Twice-Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are like chicken: We love them, but sheesh how can we possibly think of yet another way to prepare them? And a baked potato is so easy that it's very tempting to pop a few spuds in the oven and call it a side dish. However, just a little extra time will kick your typical baked potato up many notches. Our Twice Baked Potatoes add tons of rich flavor to any meal. As a matter of fact, pair them with a hearty green salad, and they're a meal all by themselves. They're also crowd pleasers because the ingredients fit the who-doesn't-love-them category: butter, cheese, milk, bacon, sour cream, and green onions, plus a little salt and pepper. Potato skins will be crisp, the pulp fluffy and soft. And when you combine the potato with all the cheesy-creamy goodness in our ingredient list, you'll have a stuffed potato that's filling and fabulous.

Twice Baked Potatoes
Photo: Antonis Achilleos
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 45 mins
Yield:
16 servings

Ingredients

  • Canola oil

  • 8 medium-size baking potatoes (about 4 lb.)

  • 1/2 cup butter, cut into slices

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 8 thick-cut peppered bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

  • 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese

  • 2 green onions, sliced

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Rub potatoes with oil. Bake on a baking sheet 45 to 50 minutes or until potatoes are tender and skins are crisp.

  2. Meanwhile, stir together butter and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.

  3. Remove potatoes from oven, and let cool 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°. Cut warm potatoes in half lengthwise; carefully scoop out pulp into bowl with butter mixture, leaving shells intact.

  4. Mash pulp and butter mixture together using a potato masher. Stir in 1 cup cheese, green onions, and seasoned salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into potato shells; place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.

  5. Bake at 300° for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and potatoes are thoroughly heated

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