Twice Baked Potato Skins
Ingredients
4 (13 - 14 oz. each) large baker russet potatoes
1/2 cup half and half, then up to 1/4 cup more if needed (heavy cream can be substituted for a richer option)
1/2 cup sour cream
4 Tbsp butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp each paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
6 oz. freshly shredded medium cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, chopped small and cooked until crisp (optional)
2 green onions, sliced (optional)
Twice Baked Potatoes are one of the ultimate side dish recipes! These are seriously comforting, extra cheesy, deliciously creamy, mashed potato loaded, hearty stuffed potato skins and they never disappoint! These pair perfectly with just about any chicken or steak dish and they are delicious with a roast ham.
Instructions
Preheat oven and prep potatoes: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub and rinse potatoes clean and pierce potatoes several times on each side with a fork.
Bake whole potatoes until softened through: Place potatoes in preheated oven and bake 75 - 80 minutes until fully cooked through (they should be fairly soft when squeezed). Remove potatoes from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Scoop out flesh of potatoes: Slice potatoes into halves. Use an oven mitt to hold potato halves and scoop potato flesh into a large mixing bowl (while leaving about 1/6-inch potato intact with the peel). Transfer empty potato peels to a 13 by 9-inch baking dish or baking sheet (see note*).
Mash: Mash potatoes with a potato masher until no longer lumpy (or pass through a potato ricer or food mill into bowl for seriously smooth potatoes).
Add liquids and season, stir: Add in half and half, sour cream, butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Blend mixture together with a spoon (or with just briefly with an electric hand mixer) while adding more half and half as needed to thin.
Fill potato skins: Scoop mixture into potato peels. Sprinkle with cheddar.
Stir seasonings and sprinkle over potatoes: In a small bowl whisk together paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Sprinkle seasoning evenly over potatoes.
Bake to heat through and melt cheese: Bake in preheated oven until cheese has melted and potatoes are heated through, about 10 - 15 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon and green onions and serve warm.
Recipe and image courtesy of Cooking Classy