Twice baked potatoes have been made even better with the invention of the air fryer. This recipe uses very few ingredients that you most likely already have on hand and makes the perfect amount for a family dinner or for an easy meal prep. These air fryer twice baked potatoes are gluten free and can be made dairy free or meatless with a couple of simple substitutions. They are also easy to freeze and keep on hand for whenever the need arises…
Why This Recipe Works So Well:
- Perfect prep: Whether you are making this recipe for a meal or for prep for later in the week, making twice baked potatoes in the air fryer is perfect to save you time and ensure you have the right amount of food.
- Very few simple ingredients: Every one of the nine ingredients in the recipe are likely already there inside your home saving you trip to the store.
- Freezable: Freezing twice baked potatoes for later is a pro move. They don’t take long to thaw out for a quick turnaround from freezer to air fryer to table.
- Quick: The longest chunk of time required for this recipe is the initial cooking of the potatoes. Everything else is a snap and even the potatoes can be pre cooked or done in the microwave, if necessary, to save time.
- Easy to increase batches: This recipe uses four russet potatoes which makes it eh perfect small batch recipe to double or triple as needed for your circumstance.
Ingredients For Air Fried Twice Baked Potatoes
Start this recipe with four large russet potatoes and six slices of cooked and chopped bacon (about 6 ounces). You will need olive oil, three tablespoons of butter, a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and a third cup of heavy cream. Lastly, you will require garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
You can use your milk of choice or sour cream instead of the heavy cream if you wish. Optional ingredients for toppings include chopped green onions, sour cream, a drizzle of ranch, or a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Alternate ingredients to try
Try these substitutions for the chopped bacon in this recipe!
- Diced ham: If bacon isn’t your thing and you want to keep it close to the original just swap out the chopped bacon for some finely diced ham and make the recipe as normal.
- Chopped broccoli: When you want to change up the flavor or want a meatless option for your twice baked potatoes just nix the bacon and add in 6 ounces of finely chopped broccoli.
- Chopped jalapeño: Just in case you want to add a little kick to your potatoes, try swapping the bacon for five ounces of chopped jalapeños. Make the recipe as normal for this one as well. You can also use less jalapeño and keep the chopped bacon in the recipe if you decide to as well!
How to Prepare and Cook Your Potatoes
We start this recipe by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F if yours is one that required preheating. Using a fork, poke three or four holes in the potatoes. Lightly rub them with oil and sprinkle on a touch of salt and pepper.
Please the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees F for 35 minutes. If the potatoes aren’t fork tender (soft enough to dig into with a fork easily), add 5-10 minutes to the cook time. This will depend on the size of the potatoes you are using.
Note: You can skip this step if you want to cook the potatoes in the microwave or if you are using pre cooked potatoes.
Cut the potatoes in half and scrape out the insides with a spoon. Place the insides in a bowl and set aside the skins for now.
In the bowl with the potato insides, add the cream, butter, and a half teaspoon of each of the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Using a potato masher (this one is my absolute favorite) or mixer, combine this all together until the potatoes are fluffy and everything is well mixed.
Add in a half cup of shredded cheese and four slices (about 4 ounces) of the chopped bacon and fold it together. Scoop the potato mixture back into the potato skins so the skins are full and slightly heaping.
Place the filled potato skins back into the air fryer and cook for six minutes at 400 degrees F or until the tops of the twice baked potatoes begin to brown.
Pro Tip: Place a small sheet of foil at the bottom of the air fryer basket with a light spritz of cooking spray or olive oil before placing the potatoes in. This will help keep your air fryer basket clean for your next use.
Top your potatoes with the remaining cheese and chopped bacon and cook for an additional two minutes to melt the cheese and crisp up the bacon.
Remove your delicious twice baked potatoes from the air fryer, garnish, and serve!
How to Make Dairy Free Twice Baked Potatoes
To make this recipe dairy free, start by substituting the heavy cream for a dairy free milk or sour cream of your preference. I like to use Kite Hill dairy free sour cream or dairy free chive cream cheese but use whichever brand you have on hand or prefer. You then change out the butter for a clarified ghee and either omit the shredded cheddar cheese or swap it out for a vegan cheese that you prefer.
Serving Suggestions:
Air fryer twice baked potatoes can be served alongside a countless number of meals. Garnish these with a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions or a drizzle of ranch or barbecue sauce or however you prefer to “dress up” your potatoes. Try a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes or a light dusting of salt and fresh cracked pepper!
How to Store Leftovers
To store this recipe for later, let the potatoes cool to room temperature and place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. They will keep in the fridge for about 5 days.
Freezing for later
If you are making your twice baked potatoes to freeze to have on hand for later you first let them cool to room temperature. You will then wrap them in plastic wrap and foil and place them into the freezer.
Notes:
- I recommend using Press ‘n’ Seal wrap and aluminum foil for this as I’ve found its a good way to eliminate air from the wraps and keeps the potatoes from any potential freezer burn.
- Another recommendation is to group the potatoes in smaller groups such as two or three. This way when you’re ready to thaw and eat you can get the perfect amount without a huge production.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat from the refrigerator you will just place the potatoes into the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees F for eight minutes.
When reheating from frozen and you have the time, let the twice baked potatoes thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for a short time and cook them the same as you would as directly from the refrigerator.
If you are cooking directly from the freezer, air fry your potatoes at 400 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes. This will depend on the size of the potatoes.
FAQ:
Can you freeze twice baked potatoes?
Yes! You can freeze twice baked potatoes ahead of time in tin foil and or plastic wrap. Thaw them out overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature or simply cook them from frozen.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Air Fryer S’mores
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
Twice baked potatoes have been made even better with the invention of the air fryer. This recipe uses very few ingredients that you most likely already have on hand and makes the perfect amount for a family dinner or for an easy meal prep. These air fryer twice baked potatoes are gluten free and can be made dairy free or meatless with a couple of simple substitutions. They are also easy to freeze and keep on hand for whenever the need arises.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Vegetables
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- Oil (olive or avocado)
- 1/3 cup heavy cream or half and half (can also use milk of choice or sour cream)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Colby jack
- 6–8 slices cooked and chopped bacon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to season potato
- ½ teaspoon pepper, plus more to season potato
- Toppings: Green onions, sour cream
Instructions
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat it to 400 degrees F.
- Poke holes in your potatoes and rub each with oil. Place the potatoes into the air fryer tray or basket, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook for 35 minutes (you can skip this step if you want to cook them in the microwave more quickly or are using already baked potatoes)
- Add 10 minutes if the potatoes aren’t fork tender (will depend on the size of your potatoes). Once done, remove the potatoes from the air fryer and cut them in half
- Scrape out the insides of the potatoes into a bowl and add the cream, butter, and ½ teaspoon each garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mash with a potato masher or mix with a mixer until combined and the potatoes are fluffy
- Fold in ½ cup of shredded cheese and 4 slices of the cooked and chopped bacon
- Scoop the potato mixture back into the potato skins so the skins are full and slightly heaping, and place them back into the air fryer
- Air fry again on 400 degrees F. for 6 minutes until the tops have begun to brown
- Top the potatoes with the remaining ½ cup of cheese and 2 slices of chopped bacon. Cook once more for 2 minutes until cheese is melted and bacon is crisp
- Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and serve topped with a dollop of sour cream, chopped green onions and additional salt and pepper
Notes
- Use a small sheet of tin foil with a light coat of cooking spray or oil to keep cleanup easy.
- Swap out the bacon for broccoli or jalapeños and make meatless twice baked potatoes and make the recipe as normal.
- Substitute a couple of ingredients for dairy free twice baked potatoes.
- Double or triple the batch and freeze these potatoes to have on hand for later.
Nutrition Facts:
- Serving Size: 1/2 potato
- Calories: 224
- Fat: 11.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
This air fryer twice baked potatoes recipe may contain some links that are affiliate links, though products are ones I use personally and recommend. When you purchase anything using my links, it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but it does give wholekitchensink.com a little financial support which helps to keep this blog running. Thank you for your continued support, both with your dollars and your interest.
free whole30 ebook
sign up for my newsletter and receive my 20 best Whole30 recipes!
By using this form you agree with this site's privacy policy.
