Shortcut Twice Baked Potatoes Recipes

Steps:

• Poke a few holes in each potato with a paring knife or the tines of a fork. Wrap each potato individually in a paper towel and moisten the paper towels. Place the potatoes in the microwave a few inches apart. Microwave for 5 minutes; flip the potatoes and microwave again until the potatoes are tender, 5 to 6 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, place a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside. Line a small bowl with a paper towel and set aside. Put the bacon in a large skillet and place over high heat. When you start to hear the bacon sizzle and pop, lower the heat to medium-high or medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is almost crisp, 8 to 9 minutes.
• Add the onions to the rendered bacon before the bacon gets too crispy. Let the onions cook until translucent and softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds. Transfer the bacon mixture to the paper towel-lined bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Place the sour cream and butter in a large bowl. Cut the microwaved potatoes in half horizontally. Scoop out the flesh from the potatoes, leaving the skins intact. Place the flesh from the potatoes in a ricer and rice into the bowl with the sour cream. (If you don't have a ricer, place the flesh in the bowl and mash with a potato masher instead.) Add the bacon mixture, chives, 2 heaping tablespoons of Cheddar, salt and pepper. Mix with a rubber spatula. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Place the potato skins on the prepared baking sheet and spoon the potato flesh mixture back into skins. Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar over the potatoes and bake in the top third of the oven until the cheese is melted and the filling is heated through, about 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Rub them with the canola oil and bake for 1 hour, making sure they're sufficiently cooked through.
• Slice the butter into pats. Place in a large mixing bowl and add the bacon bits and sour cream. Remove the potatoes from the oven. Lower the heat to 350 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scrape out the insides into the mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the shell. Leave a small rim of potato intact for support. Lay the hollowed out potato shells on a baking sheet.
• Smash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream. Add the cheese, milk, seasoned salt, green onions and black pepper to taste and mix together well. (IMPORTANT: If you plan to freeze the twice-baked potatoes, do NOT add the green onions.)
• Fill the potato shells with the filling. I like to fill the shells so they look abundant and heaping. Top each potato with a little more grated cheese and pop 'em in the oven until the potato is warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Steps:

• Position racks in the top and middle of the oven, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Take the butter out of the refrigerator to soften. Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Poke holes all over them with a fork. In a large bowl, toss them with the oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the potatoes directly on the top rack, and place a baking sheet or a piece of foil on the middle rack to catch drips. Bake for about 1 hour, until the skin is crisp and potatoes offer no resistance when a knife is inserted in their centers. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.
• Slice the top third lengthwise off the potatoes. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving 1/4-inch border of potato on the skin, and transfer the flesh to a medium bowl. Scrape the potato tops of all flesh, and add the flesh to the bowl. Place the bottoms on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Snack on the tops - chef's treat - or discard.)
• Mash the potato flesh with a fork or potato masher. Add the butter, and stir until smooth (try not to overwork). Add the milk, sour cream and cheese and stir to combine. (If you want the filling softer, add more milk.) Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives, if using.
• Mound each potato skin with a quarter of the filling. Bake the potatoes until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Sauté bacon in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
• Bake all potatoes in microwave on high until tender, about 10 minutes per side. Cut top 3/4 inch off each potato lengthwise. Scoop cooked potato flesh into medium bowl, leaving 1/4-inch-thick potato shell. Add butter and milk to potato flesh in bowl and mash well. Stir in bacon; season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon potato mixture into shells. Place potatoes on baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake potatoes until filling is heated through and shells are crisp, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
• Bake for another 15 minutes.