Best Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

Easy twice baked potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor!! Get the secret ingredient in this recipe that makes it amazing!

These are the Best Ever Twice Baked Potatoes!

Twice-baked potatoes are one of those dishes that is incredibly versatile. 

It can be: 

• A quick lunch 
• Fancy appetizers at a dinner party
• A frugal main-dinner option
• Or a side dish

What makes them even better is that you can make ahead these twice baked potatoes and save yourself a lot of time in the kitchen around mealtime.

You can even make them budget-friendly if you choose to use leftover baked potatoes from a prior dinner!

What are Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes?

Twice baked potatoes are exactly what they sound like - potatoes that have been baked twice. The first time they are baked traditionally. The second time, the filling is scooped out, mixed with other delicious ingredients, spooned back into the shells, and then baked again.

Reasons you'll love these Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

They’re great for dinner parties with guests, family gatherings or snacking on while watching a football game. It can also be a sneaky way of tricking the picky eaters in the house to eat up the leftovers and keep your grocery budget trimmed of excess food waste.

How to make Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes ahead of time

• Because this easy twice baked potatoes recipe has you using already cooked potatoes the hard part is already done. 
• Just slice the cooled and cooked potatoes down the middle lengthwise and scoop out the inside so that it can look like little bowls.
• Mix the cooked potato in a large bowl with the other ingredients in this recipe and then divide the mixture back into each of the potato skins.
• Make sure that you have the potato bowls laying flat on a cooking sheet for stability.
• After filling them up, top with a generous amount of shredded cheese and bacon bits.
• Then you can reheat and eat, or choose to cover and refrigerate them until you are ready to bake them.

How far in advance can you make twice baked potatoes?

You could choose to make these twice-baked potatoes as far in advance as you would like, but the results may vary.

For the best twice baked potatoes, it’s a good practice to only make them a few hours in advance or the day before serving. As long as you have them stored in a covered container or covered in plastic wrap, you should be good.

Some people may choose to store twice baked potatoes in their freezer and meal prep for weeks in advance. To do this may require more effort in packaging to reduce the risk of freezer burn and it may come with some minor side effects or risks that should be noted.

• Any undercooked portion of the potato may turn black/purple when frozen. This is a result of the sugars in the potato and can be very unappealing.
  • You can avoid this by making sure that your potatoes are fully cooked and that no parts are underdone. Cooked potatoes do not turn colors once frozen.
• The sour cream, cheese, and other filling ingredients may change slightly in texture and appearance when baked after having been frozen.
  • While they might change, they are still perfectly safe to eat. 

So enjoy your easy make-ahead twice baked potatoes whenever you want. Just make sure that you prepare enough because they go quickly!

How to make The Best Ever Twice Baked Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. Slice baked potatoes in half lengthwise so that each half is deep instead of shallow, if possible.
3. Gently scoop out the potato from the shell and set aside in a medium bowl, leaving about ¼ inch edge on the potato shell.
4. Combine the scooped out potato with the sour cream, ranch dressing, salts, pepper, ¾ cup of the cheese, 2 tablespoons of the bacon bits and 2 tablespoons of the chives.
5. Scoop filling back into the potato shells, mounding it slightly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon bits. I find it is easiest to place shells on a baking sheet for this step.
6. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to bake.
7. Bake on a sheet tray for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted and the potatoes are heated through.
8. Sprinkle with remaining chives.

How long to cook twice baked potatoes?

Twice baked potatoes will bake for 20-25 minutes.

Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe tips

To make this recipe easy, use leftover baked potatoes! If you don't have any leftover, make the regular baked potatoes the day before and store them in the fridge until you're ready to make the twice baked potatoes.

How to serve this Recipe for Twice Baked Potatoes

What to eat with twice baked potatoes

While twice baked potatoes are great on their own, make them a meal by adding a salad or side!

• Balsamic Strawberries
• Canned Green Beans with Bacon
• Oven Roasted Carrots
• Green Salad with Herb Vinaigrette
• Corn Tomato Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Salad
• Chopped Steak Salad
• Steak Salad Balsamic Vinaigrette

What meat goes with twice baked potatoes?

A classic steak is always a good choice, whether it is prepared on the stovetop or on the grill.

Pork chops or salmon is also a great option for a meat that goes well with twice baked potatoes.If you're looking for a good chicken dish, Herb Crusted Chicken, Oven BBQ Chicken, or Crispy Chicken Thighs Oven Baked are all good options.

Best Twice Baked Potatoes storage

How to reheat twice baked potatoes

Twice baked potatoes can be reheated in the microwave until the center is heated through. Alternatively, they can be placed in a baking dish, covered with foil, and re-heated in the oven until warmed through.

 Do twice baked potatoes reheat well?

Yes, twice baked potatoes reheat well in the microwave or in the oven as detailed above.

Can you freeze twice baked potatoes?

• To turn these into frozen twice baked potatoes so that you can get them prepared and then serve them later, follow the instructions up to step 5, where you are scooping the filling back into the shells.
• After that, place them on a lined sheet tray and freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Once solid, remove from the sheet tray and place in a storage container or bag and place back into the freezer.
• When you're ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight. This is best done on the sheet tray you plan to bake the potatoes on.
• If you bake them from frozen, cover them for 20 minutes and then uncover and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes, the time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.

Easy Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe FAQs