The Cheesy Twice Baked Potato is the potato in its absolute best-dressed form. Loaded potatoes are surprisingly simple and can be topped with just about anything. They’re the perfect side dish or a whole meal in themselves and can even be made and frozen for later!
Original post: January 2017 | Updated: August 2022 and August 2025
Why You’ll Love This Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe
- Everyone Loves Potatoes – especially when they come in the form of these creamy, cheesy, crispy skin, twice baked potatoes.
- So Versatile – Top them with all the standards or get creative with your toppings!
- They’re Freezer-Friendly! – make a double batch, freeze half, and thank yourself later.
- I will never get tired of comfort food – especially when it comes in the form of these Cheesy Twice Baked Potatoes. And whether I need a hearty main dish or a perfect side to round out dinner, these are my go-to any night of the week.
- I love that they can be a whole dinner, a side, a great movie snack, or a delicious lunch. I love that you can top them with just about everything!
Ingredients for Twice-Baked Potatoes
Use fresh ingredients for best results. I’ve also included some sub suggestions here and in the Notes section.
Potatoes – Large russet potatoes are the perfect baking potatoes, but give the recipe a try with sweet potatoes or even large yukon gold or red potatoes. Scrub thoroughly before baking so the potato skins can be eaten!
Milk – Replace whole milk with heavy cream if desired.
Sour cream – To make this recipe healthier, use a reduced-calorie variety of sour cream, Greek yogurt or cut the amount in half.
Butter – Cut the amount of butter used in the recipe in half (if desired) or consider replacing a portion of it with olive oil.
Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese is the go-to option for cheesy toppings, but this variety can be replaced with any shredded cheese that melts well.
Seasonings – Seasoned salt covers all the bases and simplifies the recipe.
Cooked Bacon – Use your favorite variety of bacon, or try turkey bacon for a leaner option.
Toppings – Go wild with toppings! Top with any variety of cheese, fresh chives, bacon bits or bacon crumbles, salsa, green onions, cooked broccoli florets, sriracha, pickled jalapenos or cilantro, with a sprinkle of black pepper on top!
How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes
These potatoes are easy to make with simple ingredients. The hardest part is deciding on the toppings!
Step 1.
Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork and bake in a 350° oven for 1 hour.
Step 2.
Cut cooked potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides using a spoon. Add the scooped potato flesh to a large mixing bowl.
Tip: Leave 1/2-inch thin layer of potato rim to create a “boat” and so the potato shells don’t fall apart.
Step 3.
Add the milk, sour cream, butter, 1/2 cup cheese and seasoned salt to the large bowl with the potatoes.
Using a stand or hand-held mixer, beat on medium speed until creamy.
Stir in bacon pieces.
Step 4.
Spoon the mixture back into the potato skin shells and place potatoes on the baking tray.
Top with remaining cheese and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Top with sour cream and chives. Serve hot!
Twice-Baked Potato Recipe Notes & Tips
- When poking your potatoes with the fork, try to poke a perforated line where you’ll be slicing!
- Instead of using a hand mixer, consider using a potato masher to mash the flesh before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Room temperature dairy ingredients combine with the hot potatoes better, decreasing the chance of gummy potatoes
- Add spices of your choice to the mashed potato filling, such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dry ranch dressing mix or paprika.
- Use a reduced-calorie variety of sour cream, Greek yogurt or cut the amount in half To make this recipe a little healthier.
- You can also reduce the amount of butter or replace some of it with olive oil.
Toppings for Twice Baked Potatoes
- Shredded Cheese or Cheese Sauce
- Blue cheese or Jack cheese
- Steamed or Roasted Broccoli
- Chopped crispy bacon pieces
- Sliced scallion or chives
- Sour cream
- Chili beans or Chili
- Homemade Salsa
What to Serve With Twice Baked Potatoes
One of the many great things about Twice Baked Potatoes is they work as both a main dish or a fantastic side!
Really load them up with all your favorite toppings for a great meal or serve them with any of the following:
- Mom’s Meatloaf
- Hamburgers
- Sloppy Joes – bring LOTS of napkins for this combo
- Chicken Tenders
- Chili Dogs – again, napkins!
- Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches – napkins!
How to Store Leftover Loaded Potatoes
Make sure the potatoes are completely cooled before covering for storage. This will decrease the condensation that forms in the container when foods are too hot. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
Can You Freeze Twice Baked Potatoes?
Twice baked potatoes are great for freezing! After you stuff the potato “boats” with the potato mixture, place them on a tray in the freezer for about 2 hours. Wrap each frozen boat tightly in aluminum foil. Place the wrapped potatoes in dated resealable freezer bags and freeze for up to three months.
When you’re ready to use them, let them thaw completely (preferably in the fridge overnight). Add your shredded cheese and bakeable toppings and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (or until heated through) and add toppings as desired! So easy peasy!
Why Are My Twice Baked Potatoes Gummy?
Twice Baked Potatoes tend to get gummy when they are over baked or under baked. You want the potatoes cooked all the way through in the initial baking because when they return to the oven the second time, it’s only a short time to melt the toppings together.
Another major factor could be that you have over-mixed the potato mixture before baking. Over-whipping potatoes, especially potatoes with a high starch content, releases too much of the starch in the potatoes creating gluten-y, gluey mashed potatoes.
How to Reheat Twice Baked Potatoes
Reheat in a 350°F oven in a baking dish or on a tray for 10-15 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melty again.
You can also reheat these in the air fryer at 350 for 7-10 minutes, or until heated to your liking.
More Potato Recipes
- Mashed Potatoes Made with Red Potatoes
- Homemade Whole30 Potato Chips
- Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
- Potato Casserole with Sour Cream
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
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Cheesy Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 Russet potatoes
- 1/2 cup milk
- 8 oz sour cream
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded, for topping
- 1/2 cup sour cream for topping
- 2 tbsp chives chopped, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a fork, poke holes all around potatoes. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
- When the potatoes are fork tender, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out potato flesh using a spoon, leaving 1/2-inch rim to create a boat.
- Add the potato flesh to a mixing bowl and add milk, sour cream, butter, 1/2 cup cheese and seasoned salt. Using a stand or hand-held mixer, beat on medium speed until creamy. Stir in bacon. Divide the mixture between the potato boats and place back on the baking sheet.
- Top the potatoes with shredded cheese and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Top with sour cream and chives. Serve hot!
Notes
- When poking your potatoes with the fork, try to poke a perforated line where you’ll be slicing!
- Instead of using a hand mixer, consider using a potato masher to mash the flesh before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Room temperature dairy ingredients combine with the hot potatoes better, decreasing the chance of gummy potatoes
- Add spices of your choice to the mashed potato filling, such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dry ranch dressing mix or paprika.
- Use a reduced-calorie variety of sour cream, Greek yogurt or cut the amount in half To make this recipe a little healthier.
- You can also reduce the amount of butter or replace some of it with olive oil.
Don’t know why but, I haven’t put together twice baked potatoes in years.. Freezing some is great for just the two of us
Thank you for prompting fond memory.. :O)
Yes!! I want to make these pronto. And I have never thought about freezing them!
They are super yummy and just as good after being frozen! (thawing one now for lunch tomorrow!)