Classic Midwestern Cheese and Bacon Twice-Baked Potatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Comforting twice-baked potatoes loaded with sharp cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, and scallions, a beloved side in many regional American homes. This American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 85 minutes, pairs large russet potatoes, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon strips for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 75 min Serves 8 American cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash and pierce 4 large russet potatoes with a fork several times. Bake directly on oven rack for 1 hour until skins are crisp and potatoes are tender when pierced.
  2. Step 2: Remove potatoes and let cool slightly until safe to handle. Slice each potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh into a large bowl, leaving a 1/4-inch shell.
  3. Step 3: To the potato flesh, add 4 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mash until creamy.
  4. Step 4: Fold in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 6 cooked and crumbled bacon strips, and 2 sliced scallions, reserving 1 scallion for garnish.
  5. Step 5: Spoon the mixture back into the potato shells, mounding slightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes until heated through and tops are golden.
  6. Step 6: Garnish with remaining sliced scallion before serving warm.

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