Twice Baked Potatoes combine crispy bacon bits, melty cheese, sour cream, and fresh green onions inside a creamy filling that is loaded into potato shells and baked to perfection with a cheddar cheese topping.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes clean under running water. Wipe dry. Poke each potato in several places with a fork. Rub the oil all over the potatoes and place on a baking sheet. Bake until tender, about 60 to 75 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool just enough to be able to handle them.
While the potatoes are cooling, cook the bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Let cool and crumble.
Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out most of the flesh into a large bowl, leaving about 1/4-inch-thickness of potato to keep the skin as a shell.
Add the butter to scooped potato and mash until the butter is melted. Add the crumbled bacon, 1 cup of cheese, sour cream, milk, green onions, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
Scoop the mixture evenly back into the potato shells, and place the filled potatoes back on the baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.
Bake again at 400°F until the cheese melts, about 15 minutes. Garnish with more chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
Mash by hand. A potato masher is the ideal tool to mash the potatoes with the butter. Stick to doing this step by hand instead of using a hand mixer or stand mixer, both of which can overmix the potatoes and make them gummy or glue-like.
Look for potatoes that are similarly sized. For the best twice baked potatoes, look for potatoes that are similarly sized so that they will bake at the same rate. This will simplify your process and everyone will get the same portion size, so no fighting over the largest one!
Customize the flavors. You can spice up this potato recipe with your favorite toppings or seasonings. Try stirring in ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, half a packet of ranch dressing mix, or your favorite combination of cheeses. These would also be delicious when served with crumbled blue cheese, black olives, or hot sauce on top!