Love a good, heavy-loaded baked potato? Well, now you can have all of your favorite potato fixings in one glorious spoonful thanks to these Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes! Consider your potato side dish game officially elevated.
These potatoes come locked and loaded with toppings galore: Cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream. Don't forget the butter. It's an easy dinnertime side dish everyone at the table will love and a surefire potluck crowd-pleaser!
Serve with chicken, pork, BBQ, or as a holiday side dish alongside roasted turkey!
Need more potato recipe inspiration? Add our pan-fried Mashed Potato Cakes to your weekly dinnertime lineup!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love It
I lean on this Twice Baked Mashed potatoes for both Thanksgiving service and Texas-style BBQs. They are the star of show on a Southern Thanksgiving spread and just as delicious served alongside a juicy smoked brisket and crockpot green beans.
Use Yukon golds for a creamy mash or Russets if you prefer your potatoes light and fluffy. The crowd always goes crazy for them. We're talking cheese, bacon, and potatoes; what's not to love?
- Make-Ahead | Prep the mash, assemble in the baking dish a day (or two) ahead, then bake right before serving. No last-minute potato panic—just golden, bubbly perfection on schedule! Assemble up to 24 hours in advance and bake before serving.
- Crowd-Pleaser | Get all the “loaded baked potato” vibes you could possibly want (cheddar, butter, bacon, chives) without trying to keep individual potatoes warm for the crowd. It’s a no-brainer for potluck or buffet -style service!
- Comfort | This potato dish is ultra-creamy thanks to a sour cream + cream cheese combo that keeps potatoes moist and fluffy potatoes.
Ingredients (and the Best Potatoes)
- Potatoes | You can use Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes for this recipe. However, if you are using Russets, consider peeling the potatoes before boiling them (unless you like the skin, that is, like in our red mashed potatoes).
- Bacon | Fresh, thick-cut hot out of the pan is certainly the way to go when it comes to taking your loaded potatoes to the next level. By all means, avoid those pre-packaged bacon bits for this dish.
- Butter | This recipe calls for unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter, just hold off on adding any salt to the recipe, and rather add-to-taste once your potatoes are mashed.
- Milk | Whole milk was used for recipe development here, but you could sub in 2% milk if needed. Or, go the complete opposite direction and get a little more decadence in those spuds by using heavy whipping cream or even half-and-half.
- Sour Cream | Sour cream will add a nice pop of acidity to Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes, but if you aren't a fan, add an extra two tablespoons of butter to the recipe and leave it out altogether.
- Cheese | Cheddar cheese is a classic potato topping, but if you'd like to change things up, by all means -- go for it! Any semi-firm cheese like Gouda, Havarti, Colby Jack, and the like would be delicious in this dish! Regardless of the cheese you use, freshly grated cheese is best. However, if time won't allow, do what you gotta do and grab yourself a great, high-quality pre-packaged cheese.
Yukon Gold vs. Russet (Quick Guide)
Yukon Golds | These potatoes are naturally buttery, and mash up silky and rich. They also reheat beautifully, making them perfect for make-ahead mashed potato dishes.
Russets | This is the potato to reach for when your goal is an airy texture, and you want that classic fluffy mash. Russets can dry out more on the reheat so it’s best to serve soon after baking or if you love a lighter scoop.
How to Make Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes
- Prep the Potatoes - Dice the potatoes into 2-inch cubes and transfer them to a medium-sized saucepan and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are softened and easily break in half when poked with the tines of a fork. Drain well and set off to the side.
- Cook the Bacon - Dice thick-cut bacon into ¼-inch cubes and transfer to a sauté pan over medium-high heat. You can do this while the potatoes are cooking to save time. Cook the bacon for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until it is crisp to your liking. Set aside to drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Mash the Potatoes - Transfer the drained potatoes to a mixing bowl, along with the butter, milk, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Mash them until they are smooth and creamy to your liking! If you are using a mixer, be sure not to crank the speed up beyond the medium setting.
- Add Cheese and Bacon - Add half of the Cheddar and half of the cooked bacon to the mashed potatoes and stir.
- Assemble and Bake - Transfer the potato mix to an 8x8" baking dish and top with the remaining cheese and bacon. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Pro Tips for Ultra-Creamy Potatoes
- Start in cold water so they cook evenly.
- Avoid a handheld mixer as overmixing causes potatoes to develop a gummy texture. Potato ricers or handheld mashers are best.
- Warm the dairy: cold dairy shocks the starches and tightens up your mash.
The Best Mashing Method
There's definitely more than one way to mash a potato and below. Pick from your favorite below!
Hand Masher | My top pick for ease and great results. Using a hand-masher almost ensures your potatoes will not be overworked and avoids the possibility of gummy potatoes. The downside? It's can difficult to get those spuds flawlessly smooth with this tool. If you don't mind a few lumps in your potatoes, this is the best method for you.
Potato Ricer or Food Mill | This mashing method will 100% deliver a smooth and creamy base for your Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes, without the risk of developing a gummy texture. Unfortunately, it can be messy, difficult to clean, and most definitely more time-consuming than the other methods.
Handheld Mixer (or Stand Mixer) | This one comes with a warning. If you want to get those potatoes mashed effortlessly, quickly, and with minimal lumps, the mixer it is. However, be sure not to crank up the speed beyond medium-low or you might end up with gummy potatoes!
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
- Make-Ahead | You can assemble up to 48 hours ahead. Mash, season, add the in dairy and cheese (filling only), and transfer to an 8×8 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. The day of, remove from fridge 30–40 minutes before baking.
- To Bake From Cold | Bake covered at 350°F, 25–30 minutes, or until the center is warmed through. Remove cover, add the cheese and bacon topping and bake 10-12 minutes more, until the cheese is melted.
- Storage | Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Do not freeze.
- Reheat | Reheat leftovers in a 325°F oven for 15–20 minutes covered. Add a splash of warm milk/cream if it looks thick. You can also microwave (by the scoop) for 30-45 second bursts.
FAQs
Yes! Use Yukon golds for best results. Assemble the potato base up to 48 hours ahead: mash, season, add the in dairy and cheese, and transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. The day of, remove from fridge 30–40 minutes before baking.
Yes! Double the ingredients and bake in a 9x13-inch casserole dish instead.
Everything is already cooked going into the oven, so the only reason for baking Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes is to allow that cheesy topping to melt. If you're ready to get the show on the road already, ditch the baking dish and add all of the cheese and bacon at once, stir until the cheese is slightly melty, and serve!
If you want to cut back on the prep work for your Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes (and you're using Russet potatoes), feel free to bake your potatoes instead!
To bake your potatoes, drizzle the potatoes with a tablespoon of oil and place them on a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Bake for 1 hour at 400°. Once they are cool enough to handle, scoop out the potato filling into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Stir in an additional 2-4 tablespoons warm milk or cream.
5 More Potato Recipes to Try
- Lyonnaise Potatoes
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Crockpot Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes With Skin
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, rinsed (peel if using Russets)
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups freshly grated Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and have ready an 8x8" baking dish.
- Dice the potatoes into 2-inch cubes and to a medium-sized saucepan. Fill to cover with water by a few inches. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. If you'd like to bake the potatoes instead, see notes below. Boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, until fork-tender and drain. Set aside.
- While the potatoes are boiling, cook the bacon. Add bacon to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and cook for about 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Transfer the potatoes to a medium-sized mixing bowl, along with the butter, milk, sour cream, salt, and pepper, and mash using a potato masher or a handheld mixer at low speed until smooth and creamy to your liking.
- Add in 1 cup of Cheddar cheese and half of the prepared bacon and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mix to the baking dish and spread to the edges. Top with the remaining 1 cup of Cheddar and sprinkle over the remaining bacon.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
HOW TO BAKE POTATOES (for Russet potatoes only):
Drizzle the potatoes with a tablespoon of oil and place on a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet, spacing evenly apart. Bake for 1 hour at 400°. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out the filling into a medium-sized mixing bowl.Nutrition
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