Twice-baked potatoes are a great go-to side dish for parties, potlucks, or even company meals. Make them for two or a crowd. Everybody loves them, and you can make them ahead of time.

Introduction
Time to take your baked potatoes to the next level. And it is so easy to do. Make them "loaded potatoes" with lots of goodies, or just add what you want or have on hand. Make them for every day, company, or the freezer.
I again read lots of recipes, even though it is just a potato casserole in the potato skin. I will give the inspiration by Pioneer Woman since she keeps it basic.
So the summary of this is to bake a potato until well done. Scoop it out while still reasonably warm, so it scoops easy and doesn't rip the skin apart. Mix the potato with some sour cream, cheese, milk, and anything else you have. Fill the skins back up and top with a little more cheese. Bake until brown. Not a very hard concept and almost fool-proof.
My Rating
It is hard to give a 5 to a side dish, but I love potatoes.
🥔The Potatoes
Usually, a potato is a potato, and they can be interchanged. But not here. You need the thick skin of a Russet potato here. Others just will fall apart.
I suggest a bigger potato, and you will find that ½ of a potato is enough for a large serving.
The first step is to bake the potatoes so they are nice and tender and the outside is crispy. So a bit "over-cooked" is better than under-cooked.
Allow them to cool a bit, then carefully scoop out the cooked potato for the next step.
👨🍳The Filling
The base of the filling is the cooked potato combined with butter, cheese, sour cream, milk, and other add-ins of your choice.
Make them with what you want. I like loaded with green onion and bacon. I think some broccoli would be excellent—just so many choices.
If storing, I would skip the onion.
❄️Storage
Once the potatoes are stuffed, they can be stored. Seal tightly, then they are good refrigerated for 3-4 days and can be frozen for about 3 months.
Frozen twice baked potatoes can be cooked without thawing. Remove from the freezer and unwrap. Place in a baking dish, and cover tightly. Bake covered for about 40 minutes at 425°, then uncover and bake another 15-20 minutes until hot.
But generally, frozen potatoes would be thawed first.
📖Potato Recipes
Crispy Parmesan Baked Potatoes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Special note: Pictures are for 8 servings, but instructions and recipe card are written for 2 servings (one potato.) Use the serving adjustment in the recipe care to adjust for larger amounts.
Preheat oven to 400° convection or 425° conventional.
Scrub the skin well. You will be eating it.
Brush the skin with a light coat of oil. This will help the skin not dry out and break as you scoop.
Bake for 1 hour or a little more. Be sure they are well done. If you want to use a thermometer, it would but 210 degrees.
While potatoes are cooking, combine butter, sour cream, milk, shredded cheese, seasoning salt, and pepper. Mash together and set aside.
Remove from oven and let cool only a few minutes, cut in half, then scoop out most of the potato, leaving a small rim of potato left.
Add the potato to the butter mixture and mash together—no need to over mix. Rough is fine. You could add other things at this point. Bacon bits would be about 2 Tbsp per half or 1 slice bacon per half. Green onion about one onion potato. If freezing or storing, do not use green onion.
Scoop the potato mixture back into the skins and top with a little shredded cheese. You could refrigerate or freeze them here.
Bake at 375° for about 20 minutes until hot and browning some.
📖Recipe
Twice Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 russet potato - larger
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese - plus a little for topping
- ¼ teaspoon seasoning salt - I used Lowry's
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 strips bacon - 8 Tbsp or 4 strips, optional
- 1 green onion - One per potato - optional
- anything else you want - optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° degrees convection or 425° conventional.
- Scrub russet potato(es).
- Coat with some oil lightly.
- Bake until well done. About 1 hour or more.
- While potatoes are cooking, slice up butter and combine with sour cream, milk, shredded cheddar cheese, seasoning salt (Lowry's or similar), and pepper.
- When potato(es) are done, remove from oven and allow to cool just enough not to burn yourself. Scoop out the potato(es) leaving a small rim of potato in the skins.
- Mix the scooped potatoes into the butter mixture and mash together. This does not need to be smooth.
- You may add optional bacon, green onion or other things here if you want. If refrigerating or freezing, I suggest skipping the onion.
- Bake at 375° for about 20 minutes until hot and browning some.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- This is only for mature Russet potatoes.
- The recipe is for 1 potato which makes two servings. You can easily adjust the ingredients for larger amount in this recipe card by changing the number of servings.
- I find half of a potato is a good serving.
- The milk, sour cream, and cheese are basic. So is the green onion usually, but I would skip it if refregerating or freezing.
- Good sealed tightly in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and frozen for 2-3 months. So make them ahead.
- You can cook a still frozen twice baked potato. Instructions are in the post. But generally, you would though first.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally published January 6, 2014. Updated with expanded discussion and options. Photos have been refreshed and a table of contents added to aid navigation.
rnowakowski@tiffinfranciscans.org
You said that sour cream is basic but I don't have that ingredient. Please advise.
Thanks.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Welcome to the blog.
You will see a lot of other types of recipes move between sour cream and plain yogurt or cream cheese. The yogurt might be ok but most people don't keep plain yogurt around. I do not think cream cheese is a good idea here.
I would say, find a different recipe. I suggest https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/parmesan-garlic-baked-potatoes/ which is one of my personal favorite things to do to a russet potato.
Dan
Mrs Sharon Gosselin
My husband has a allergy to sour cream can i use mayo instead of sour cream
DrDan
Hi Sharon,
Welcome to the blog.
Mayo or yogurt would be the commonly recommended substitutes. I have not tried it here and of course, there will be a taste difference.
Thanks for the note and have a great holiday.
Dan
Alfred
You explained the entire recipe EXCEPT the second baking process. This is a single baked potato with mixed guts.
DrDan
Hi Alfred,
I was in the discussion above but didn't make it to the recipe card. Mixed and thanks for the proof-read.
Dan
Jim and Brenda Uren
I'm sorry to say that we have been amiss in emailing and telling how we enjoy your site. In that we are Badger fans living in Memphis and you probably a Wolverine or Spartan fan might be the reason. Football aside, we have made dozens of your recipes. All have either been great or almost great! Now for our complaint.....how about coming out with a good pasty recipe? The rest of America could stand a little Cornish history and a good pasty recipe. Many thanks, Jim and Brenda Uren, Memphis
DrDan
I LOVE Memphis. I was at the Peabody last year for convention (the place with the ducks for your readers out there) and years ago got my Pediatric Oncology training at St. Judes. I'm an Iowa State guy and Michigan by marriage. The wife's family and my kids are true blue. I happen to be on MSU's clinical teaching staff. But football wise lean to the blue side.
But Wisconsin football... do they ever graduate anybody because it seems to always be the same guys out there every year running the same running play. Huge huge lineman.
Now for the complaint. Pasties... Not in my Iowa background and I have never though of trying to make one. I'll put it on the list and run it by the wife (the Michigander). The few I have had were in hospitals and I'm sure not good examples. I should be able to make a meat pie and if nothing else, I can make a great gravy to cover up my sins (is that allowed?).
Thanks for the note and have some Marlowe's ribs for me.
DrDan