These savory loaded baked potatoes bring creamy sour cream and crispy bacon together for a comforting side dish that stands out. Twice baked and topped with melted Cheddar cheese, they fit perfectly into any dinner plan and make great leftovers to enjoy later.
Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes
Course: SideCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings20
minutes1
hour15
minutes95
minutes520
kcal1
hour35
minutesCreamy, cheesy, and packed full of flavor, these twice-baked potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
4 large baking potatoes
8 slices bacon
1 cup sour cream
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions, sliced, divided
Directions
- Gather all your ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Pop the potatoes in the oven and bake until tender, about 1 hour.
- Once cool enough to handle, slice the baked potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the creamy flesh into a large bowl.
- In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until evenly browned and crispy. Drain the excess fat, crumble the bacon, and set aside.
- Add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, ½ cup cheese, and half of the green onions to the potato flesh. Mix until well blended and creamy.
- Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins, top with the remaining cheese, green onions, and crispy bacon.
- Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
What You’ll Need
Gather these ingredients and tools to make your Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes:
- 4 large baking potatoes
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- 8 green onions, sliced, divided
- Large deep skillet
- Baking sheet
- Hand mixer
Detailed Cooking Instructions
- Gather all ingredients: baking potatoes, bacon, sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, Cheddar cheese, and green onions.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the baking potatoes in the oven and bake for about 1 hour, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes until manageable.
- Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until crispy and browned, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, crumble the bacon, and set aside.
- Slice each baked potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh into a large bowl, preserving the skins.
- Add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, ½ cup of shredded Cheddar cheese, and half of the sliced green onions into the bowl with the potato flesh.
- Use a hand mixer to blend the mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Spoon the creamy potato mixture back into the skins, evenly distributing it among them.
- Top each filled potato skin with the remaining shredded cheese, sliced green onions, and the crumbled bacon.
- Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve the twice-baked potatoes warm and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
- For a make-ahead option, prepare the potato filling a day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to stuff the skins and bake.
- Experiment with ingredients by swapping out the cheese. Try mozzarella or pepper jack for a different flavor profile.
- To reheat leftovers, simply place the twice-baked potatoes in the oven at 350°F for about 15–20 minutes, until warmed through.
- If you prefer a smoother filling, use a food processor instead of a hand mixer for blending the potato mixture.
- Add additional toppings like sour cream or chives right before serving for extra freshness and flavor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common toppings for baked potatoes include butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chives, and crispy bacon bits.
You can fill baked potatoes with ingredients like chili, steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, or even leftover meats for a hearty meal.
A loaded potato usually has butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions added on top.
A baked potato is simply cooked with its skin, often served plain or with basic toppings. A loaded baked potato includes generous toppings like cheese, sour cream, bacon, and sometimes vegetables or meat fillings.
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