Description
Twice Baked Potatoes are a delicious and comforting side dish perfect for any meal. This recipe features creamy mashed potato filling mixed with crispy bacon, butter, and cheeses, baked inside the potato skins until golden and melty. Ideal for make-ahead and crowd-pleasing occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes and Bacon
- 6 baking potatoes roughly the same size
- 6 slices bacon
Filling
- 6 tablespoons butter softened
- 6 tablespoons freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- Salt and pepper optional, and to taste
Instructions
- Bake Potatoes: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bake whole potatoes directly on the oven rack for 60 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cook Bacon: While potatoes bake, cook bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble when cooled.
- Prepare Potato Filling: Cool baked potatoes about 10 minutes so they can be handled. Slice each potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl, leaving a thin layer of potato inside the skins to maintain structure.
- Mash and Mix Filling: To the bowl with scooped potato, add softened butter and lightly mash the mixture. Stir in crumbled bacon, Parmesan cheese, and ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix lightly to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Stuff Potato Skins: Spoon the potato mixture evenly back into the potato skins. You may have some skins left empty if the filling is insufficient to fill all. Top each filled potato half with the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese.
- Bake Again: Place stuffed potatoes on a baking sheet and bake at 350˚F for about 20 minutes until the cheese melts and browns slightly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions if desired and serve hot immediately.
Notes
- Choose baking potatoes of similar size and shape for even cooking and presentation.
- The stuffed potatoes can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight before the second bake, making a convenient make-ahead side dish.
- If preferred, you can substitute bacon with vegetarian bacon for a vegetarian version.
- Use sharp cheddar and freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato half
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
