A potato side dish has never been quite as delicious as these flavorful Twice Baked Potatoes – creamy, cheesy, and super yummy this is a frequently requested dish for our family gatherings.

Closeup on a Twice Baked Potato sitting on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.

This is a family recipe that originated with our mom. We had these Twice Baked Potatoes on special occasions like Christmas Eve and Father’s Day. I’m not sure why it was that we only had them with fancy dinners, they are not that hard to make. And wow are they yummy. For us, these potatoes taste like home … like family. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Preparing the Potatoes

Collage image showing the steps required to bake the potatoes to turn into Twice Baked Potatoes.

Step 1: Scrub and wash your potatoes to clean thoroughly.
Step 2: Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork to keep them from bursting in the oven.
Step 3: Bake the potatoes in a preheated 400-degree oven for 60 minutes or until the potatoes skins are crisp on the outside and the potato itself is soft to the touch on the inside.
Step 4: When the potatoes are baked, remove them from the oven and cut them into halves, lengthwise. Scoop out the insides of the potatoes and place them in a bowl, leaving 1/4″ of the potato on the skin.

Closeup of a baked potato shell, upside down on a cookie sheet ready to go back in the oven after being lightly brushed with olive oil.

Step 5: Turn over the potato skins on a prepared baking sheet and lightly cover the skins with olive oil and then sprinkle with garlic salt. Return the skins to the 400-degree oven and cook for 10 minutes to crisp up the skins.

Making the Filing

Collage image showing the steps required to make the potato filling for the Twice Baked Potatoes.

Step 6: While potatoes are baking, add the Minced Onion to the evaporated milk and allow the onions to steep for an hour while the potatoes are baking.
Step 7: As soon as you put the potato skins in the oven, mash the potatoes with a fork or a hand mixer. You wanted to make the potato mixture while the potatoes are still warm. Cold mashed potatoes = gummy mashed potatoes.
Step 8: Add the melted butter, the milk/onion mixture, and the parsley.  Mix with a spoon or a beater depending on how “mashed” you want the potatoes to be. Salt and pepper the potato mixture to taste.
Step 9: Add 1 cup of the grated cheese and mix with a spoon.

Baking Instructions

Collage image showing the steps for assembling the Twice Baked Potatoes and reheating them in the oven.

Step 10: Spoon the potato mixture back into the shells.
Step 11: Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese onto the top of the filled potato shells.
Step 12: Return to a 300-degree oven for approximately 10 minutes (or until insides are hot and cheese is melted.)
Step 13: Sprinkle with bacon bits and chopped green onion and serve immediately.

Expert Tips and FAQ’s

What kind of potatoes should I use?

You will need a starchy potato – Russett Potatoes are perfect.

Is there a substitution for Evaporated Milk?

The evaporated milk adds a nice creaminess to the potatoes but if you don’t have any you can go ahead and use regular milk.

Closeup of eight Twice Baked Potatoes sitting on a cookie sheet surrounded by white ramekins filled with bacon and green onion.

Other Potato Side Dishes You Will Love

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Twice Baked Potatoes

Yield 8 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

A potato side dish has never been quite as delicious as these flavorful Twice Baked Potatoes - creamy, cheesy and super yummy this is a frequently requested dish for our family gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium Russet Potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Garlic Salt
  • 3/4 cup Evaporated Milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Instant Minced Onions
  • 2 tablespoons Butter (melted)
  • 1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese (grated)
  • 6 slices of Bacon (cooked and chopped)
  • 2 spears of Green Onions (chopped)
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Scrub potatoes to clean thoroughly.
  2. Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork.
  3. Bake potatoes in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 60 minutes or until the potatoes are crisp on the outside and soft to the touch on the inside.
  4. While potatoes are baking, add the Minced Onion to the milk and allow the onions to steep.
  5. When potatoes are baked, remove them from the oven.
  6. Cut the potatoes into halves, lengthwise.
  7. Scoop out the insides of the potatoes into a bowl, leaving 1/4" of the potato on the skin.
  8. Turn over the potato skins, lightly cover the skins with olive oil and then sprinkle with the garlic salt.
  9. Return the skins to the oven and cook for 10 minutes to crisp the skin.
  10. While potatoes skins are in the oven, mash the potatoes with a fork.
  11. Add the melted butter, the milk/onion mixture, salt and parsley.  Mix with a spoon or a beater depending on how "mashed" you want the potatoes to be.
  12. Add 1 cup of the grated cheese and mix with a spoon.
  13. Spoon the potato mixture into the shells.
  14. Sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the top of the filled potato shells.
  15. Return to a 300 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes (until insides are hot and cheese is melted.)
  16. Sprinkle with bacon bits and chopped green onion.

Did you Make this Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!