Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
This indulgent dish is a celebration of comfort, blending the creamy richness of baked potatoes with the savory delights of crispy bacon, green onions, and a decadent medley of cheeses and seasonings.
Start with four russet potatoes, baking them to perfection until the skin crisps and the interior becomes pillowy and tender. But the magic doesn’t stop there. These spuds undergo a transformation that elevates them from ordinary to extraordinary, as we embark on the twice-baked journey.
Picture this: fluffy potato insides whipped to perfection with butter, half n half, and sour cream. This velvety mash becomes the canvas for an array of enticing ingredients, including crispy bacon strips that add a smoky crunch, and green onions that bring a burst of freshness and color.
But the real secret lies in the seasoning. Enter a tantalizing blend of kosher salt, black pepper, rosemary, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, infusing the potatoes with layers of flavor that dance on the palate.
As the final touch, a generous shower of shredded cheddar cheese blankets these savory creations, creating a golden crown that turns the humble spud into a loaded masterpiece.
Whether served as a decadent side dish or the star of your meal, these Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes promise a symphony of textures and flavors. The richness of the mashed potatoes, the smokiness of bacon, the freshness of green onions, and the savory allure of cheese come together to create a dish that’s as comforting as it is indulgent.
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Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes
- 8 strips thick bacon
- 5 green onions
- 4 tsp butter
- ½ cup half n half
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp rosemary
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven at 425 degrees. Wash the potatoes then dry them off with a paper towel. Poke several holes in each potato with a fork. Rub each potato down with vegetable or olive oil, then heavily season them with kosher salt. Roll the potatoes around in the excess salt. Don’t worry about having too much salt as much of this salt will fall off during the upcoming steps.
Place the potatoes on a cooling rack that is on a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes until they reach 205 F internally. Remove the potatoes from the oven and carefully slice a strip lengthwise down the top of each potato. Give each potato a squeeze from the ends of the slice strip to push them slightly open. Allow them to cool to touch before their next step.
While the potatoes bake, dice the green onions and divide them in two piles. Finley chop one of the piles and set that aside to use in the potato mixture. Set the other larger diced pile aside to use as a topping.
Next, stack the bacon slices and then cut them into small bits. Cook the bacon bits in a frying pan on medium heat until they start turning brown and the grease starts foaming. Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the bacon bits and place them on paper towels to absorb the grease. After the bacon cools, finely chop half of the bits and set them aside to use in the potato mixture. Set the rest aside to use as a topping.
When the potatoes are cool to touch, use a spoon to remove the potato flesh and leave a small amount on the inside skin surface. Add the potato flesh to a large mixing bowl, then use a potato masher to break down the potato flesh into a smoother consistency. Add the room temperature half and half, the softened butter, room temperature sour cream, salt, pepper, rosemary, 3/4 of the cheddar cheese, finely chopped green onion and bacon. Mix everything together then stuff the potatoes with this filling. Top the potatoes with the remaining cheese. At this point you can place the potatoes in the refrigerator and hold them there for up to 1 day until you are ready to give them the final bake.
Place the potatoes back on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes. Top with the remaining bacon and green onions.
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