Description
These Twice Baked Potatoes are a comforting and flavorful side dish featuring creamy mashed potato filling mixed with sour cream, cheese, and spices, then stuffed back into crispy baked potato skins and topped with bacon and scallions for a perfect finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 4 russet potatoes
- olive oil
- salt for sprinkling potatoes
Filling
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, finely shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded (reserve ½ cup for the tops)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼–⅓ cup milk
Toppings
- 2 slices crispy cooked bacon, chopped
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). After washing the potatoes, dry them thoroughly, prick each 2-3 times with a fork, rub with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Place them uncovered on a baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes until they are soft when gently squeezed. Remove and let cool enough to handle.
- Scoop Potato Flesh: Carefully cut the baked potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh into a large bowl, leaving about 1/4-1/3 inch of the potato skin intact to hold the filling.
- Prepare Filling: To the scooped potato flesh, add sour cream, butter, Monterey Jack cheese, half of the shredded cheddar cheese (½ cup), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mash the mixture with a potato masher until creamy. Add just enough milk (¼ to ⅓ cup) to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Stuff and Bake Again: Spoon the creamy mashed potato mixture back into the potato skins, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining cheddar cheese. Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Once baked, remove the potatoes from the oven and sprinkle with chopped crispy bacon and thinly sliced scallions for added texture and flavor. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use russet potatoes for the best texture and skin sturdiness.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon or replace with vegetarian bacon bits.
- Adjust seasoning and cheese quantity to taste.
- Leftover twice baked potatoes can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: twice baked potatoes, stuffed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, baked potato recipe, comfort food side dish
