Twice Baked Potatoes with creamy cheesy middles, crispy skins, and savory salty bacon on top are a family favorite!
These loaded twice baked potatoes are about to become your go-to side dish. So easy to prepare and downright decadent to eat, you cannot beat them! We like to serve ours alongside grilled ribeye and sour cream cucumber salad.
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Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice Baked Potatoes
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Twice Baked Potato Ingredients
- Potatoes – We like to use Russet potatoes.
- Cheese – Shredded. Cooper® Sharp worked perfectly!
- Cream cheese – Softened. Full fat will give you the best flavor.
- Butter – Softened. We like to use salted butter, but unsalted is fine too.
- Spices – Garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Oil – We love the flavor of olive oil for this recipe but vegetable oil will also work
- Garnishes – Bacon, chives.
How do you make twice baked potatoes? (Step-by-step)
⭐ First, coat washed and dried potatoes with a light coat of olive oil and sprinkled of salt. Bake until fork tender.
⭐ Then, remove the potatoes from the oven and lower the temperature.
⭐ Next, slice potatoes in half and scoop out the insides. In a bowl, mash together the scooped potato, cream cheese, shredded Cooper® cheese, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
⭐ Finally, spoon the mashed potato mixture back into the potato skins and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Return the potatoes to the oven and bake until heated through and cheese is melted.
Preparation
Can you make twice baked potatoes ahead of time?
Yes! Prep them a day or two in advance and then pop them in the oven before you’re ready to eat. Or make a batch for lunches and bake them one or two at a time in the toaster oven.
You can even freeze them before baking for future meals!
Why are my twice baked potatoes gummy?
Overmixing potatoes or mixing potatoes while they are cold can cause a gummy texture. So it’s best to mix them when they are warm and just enough to incorporate everything.
Why are they called twice baked potatoes?
Because they are literally baked twice! First ‘whole’ to cook the potato on it’s own, and then a second time when the cheesy creamy delicious mixture is put back into the halved potato skins.
Can I cook twice baked potatoes from frozen?
Yes, you’ll want to add roughly 30 minutes to the bake time and cook them covered for the first half hour.
Storage and leftovers
How long do twice baked potatoes last?
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Reheat in the microwave on high for 30 – 90 seconds, or in the toaster oven until heated through and crispy on the edges.
Can you freeze twice baked potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze them either before or after baking. For best results, allow them to cool completely then freeze on a baking sheet for 1 – 2 hours before transferring into a freezer bag or other freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Tips and tricks
🔥 Add some heat by topping with (or mixing in) pickled jalapeno slices.
🌮 Give them some Mexican flare with a packet of taco seasoning.
🥶 Try doubling the recipe and freezing half for an easy dinner later.
🧹 Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy clean-up.
What to eat with twice baked potatoes (serving suggestions)
Honestly, I could eat these decadent full of Cooper® cheesy goodness twice baked potatoes as a meal all on their own. But if you’re looking to serve them as a side dish, try pairing them with some grilled pork chops or baked bbq chicken. And maybe a batch of 7 layer bars for dessert!
Twice Baked Potatoes with Cooper® Cheese
Cooper® is made with milk and hand-selected aged cheese. No unpronounceable ingredients here! Cooper® Sharp is top-tier cheese. When you grab some from the deli or order online, you know you’re getting quality.
Folks love Cooper® because of its one-of-a-kind sharp flavor. Cooper® doesn’t taste like any other deli cheese, which is why it’s been a family tradition and favorite comfort food for generations.
Cooper® is creamy, flavorful, and epically versatile. You can slice it, shred it, cube it, and it melts like a dream. That’s why Cooper® is perfect for grilled cheese, deli sandwiches, mac and cheese … burgers, salads, midnight snacks. Pretty much anything, really. Try it in these delicious broccoli cheese loaded potatoes!
Cooper® is now available online for shipping around the country!
More potato recipes to try
- Roasted garlic potatoes
- Easy potato salad recipe
- Loaded potato soup
- Oven baked red potatoes
- Perfectly baked sweet potatoes
- See all our easy potato dishes!
Other awesome side dishes
- Easy egg noodle recipe
- Quick sauteed vegetables
- Creamy mashed cauliflower
- No-boil macaroni and cheese recipe
- See all our easy side dish recipes!
Tools we love
- Baker’s half sheet – These are great for potatoes, or sheet pan pizzas, or even as serving trays!
- Silicone baking mat – It’s like parchment paper that you never throw away!
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How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 large Russet potatoes
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (divided into 1 cup and ½ cup), we used Cooper® Sharp Yellow Pasteurized Process American
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- olive oil
- garnish chives, crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Wash potatoes and pat dry. Lightly coat them with olive oil, sprinkle with some salt and pierce them a few times with a fork. Place on a parchment lined baking tray and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until they are fork tender.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and adjust the temperature to 350F.
- When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them in half and scoop out the inside, leaving a little bit around the edges to give them some stability.
- In a bowl, mash together the potato you scooped out, the cream cheese, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix in 1 cup of the Cooper® shredded cheese.
- Spoon the mashed potato mixture back into the potato skins and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese.
- Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted.
- Serve with chives & crumbled bacon.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Twice Baked Potatoes
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Valentina says
This potato recipe is so easy to make and SOOO GOOD!
Katie says
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try these.
Melissa says
Wow – I’ve always wanted to make these. Delicious recipe adding to our list of go-to recipes.