatoes over and bake for 30 more minutes.
- Turn oven off and remove potatoes. Allow them to cool enough that you can handle them.
- Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop baked flesh out of each skin into a large mixing bowl. Add milk, half & half and seasonings. Blend with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Scoop mashed potatoes back into potato skin boats, sprinkle with bacon bits and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 1-2 minutes if you want to brown the cheese.
- Allow potatoes to cool, add desired toppings and enjoy!
What is the best cheese for twice baked potatoes?
A nice, sharp cheddar is super tasty on twice baked potatoes! You can purchase pre-shredded cheese but, if you have the time, I recommend buying a block of high quality cheddar cheese and shredding it at home. I think the flavor is a little better with a block.
How to reheat twice baked potatoes in a microwave:
Twice baked potatoes are really easy to reheat which makes them an excellent option for a tasty make ahead lunch! Simply microwave on high for 30-90 seconds. Add any additional, desired toppings (parsley flakes, salted or unsalted butter, sour cream, Greek yoghurt) and enjoy!
What are twice baked potatoes?
It's right there in the name! First, you bake potatoes whole. Next, cut them in half, scoop out baked flesh, mash with milk and seasonings and transfer back into your potato skin boats. Finally, you'll bake them a second time with cheese and bacon bits on top. Twice baked potatoes are delicious year round but they're often served at Easter, Christmas & Thanksgiving! They're also a popular barbeque side dish.
Handy Tips:
- Be sure your potatoes are fully baked before allowing them to cool. If the flesh of the potato isn't fully baked, it will be hard to scoop and mash. You should be able to easily pierce through potatoes with the prongs of a fork before taking them out of the oven. Since potatoes vary so much in size, some may need a little longer than others to fully bake.
- If you are struggling to get your potatoes smooth with an electric mixer, grab a potato masher or pastry cutter and mash by hand for 30 seconds or so. This will help break the potatoes up and make them smoother.
- Consider whipping up a batch of this Baja sauce to drizzle over your potatoes. SOO delicious!
Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
Twice Baked Potatoes
- 6 medium sized russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup nonfat milk *see note below
- ½ cup half & half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- ⅔ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup bacon bits
Optional toppings:
- Additional parsley flakes, salted or unsalted butter, sour cream, Greek yoghurt
Recipe notes:
Nonfat milk: since potatoes vary in size, you may need a little extra milk to make your potatoes creamy enough. Also, any fat content milk or dairy free milk will work in this recipe!Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Wash potatoes well using warm water and dry with a clean kitchen towel. Use the prongs of a fork to poke small holes in the skin of each potato so that steam can escape while potatoes bake.
- Bake potatoes on one side for 30 minutes. Remove baking sheet from the oven and use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer of olive oil to each potato skin and sprinkle with salt. Flip potatoes over and bake for approximately 30 more minutes.
- After 30 minutes have passed, check to see if your potatoes are done. You should be able to easily pierce through the potato with a fork or knife. It's important that potatoes are fully baked so that they are easy to scoop and mash.
- Turn your oven off and allow potatoes to cool enough that you can handle them.
- Scoop baked flesh out of each potato skin into a large mixing bowl. Add milk, half & half, salt, pepper, garlic and parsley flakes to the bowl. Use an electric mixer to blend until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Fill each potato skin half with mash potato mixture and then sprinkle with bacon bits and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 1-2 minutes (if you want to brown the cheese). Keep a close eye on the potatoes while they broil so they don't burn on top.
- Allow potatoes to cool, add desired toppings and enjoy!
Store:
- Place leftover twice baked potatoes in an air tight food storage container and keep them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheat:
- To reheat your leftover twice baked potatoes, simply microwave on high for 30-90 seconds. Add desired toppings and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
What to serve with twice baked potatoes:
- Spinach & Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- Healthy One Skillet Chicken Thighs With Creamy Spinach Sauce
- Tailgate Crockpot Chili
- Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Simple Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Easy Roasted Carrots With Honey & Feta
- Healthy Greek Yoghurt Egg Salad
- Fruit Salad With Whipped Cream
If you loved it...
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Jody says
I haven't made these in a long time. I love your recipe and will try these soon!
stacey_olson says
I hope you love them! They are so yummy!
Alyse says
Looks great for a party!!
stacey_olson says
Oh yes! Perfect for a party!!