Holidays on a Budget - Easy Twice Baked Potatoes

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I would be sharing posts in my series Celebrating the Holidays on a Budget.  Today I am sharing a recipe that is not only easy to make, but very inexpensive.  You can make it ahead of time for your holiday dinner or get togethers, or just eat it for a family dinner. 

This time  of year is the perfect time to make Easy Twice Baked Potatoes.  Last week Aldi had a 10 lb bag of Russet pototoes for only $1.29.  We will be able to make several meals from that bag which makes me very happy. You should be able to find some great deals on potatoes right now.  

You will need one to two potatoes per person, depending on the size.  

Bake for about an hour at 400 degrees 

Once the potatoes are done, take them out of oven.  I allowed mine to cool for a few minutes before moving on to the next step. They will be very hot to the touch without cooling.  Cut the potatoes in half. To get the potato halves to stand up, cut a small slice from the bottom to make a flat bottom.  Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place it in a small bowl.  

This next step is the fun part.  Add whatever extras you want in your twice baked potato based on your preferences. I did not measure, I just eyeballed until I felt we had the right amount of ingredients.  I used 2 Tablespoons of Sour Cream, and about 4 thick slices of Velvetta.  You can use any cheese prefer, Velvetta is what I had on hand.  It makes a great grilled cheese, and it is creamy when it melts. You could also add broccoli or even bacon to the filling.  Mix well so the ingredients are distributed throughout the potato. 

Refill the potato skins with the potato mixture.  Place them back in the oven, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins more.  

We sprinkled on some bacon bits,  and a little bit of salt. (I did not have a chance to take a picture before the potatoes started disappearing)   They were really good, and were gone very quickly.  My kids loved them, and want me to make the again, and again. 

If you liked the Twice Baked Potato recipe, you might also like these recipes

Another potato recipe my family loves is Easy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes. We served these at Thanksgiving last year.  Because they are made in the slow cooker they can be out of the way while you prepare the rest of the meal.  

BBQ Sausage and Cheesy Bacon Potatoes made a great winter meal