Twice-Baked Potatoes

Name: Twice-Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 large baked Russet potatoes ((about 4 cups of potato flesh)); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 5 tablespoons salted butter, melted ((divided)); 1 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup bacon bits; 8 pieces cooked bacon ((optional for topping)); 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese ((divided))

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Light, creamy, fluffy, and fully loaded twice-baked potatoes are a scrumptious treat. They are ideal for a lite meal or a side dish packed with flavor.

close up of twice-baked potato with melted cheese and bacon pieces

The potato skin is thin and crisp like a homemade chip. The combination of the ingredients with the potato meat gives each bite a delightful freshness. You are going to be tempted to use this mixture for your next mashed potato recipe.

Smoked Potatoes

Oh yes, this is part of the magic of this twice-baked potato recipe. I really enjoy the flavors from the maple wood when we smoked baked potatoes. The maple’s sweet flavor and aromatics remind me of cookouts on a wood fire. Just set up the BBQ grill to 400 degrees F and indirect cooking. My husband offsets the maple chunks to the edge of the coals to optimize the length of smoking time. These at-home smoked baked potatoes on the BBQ, are easy and simple. It just takes a little planning.

four oiled and salted potatoes on BBQ grill

A little planning with big rewards

Sean love’s to BBQ. When I put twice-baked potatoes on the menu, I like to sneak them on at the end of his cooking. Thanks, Hubby! I just need to remember to get the potatoes prepped before he is done. Then, he just smokes and bakes them after whatever he cooked. They don’t need much attention. So we can finish dinner or whatever else we were doing. Now we have our secret ingredient for this week’s upcoming twice-baked potatoes, see How to Make Twice-Baked Potatoes below.

What you will need for Twice-Baked Potatoes

Of course, you’ll need baked potatoes. The beauty of this recipe is it can be done in stages or on the day. Just ensure the potatoes have cooled. It makes it so much easier to scoop the meat out.

Equipment:

BBQ or oven
Cookie sheet
Hand Mixer
Clear mixing bowls: Anchor and Hocking Glassware

Ingredients for Twice-Baked Potatoes:

4 large baked Russet potatoes (cooled)
Salt
Onion powder
Ground black pepper
Chicken broth
Salted butter
Sour cream
Bacon bits
8 cooked bacon strips for topping pieces (optional)
Colby Jack cheese

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

How to make Twice-Baked Potatoes

four oiled and salted potatoes on half cookie sheet

ingredients shot potato boats sour cream shredded cheese butter cubes chicken broth bacon bits spices potato flesh in glass bowl

ingredients for twice-baked potatoes potato mixture in glass bowl with hand mixer whisks

close up of twice-baked potato mixture in serving spoon potato boats and skins in background

Prep BBQ Grill

Set BBQ for indirect cooking at 400 degrees F

Making your potato boats (skins)

Lay the potatoes flat
Slice them length-wise about 2/3 from the bottom. We prefer to have 4 big boat-sized twice-baked potatoes. Then, there are 4 potato skins that are great for smaller appetites or just more potato goodness
For medium boats, slice in the middle for 8 twice-baked potatoes

Make the potato mixture

Spoon out the flesh from the potatoes into a mixing bowl, I got 4 cups. We prefer to have crispy skin. So, I have found leaving only 1/8 – 1/4 inch of meat behind is the answer
Add in the salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix with a hand mixer
Add in chicken broth and melted butter. Mix until the ingredients are incorporated. Don’t worry the texture will not be smooth yet
Add the sour cream, bacon bits, and shredded cheese
Mix until smooth (or desired consistency)

four loaded potato boats and two skins with potato mixture in them with cheese on top two potato skins empty

Make the Twice-Baked Potatoes

Spoon portions of the potato mixture into the potato boats. We like to overfill them with a rounded dome
Top each with some additional shredded cheese and bacon pieces (or bacon bits)
Repeat the above with the smaller skins, just add one step of brushing the inside of the skins with melted butter before adding everything else
Place the potatoes on a half cookie sheet or disposable pan. Put them on the preheated grill
Cook for 20-minutes or until the cheese has melted
Serve and Enjoy!

in half cookie sheet four potato boats and four skins with potato mixture in them with cheese and bacon on top placed on BBQ grill

three cooked twice-baked potatoes with melted cheese and bacon on top sitting on white serving tray

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

TIPs

If you enjoy your twice-baked potatoes with extra crispy skin, just oil and salt the skins as desired before baking.
You can easily substitute the chicken broth with milk. However, the final texture may be slightly different.

FAQs

Can I use regular baked potatoes?

Yes. In fact, you could use the oven for the whole recipe.

How long can I keep my baked potatoes before making the twice-baked potatoes?

3 – 4 days in the refrigerator

Why do you use chicken broth?

The chicken broth brings a freshness to the starchiness of the potatoes, blends the flavors, and adds its own savoriness.

How did you keep the potato skins so intact?

We found out that when we bake the potatoes unwrapped, they have a stronger skin. Which makes it easier to scoop the meat out and hold its shape for the second bake.

Other recipes that go great with
Twice-Baked Potatoes:

What other toppings do you like on your Twice-Baked Potatoes? Let us know in the comments below.