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World's Best Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 8 baking potatoes
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • 6 -8 slices bacon chopped
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half works well with whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives or 2 tsp dried
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While the oven is preheating rinse the potatoes and vent them with a fork 6-8 times.
  2. Lightly brush the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes, until outside is getting crispy and inside feels soft.
  3. Towards the end of the potatoes baking, cook up the bacon on medium heat until lightly crispy. I usually cook the bacon first and chop it after it is crispy, then returning it to the pan. Add the wine and garlic. Feel free to add pepper to taste. Leave on very low heat.
  4. After removing the potatoes from the oven, use a knife to cut an oval in the top of the potato, leaving about 1/4 inch on all sides. Scoop out potato and put into a large bowl. When you are done you should have 8 potato shells.
  5. Combine the potato and butter. Blend with a mixer on low speed until the butter melts.
  6. Add the milk, seasoning, 3/4 cup of the cheese and the bacon mixture. Beat on high speed until smooth. Add more seasoning if necessary to taste.
  7. Spoon the mixture into the shells. Use the remaining cheddar cheese to top each potato and sprinkle with paprika.
  8. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet or dish and bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the potato is warm and the cheese on top is crispy.