Best Twice-Baked Potatoes

LorenLou's Note:

Family favorite - tried and true - the only recipe we use.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 medium potatoes
• ½ cup sour cream (I use fat-free and no one knows the difference!)
• ¼ cup milk
• ¼ cup margarine
• ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 4 slices bacon , crisp and crumbled (or 1 c. real bacon bits)

Directions:

1. Microwave (or bake in oven at 400 for 1hr) the potatoes until done.
2. Allow to cool a bit.
3. Slice about a 1" strip of the skin off the top of each potato.
4. Carefully scoop out the pulp, placing in a large bowl, and leaving potato shells intact.
5. Mash the potato pulp along with the margarine.
6. Add milk, sour cream, cheese, salt and pepper; combining well.
7. Spoon the mixture back into the potato shells, piling high.
8. Top with the crumbled bacon or bacon bits.
9. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

Reviews

[becky716]

Super Good! However, please bake the potatoes initially, rather than microwave. It will make them sturdy enough to contain the goodness without falling apart! Rub with olive oil and kosher salt and bake at 375 for an hour or more until done. Don't overbake or they'll wrinkle. I also used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and topped them with chives, which makes them healthy, right? :-)

[luv2cookinNC]

I made this along with rib eye steaks for my husband%u2019s church board Christmas party. I received so many compliments. I was told more than once that "this was the best twice baked potato I have ever eaten". I did do a couple of things different, I didn't cook potato in microwave because I think the taste is better in oven I also didn't cook potato all the way through i.e. instead of 1 hr cooking time I only cooked for 45 min. this makes sure the potato skin does not fall apart while digging pulp out. I also used sea salt instead of table salt and I added cheese and bacon to potato instead of putting on top. But I did put cheese on top of potato after cooking through. These are wonderful. These also have a wonderful presentation.

[msjill111]

Absolutely awesome!!! I did bake the potatoes as becky716 suggested. Followed the rest of the diretions other than added green onions (green parts only) to the mix. What a great potato. Lots of flavor and oh so good!!! Thanks for sharing. Will be making again and again.