Twice-Baked Potatoes

Nutritious twice-baked potatoes in the oven will satisfy your craving for comfort food with double the cheese for a high-protein side dish or main meal.

About Easy Twice-Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are the ultimate veggie; they can do practically anything!

Baked potatoes are great but when you bake them twice (and mix the potato with some cheesy goodness), you get magic.

Twice-baked potatoes were some of my favorite sides when I was growing up.

When I was in grad school on a limited budget, I would make these twice-baked potatoes with cottage cheese instead of sour cream and butter as the binder.

It's so nice that they are high in protein, and you enjoy two halves as a main dish with a side salad or cup of soup.

Originally, these were created using one potato.

But twice-baked potatoes are one of those things that you can double, triple, quadruple (or more) the recipe with minimal extra effort and a lot of return.

I highly suggest making them to keep in the freezer for one of those times you're not in the mood to cook or need a side dish without effort.

Below, there are tips and instructions for how to make these ahead, how to freeze, and how to reheat frozen twice baked potatoes.

Ingredients

Potato: For baked potatoes, russet potatoes are the best choice. They are sometimes referred to as "Idaho potatoes" or "baking potatoes." White potatoes can also be used.

Cottage cheese: The cottage cheese binds the mixture together, makes the filling extra-cheesy and creamy, and adds protein. Use any type of cottage cheese, other than fat-free. Small-curd, large-curd, reduced-fat, and 4% fat all work well.

Cheddar cheese: Cheddar gives your twice-baked potatoes flavor as well as protein for satiety. You can use any cheese you want.

Green onion: Often, the filling for twice-baked potatoes can be a little bland, but adding green onions fixes that. Plus, they add a little contrast to the smooth twice baked potato filling. You can use chives or onion powder.

Spices: Garlic powder, paprika, and salt season the filling. You can also add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, black pepper, dried parsley, or dried onion flakes/onion powder (if you aren't using green onions).

Toppings: Crumbled bacon, sour cream, plain yogurt, and fresh parsley are all great options for topping your high-protein twice-baked potatoes.

Cost of Recipe

• potato 4 (6-ounce) potato: $0.90
• cottage cheese 1 cup: $1.24
• cheddar cheese 4 ounces: $1.99
• green onion 4: $0.40
• garlic powder ½ teaspoon: $0.04
• paprika ½ teaspoon: $0.08
• salt ⅜ teaspoon: $0.01

TOTAL COST: $4.66 or $1.17/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2023)

Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Be sure to scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

How to Make Twice-Baked Potatoes in Oven

Recipe Tips

*Scooping out the potato flesh can be a little challenging if your potatoes are cold.

Use a spoon and start by scooping out small sections. Once you've gotten about half out, it's easier to scoop.

Also, don't stress if a potato skin rips a little bit. It might not hold together as well but it'll still taste delicious.

Variations

Ingredient Options

Cheddar: Mozzarella, parmesan, gruyere, Monterey jack, or whatever cheese you like best will work. Simply use about 4 ounces (which is around 1 cup shredded).

Green onions: Fresh chives, dried onion flakes or onion powder can be used. Use about ¼ cup chives, ¼ teaspoon dried onion flakes, or ⅛ teaspoon onion powder.

Spices: Add ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, or black pepper; ½ teaspoon dried parsley; or if you aren't using green onions, add ¼ teaspoon of dried onion flakes or ⅛ teaspoon onion powder. Taste and add additional seasoning if needed.

Flavor Substitutions

You can add different spices like

• ¼ teaspoon cumin + ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried dill + ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary + ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

Or use whatever spices and herbs you enjoy. Be sure to taste the filling mixture and adjust the seasonings as needed before baking.

Alternative Prep & Cooking

You can use leftover baked potatoes. Or "bake" your potatoes in the microwave:

Pierce a washed potato all over with a fork. Microwave for 3 minutes then flip over and microwave another 3 minutes. Microwave in 30 seconds increments until it slices in half easily.

Another option is to prepare these using the air fryer using this recipe for Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes.

How to Make Allergy-Friendly

These are already gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free. The cheddar and cottage cheeses mean they have dairy, but you can look for non-dairy alternatives to those if needed.

Twice-baked potatoes are also vegetarian as long as you don't add a topping like bacon.

How to Fix a Mistake

Mixture is too bland: Add extra seasoning in ¼ teaspoon increments until it reaches your desired taste.

Too salty: Remember that the mixture is going to be seasoning the peel of the potato as well so if it's minimally too salty, then it should be ok. However, if it is very salty, add an additional baked potato and do not add any extra seasoning. Also, skip the cheddar on top since that has salt.

Make-Ahead Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes are very freezer friendly.

Simply prepare as directed, but stop before covering the stuffed potato skins with cheese. If possible, wrap each potato half individually in parchment, freezer paper, waxed paper, or foil. Put in an airtight bag or container, and freeze for up to 6 weeks.

When ready to bake, unwrap, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for 30 minutes until warmed through.

Reheating Twice Baked Potatoes

From frozen

In oven: When ready to bake, unwrap, put on a baking sheet, sprinkle each with cheese, and bake for 30 minutes until warmed through.

In microwave: Let thaw in the fridge overnight. Put one to two halves of a microwave-safe plate. Cook on 50% power for 3 minutes. Cook for 1 minute on 100% power. Sprinkle with cheese, and cook for another 30 to 90 seconds on 100% powder until warmed through.

From the fridge

In oven: Bake on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.

In microwave: Put one or two potato halves on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 30 seconds, rotate (or cut in half), and microwave for another 30 seconds until warmed through.

Storage Suggestions

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

For freezing, wrap individually (if possible) in parchment paper, waxed paper, or foil. Freeze in an airtight container or bag for up to 6 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition Benefits

Each of these healthy twice baked potato halves has 8 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, 12% RDA of potassium, 22% Vitamin C, 14% calcium, and 6% iron.

Double that if you're eating two halves, and you'll see how you get a nice dose of potassium, Vitamin C, calcium, and iron in these tasty twice bakes.

Plus, potatoes are considered one of the most satisfying foods, so you will feel satiated after enjoying this comfort food classic side dish.

Note that the nutrition facts below are for one half of a potato. If you're eating for a meal, I recommend eating at least two halves.

What to Serve with Healthy Twice-Baked Potatoes

The twice-baked potato can be a delicious side dish with something like steak with blue cheese mushroom sauce or bacon-wrapped chicken and a side of veggies.

You can even eat them for lunch or dinner - yay for a budget-friendly meal. Add a side salad or bowl of soup for extra satisfaction.

Make these loaded twice-baked potatoes by covering them in your favorite toppings like bacon, fresh parsley, chives, sour cream, or plain yogurt.

Final thoughts:

It's extremely easy to double, triple, or whatever if you need to feed more people. And you might even want to make extras because they keep well in the freezer.

They're also fun to bring to new parents who need things in the freezer that don't take a lot of effort but will keep them full and satisfied.

MORE POTATO SIDE DISHES YOU'LL LOVE:

• Smashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Hot Cheesy Potatoes
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Potato Salad

Meme

This post was originally published on September 25, 2012. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.

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Healthy Twice-Baked Potatoes Nutrition Facts

*Nutrition facts calculated based on using 6-ounce potatoes and do not include bacon, parsley, or yogurt.