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twice baked potatoes

Twice baked potatoes, filled with a delicious mix of cream cheese, spring onion and bacon, topped with bubbling cheddar, comfort food perfection.

Twice baked potatoes are a firm favourite on my family’s dinner table. This dish is something I make regularly, albeit that the ingredients change from time to time, the filling for any baked potato being driven by what I happen to have in the fridge and store cupboards.

Close up of a twice baked and filled potato skin topped with cheese.

At this time of year, as the weather starts to change and the temperature starts dropping, all thoughts turn to more comforting food. For me baked potatoes are the perfect comfort food, warming you from the inside out. Delicious loaded with other flavours, but also perfect straight from the oven with butter and a sprinkle of sea salt.

My family enjoy twice baked potatoes all year round, however they do remind me of Guy Fawkes. When I was a child we would always go to our local village bonfire and fireworks display. It involved a walk through down a very dark road to get there so you always needed a torch, which for kids was exciting!

When we arrived there was always homecooked hot food on offer, soup, hotdogs and baked potatoes. I think that remains to me my fondest memories of bonfire night, stood around a huge fire in the middle of a farmers field, tucking into a piping hot baked potato.

How to make twice baked potatoes – recipe steps:

Crispy skinned potatoes after being baked in the oven.
Step 1: Rub the potato with oil, sprinkle over some salt and place in the oven to bake for an hour at 200CFan, turning once during the bake. Remove from the oven when the skin is nicely crisp and the inside is soft.
Baked potatoes sliced in half from the oven on a wooden chopping board.
Step 2: Allow the potatoes to cool a little and when able to be handled cut in half lengthways.
Baked potatoes with the insides scooped out to leave the baked skins.
Step 3: Scoop out the potato flesh into a bowl. Lay the empty potato shells into an oven proof dish.
Mashed potato being mixed with spring onions, soft cheese, salt & pepper.
Step 4: Add the spring onion and soft cheese to the potato, season well and mash together with a fork. You don’t want too smooth a mash, the potato should retain some texture.
Mashed potato being mixed with spring onions, soft cheese, salt & pepper and crisp diced bacon added.
Step 5: Now stir through the crispy bacon pieces.
Basked potato skins loaded with mashed potato, cheese, onion and bacon.
Step 6: Spoon the potato mixture back into the potato shells.
Basked potato skins loaded with mashed potato, cheese, onion and bacon and topped with more cheese to be baked again in the oven.
Step 7: Cover with grated cheese and the remainder of the spring onion and place back in the oven, this time at a reduced heat of 180CFan for 20 minutes.

What are the best potatoes to use for baking?

Potatoes:

The best potatoes for baking with are either a Maris Piper or a King Edward. They are brilliant for baking as they don’t fall apart and their skins crisp up nicely. This is really important, you want potatoes that bake well as you want the skin to stay intact while you scoop out the flesh.

If you live in the US, a Russet or Yukon Gold potato would be a great substitute.

Sweet Potatoes:

If watching your carbohydrate intake, another suggestion would be to use sweet potatoes in place of the white baking potatoes. However, sweet potatoes do not take so long to bake, so reduce the baking time. Test the sweet potato after 45 minutes to see if it is soft, if not pop back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.

Substitutions:

Cheese:

These twice baked potatoes use garlic and herb cream cheese in the filling as it adds a lovely mild garlic flavour to the mixture. However, if you would prefer you can substitute with normal cream cheese, sour cream or creme fraiche. You are just looking to add a creamy element to mix through the potato.

Onion:

Spring onions add a lovely freshness to the mix, however you can also use leeks or chives instead to achieve the same fresh flavour.

Vegetarian alternative:

If feeding vegetarian diners leave out the bacon entirely and ensure that the cheese you are using is suitable for a vegetarian diet.

How to serve these potatoes?

This recipe uses large baking potatoes, so we have allowed one half per person as this is a rich dish. However, if you are using smaller baking potatoes allow one per person.

Twice baked potatoes are full of flavour with bacon and cheese so serve with a dressed mixed salad or some steamed vegetables, for example broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage. As the oven is already on you could also serve with roasted vegetables.

Alternative potato toppings?

Looking for some alternative potato toppings, then why not try some of thee suggestions:

  • Sour cream, bacon and chive, topped with grated cheese
  • Cream cheese, smoked sausage and tomato, topped with grated cheese and jalapeno chilli peppers
  • Creme fraiche, leek, roasted red peppers, roasted courgette, sweetcorn, chilli and parsley, topped with grated cheese, leek and parsley
Twice baked potatoes loaded with cheese, onion and bacon served on a wooden chopping board and scattered with spring onions.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

This is a great make ahead dish, ideal for busy families. Make the recipe up to step number 6 in the recipe card and then allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, cover and place in the fridge for up to 24 hours in advance. Prepare your potatoes one evening and enjoy them for dinner the following day.

When you are ready to enjoy remove the potatoes from the oven, top with the grated cheese and remaining spring onion and pop into the oven. It may need an extra 10 minutes to heat through.

Why bake the potatoes twice?

Loaded baked potatoes are a twice baked dish. The first bake cooks the potato. The second bake allows for the filling to be mixed together, heated up and melted together with a bubbling cheese topping. However, if short of time bake the potato, cut it and pile on the toppings.

The reason I like this twice baked method is that it allows me to prepare the dish in advance, either the night before on the morning I plan to enjoy them for dinner. As any busy parent will tell you, prep ahead meals are essential for family dining mid week.

Can you freeze twice baked potatoes after baked?

I prefer not to freeze potatoes as I find that the texture can become grainy. As you can prepare the first step of baking the potatoes ahead I find that preferable to freezing.

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Additional recipe suggestions:

If you enjoyed this recipe then try some of our other simple recipes:

Looking for inspiration for feeding the family mid week, then take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Family Dinners. Full of useful hints, tips and recipes.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice baked potatoes, filled with a delicious mix of cream cheese, spring onion, bacon, topped with cheddar, comfort food perfection.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 470kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 large baking potatoes (approx 450g per potato)
  • 2 tsp olive oil (optional)
  • 200 g garlic & herb cream cheese
  • 4 rashers streaky bacon
  • 5 spring onions (thinly sliced)
  • 100 g cheddar cheese (grated)
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes onto a baking sheet and place 1tsp of oil on each, rub over the potato and season with a little salt. [You can leave off the oil if you wish].
  • Now place the potatoes in the oven to bake at 200CFan for an hour, turning once after 30 minutes. After one hour check with a sharp knife to ensure the potato is soft and cooked through, if not return to the oven until cooked. Remove the tray from the oven and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile cook the bacon until crispy and cut it into smaller pieces.
  • Place the cream cheese, bacon pieces and 2/3 of the spring onion into a large bowl.
  • Once the potatoes have cooled, slice then in half lengthways. Take each potato half and gently scoop out the potato flesh, taking care to leave just a little potato around the inside of the potato skins. Place the potato flesh into the bowl with the cream cheese, season well with salt and pepper and using a fork mash it all together. You want to achieve a rough texture.
  • Place the empty potato skins into an ovenproof dish and spoon the potato and cream cheese mixture equally into the 4 empty potato skins.
  • Next mix the remaining spring onion with the grated cheddar cheese and sprinkle equally over the 4 potato halves.
  • Turn the oven down to 180CFan and return the potatoes to the oven and bake for a further 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe uses garlic and herb cream cheese, if you would prefer substitute with normal cream cheese or sour cream.
Spring onions add a lovely freshness to the mix, however you can also use leeks or chives instead.
If feeding vegetarian diners leave out the bacon and ensure that the cheese you are using is suitable for a vegetarian diet.
Nutrition Facts
Twice Baked Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 470 Calories from Fat 333
% Daily Value*
Fat 37g57%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Cholesterol 96mg32%
Sodium 470mg20%
Potassium 627mg18%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 1072IU21%
Vitamin C 24mg29%
Calcium 253mg25%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •

Course : Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine : British
Keyword : Easy, Simple
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Recipe Rating




Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Ooooh yes please! These sound amazing... definitely a step up from the standard baked potato! Eb :-)

Lesley

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Thank you Eb, they are so simple to make and a great make ahead part bake. Lesley

Janice

Friday 20th of November 2020

I love loaded baked potatoes and I'm going to try this filling because it looks divine. Thanks for a great reicpe.

Lesley

Friday 20th of November 2020

Thank you Janice, it's a firm favourite on our dinner table. Lesley

rebecca - Glutarama

Friday 20th of November 2020

Oh-Em-Geeee! This is the food I want to see all day every day. Sadly I can't eat potato (I know, bonkers) but I make stuffed cheesy jackets for my family still, these jackets take it to a whole other level though, this I'll have to begrudgingly treat them to these instead haha

Lesley

Friday 20th of November 2020

Thank you very much Rebecca, these potatoes are delicious and I'm sad that you can't enjoy. However, my youngest cannot stand potato in any form and simply will not eat them. I hope your family enjoy them. x

Cat | Curly's Cooking

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

These look and sound so delicious! Please can I have mine with extra bacon and cheese?!

Lesley

Thursday 29th of October 2020

Thank you Cat, you can indeed, extra topping all round! Lesley