Easy Alton Brown Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe for Cozy Nights

Twice baked potatoes represent the ultimate comfort food that transforms a simple ingredient into a culinary masterpiece.

These delectable spuds combine creamy interiors with crisp exteriors, creating a sensational dining experience.

Most home cooks struggle to achieve the perfect texture and flavor balance in potato preparation.

Mastering this technique requires understanding fundamental cooking principles and selecting quality ingredients.

Professional chefs know the secret lies in careful ingredient selection and precise temperature control.

Home cooking enthusiasts can elevate their skills by practicing technique and experimenting with subtle flavor variations.

The result promises a crowd-pleasing dish that impresses guests with minimal effort: prepare to wow everyone at your next gathering.

Why Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes Are a Game-Changer for Comfort Food

• Craft Comfort on a Plate: These twice-baked potatoes deliver ultimate comfort food with a perfect blend of creamy potato filling, crispy bacon, and melted cheese that transforms a simple potato into a luxurious side dish.
• Master Effortless Gourmet Cooking: The recipe requires minimal technical skills while producing restaurant-quality results, making it ideal for home cooks wanting to impress without complicated techniques.
• Customize Your Culinary Creation: Easily adaptable with potential mix-ins like different cheeses, herbs, or proteins, allowing personal creativity and accommodating various taste preferences in one simple recipe.
• Quick Crowd-Pleasing Magic: The dish takes just 90 minutes total, serves multiple people, and provides a satisfying combination of textures – soft potato interior, crispy cheese topping, and crunchy bacon bits that make every bite interesting.

What You’ll Need for Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes

• Russet Potatoes: Sturdy potatoes perfect for baking with thick skin that holds shape well. Choose large, uniform potatoes without bruises or soft spots.

• Sour Cream, Half-and-Half: Creamy ingredients that add richness and smooth texture to potato filling. Full-fat versions provide best flavor.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheese that melts beautifully and adds tangy, rich flavor. Select aged cheddar for more intense taste.

• Bacon: Crispy meat that provides smoky, salty crunch. Use thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and texture.
• Green Onions: Fresh herbs that add mild onion flavor and bright color. Choose bright green, firm stalks.
• Parsley Salt: Herb-infused seasoning that brings fresh herbaceous notes. Homemade or store-bought options work well.

How to Prepare Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes for Baking

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash potatoes thoroughly under cold water and pat completely dry. Place potatoes on a baking sheet with space between them. Pierce each potato multiple times with a fork to allow steam to escape.

Step 2: First Bake the Potatoes

Bake potatoes for 60-75 minutes until tender. You can check doneness by gently pressing the potato – it should feel soft and yield easily when touched.

Step 3: Scoop Out Potato Flesh

Carefully slice potatoes lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the interior, leaving a thin 1/4-inch layer of potato attached to the skin. Transfer potato flesh to a large mixing bowl.

Step 4: Create Creamy Potato Mixture

• Sour cream
• Half-and-half
• Chopped parsley
• Salt to taste

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Step 5: Add Flavor Enhancers

• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 4 strips bacon, crumbled
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Step 6: Stuff and Top Potato Skins

Spoon the creamy potato mixture back into the potato skins. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top.

Step 7: Final Bake

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake stuffed potatoes for 15-20 minutes until heated through and cheese turns golden brown.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. These twice-baked potatoes make a perfect side dish or light meal.

Pro Tips for Perfectly Baked Potatoes, Alton Brown Style

• Pierce Precisely: Create evenly spaced fork holes around potato surface for consistent heat distribution.
• Scoop Strategically: Leave a quarter-inch thick potato shell to support filling without compromising structural integrity.
• Blend Boldly: Whip sour cream and half-and-half into potatoes until silky smooth, eliminating any lumpy textures.
• Salt Smartly: Taste and adjust seasoning gradually, understanding that subtle salt enhancement transforms potato flavor profile.
• Cool Carefully: Allow potatoes to rest briefly after initial baking, preventing steam burns and facilitating easier potato handling.

How to Store Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes

• Airtight Container Method: Store leftover twice-baked potatoes in a sealed container to lock in flavor and prevent moisture loss. Protect each potato by wrapping individually in plastic wrap before placing them together, creating a barrier against potential freezer burn or refrigerator odors.
• Freezer Preservation Method: Wrap each potato tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil for maximum protection. Stack potatoes carefully to save space and maintain their delicate texture. Label the package with the date to track freshness and ensure you consume within 3 months for optimal taste and quality.
• Refrigeration Revival Method: Place potatoes in the coolest section of your refrigerator, typically the back shelf. Consume within 4-5 days for the best flavor and texture.

Twists to Elevate Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes

• Spicy Southwest Potato Pods: Replace green onions with diced jalapeños, add cumin and chili powder. Swap cheddar for pepper jack cheese and top with fresh cilantro for a zesty southwestern kick.
• Mediterranean Herb Stuffed Potatoes: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh basil, and sun-dried tomatoes. Sprinkle with za'atar seasoning and use olive oil instead of half-and-half for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Loaded Vegetarian Potato Boats: Substitute bacon with sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions. Add roasted garlic, spinach, and swap cheddar for goat cheese to create a hearty vegetarian alternative that's packed with flavor.
• Truffle Parmesan Potato Casserole: Drizzle truffle oil into the potato mixture, replace parsley salt with fresh thyme, and top with grated parmesan and crispy breadcrumbs for an elegant, sophisticated take on the classic recipe.

Indulge in Creamy Perfection: Alton Brown’s Twice Baked Potatoes

Potato paradise awaits culinary adventurers seeking comfort and flavor in Alton Brown’s legendary twice baked potatoes.

Creamy interiors mingle with crispy bacon and melted cheddar, creating an irresistible harmony of textures.

Hearty potatoes transform from simple ingredients into a symphony of deliciousness that tantalizes taste buds.

Comfort meets gourmet in this classic dish that elevates home cooking to an art form.

Potato perfection emerges from careful preparation and thoughtful ingredient selection.

Hungry souls who crave a delectable experience should dive into this recipe, share its magic with friends, double-tap for love, comment with enthusiasm, and spread potato passion across social platforms.

Alton Brown Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Alton Brown’s twice baked potatoes deliver comfort and elegance in one delightful package. Crispy potato skins cradle a creamy, cheesy interior that promises to delight home cooks seeking a memorable side dish.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 russet potatoes (about 907 grams/2 pounds)
• 1.5 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• ¼ cup cooked bacon, chopped

Dairy and Cream:

• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup half-and-half, or whipping cream

Seasonings and Herbs:

• 2 tablespoons green onions, diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Thoroughly cleanse the potatoes under cool running water, then meticulously dry them with paper towels.
2. Arrange the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced apart. Pierce each potato multiple times with a fork to allow steam to escape during roasting.
3. Roast the potatoes for 60-75 minutes, or until they yield easily when gently squeezed and can be effortlessly pierced with a fork.
4. Carefully slice the potatoes lengthwise and delicately scoop out the interior, leaving a thin 1/4-inch shell intact. Transfer the potato flesh to a spacious mixing bowl.
5. Mash the potato flesh using a potato masher or fork until a relatively smooth consistency is achieved.
6. Incorporate sour cream, half-and-half, parsley salt, chopped green onions, crumbled bacon, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the mashed potatoes. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
7. Generously fill each potato skin with the prepared mixture, then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
8. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are thoroughly heated and the cheese develops a golden, bubbling crust.

Notes

• Crisp skin requires thorough drying with paper towels before seasoning.
• Selecting medium-sized russet potatoes ensures consistent baking and filling performance.
• Preheating baking sheet helps create a golden, crispy potato exterior.
• Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly for creamy potato filling.
• Cooling potatoes slightly prevents scrambling eggs during mixture preparation.
• Sharp cheese grater creates lighter, more uniform potato shreds.
• Gentle folding prevents deflating air pockets in mashed potato mixture.
• Butter incorporated while potatoes are warm melts more evenly.
• Silicone spatula helps scrape every bit of flavorful filling into potato shells.
• Letting stuffed potatoes rest briefly allows filling to set perfectly.
• Aluminum foil tenting prevents excessive browning during final baking stage.
• Cold storage works best for make-ahead preparation, lasting up to two days.
• Reheating works wonderfully at 350°F for 15-20 minutes to restore original texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 451 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 753 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 51 mg