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Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes

These twice-baked potatoes taste wonderful and always a big hit! I've been making these for years — they make a great side dish for any meal and are terrific heated up the next day for lunch.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 3509.5 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Baking Sheet For roasting and baking potatoes
  • 1 Large Skillet For cooking bacon
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For preparing potato filling
  • 1 Hand Mixer For blending potato flesh to a creamy consistency
  • 1 Spoon or Scoop For scooping potato flesh and filling skins

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 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

Instructions
 

  • Gather ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake potatoes in the preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour, depending on the size of your potatoes. Set potatoes aside until cool enough to handle. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese, and 1/2 of the green onions to the potato; mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Spoon the mixture into the potato skins; top each with remaining cheese, green onions, and bacon. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Return potatoes to the preheated oven and continue baking until the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Serve Hot! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

For perfectly tender potatoes, ensure even baking by pricking them a few times before their initial roast. When mashing, avoid overmixing the potato flesh to prevent a gummy texture; a hand mixer on a medium setting for a short duration is ideal. To elevate the flavor, consider adding a pinch of garlic powder or a dash of hot sauce to the potato mixture. For a richer, cheesier interior, you could incorporate a small amount of cream cheese or a blend of cheeses. Ensure bacon is crisped and well-drained to avoid introducing excess grease. For a professional finish, use a piping bag to fill the potato skins, creating an attractive swirl. Garnish generously with fresh green onions and additional crisp bacon.