From-scratch Twice Baked Potatoes in Air Fryer

Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes are straightforward to put together and so much faster than the oven. They’re great as a party appetizer or a side dish for dinner.

Straightforward Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes

The air fryer is quickly becoming one of our favorite tools in the kitchen. We can make side dishes quickly while we cook up proteins on the stove or even have mostly hands-off meal prep.

One of a house favorite recipes we've been loving lately is Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes. They are so quick and straightforward in the air fryer. You still get the crispy potato skins and a super fluffy, creamy, and cheesy interior.

Air fryer baked potatoes are one of those straightforward recipes that feels like it’s part of a fancy dinner. The insides of the potatoes have a satisfying mashed potato filling and then they’re topped with melty cheese, bacon, and chives.

Not only can you serve them up as a side dish to steak or salmon, but they are a wonderful appetizer and party snack. You can set them up similarly to a baked potato bar and let people add their own toppings.

With both comfort food season And Football season in full swing (and with the Big Game around the corner, too), let’s get into this straightforward and satisfying recipe that checks all the boxes.

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Why you will come back to Twice Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes are sure to become your new favorite side dish and party snack because…

• They’re made with plain ingredients
• They are straightforward to put together and faster than the oven with a shorter cooking time
• The Air Fryer gives the well-balanced texture: You get that oven-baked crispy exterior in less time! And yet the insides are so creamy and cheesy.
• They make a great recipe that you can serve as an appetizer for a party and enjoy leftovers the next day as a side dish.

Twice Baked Potato Air Fryer Ingredients

The full, printable recipe card with detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of this page

These Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes are made with a few plain ingredients. Here’s what to snag at the grocery store:

• Baking potatoes – Russet potatoes work best. Stay away from extra large ones because they will take longer to cook.
• Avocado or olive oil – Any neutral-tasting oil will work!
• Thick-cut bacon – Ham or pancetta would be tasty too.
• Sour cream – For a lighter version, use plain Greek yogurt. You can also make them even creamier by using cream cheese.
• Sharp cheddar cheese – Any cheese you like will work well! Try pepper jack to add some spice or a Mexican blend for Tex-Mex-style toppings.
• Butter – Real butter works best for these potatoes.
• Milk – For creamier potatoes, use heavy cream or half-and-half.
• Garlic powder & onion powder – Be sure your spices aren’t expired for a house favorite taste.
• Coarse kosher salt – Use this to flavor the potatoes but also for coating the skin of the potatoes.
• Ground black pepper – We recommend freshly-cracked black pepper for a house favorite flavor.

Products used to make twice baked potatoes

Air fryer

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Knife set

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Skillet

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Glass mixing bowls

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Grater

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How to make Twice Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Let’s get into this super straightforward recipe! We know it looks like a lot of steps, but trust us — you can do this!

The steps themselves are plain, and you’re already one step ahead: Making them in the air fryer is so much easier than making them in the oven.

1. Start by washing the potatoes. Be sure to remove all the dirt from the potatoes and dry them. (Use a Vegetable brush To scrub off all the dirt.)
2. Poke holes in each of the potatoes with a fork or knife.
3. Brush the exterior of the potatoes with olive oil or avocado oil until they are completely coated.
4. Sprinkle salt all around the entire exterior of the potatoes.
5. Set the air fryer to “preheat” for 5 minutes at 400°F.
6. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket without crowding them.
7. Air fry the potatoes at 400°F for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through. You may need up to 40 minutes for large potatoes.
8. Test that the potatoes are done by seeing if a fork easily slides in. This is called “fork-soft.” If so, remove them from the air fryer with tongs and set aside to cool. (If not, you can cook them a little longer and check them every 5 minutes.)
9. While the potatoes are cooling, cook the bacon in a heavy-bottomed skillet. Once the bacon has cooked, set it aside to cool. If you’d rather, you can make Bacon in the oven Or do this step ahead of time.
10. Once the potatoes have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut each one length-wise, like you would a baked potato.

Start by washing the potatoes. Be sure to remove all the dirt from the potatoes and dry them.

Brush the extrior of the potatoes with oil until they are completely coated. Sprinkle salt on the exterior of the potatoes on all sides.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket without crowding them.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket without crowding them.

Once the potatoes have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut each one length-wise.

Scoop the inside of each potato into a large mixing bowl, but leave about a quarter of an inch border along the sides and bottom of the potato so that it keeps it shape.

1. With a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop the inside of each potato into a large mixing bowl. Make sure to leave about a quarter of an inch border of potato along the sides and bottom so that the potato skin can maintain its shape and structure.
2. Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese, butter, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the same mixing bowl. Crumble in the bacon and mix it all together. You won’t need any sort of potato masher or hand mixer because the potato filling is already soft.

Cook the bacon in a heavy bottom skillet. Once the bacon has cooked, set it aside to cool.

Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese, to a mixing bowl.

Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese to a mixing bowl.

Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese, butter, milk to a mixing bowl. Crumble in the bacon and mix it all together.

Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese, butter, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Crumble in the bacon and mix it all together.

Mix all the potato filling ingredients all together.

1. Scoop the filling back into the potato shells dividing it evenly between each one. (You may have extra, but it’s okay to heap the mixture on top rather than them having flat tops like baked potatoes.)
2. Place the potatoes back into the air fryer basket and top with the remaining cheese.
3. Cook them in the air fryer at 400°F for about 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
4. With tongs, remove them from the air fryer and top them with any of your favorite toppings!

Scoop the filling into the potato shells dividing it evenly between them.

Place the potatoes back into the air fryer basket.

Place the potatoes back into the air fryer basket and top with the remaining shredded cheese.

Tips for making Twice Baked Potato in the Air Fryer

A house favorite potatoes for twice baked potatoes are Russet Potatoes. Russets have more Starch content Than Yukon Golds, which yields a lighter and fluffier mash for the second bake.

Be sure to clean the skin of the potatoes well to remove all the dirt. We recommend using a vegetable brush to scrub them well.

There are a lot of flavors in Twice Baked Potatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese stands up well. Milder cheeses can get lost in the other flavors.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Air needs to be able to circulate around them, so try not to let them touch once in the basket.

All air fryers are different and some may take additional time to bake the potatoes depending on the model, basket, and heating element. Cook times can vary based on all of these elements.

If you want extra mashed potato mixture to overload the potatoes, you can bake extra potatoes and use the filling from them.

Air Fryer Twice Baked Potato Variations

If you want to make these twice baked potatoes for a full meal, add in some proteins like Shredded chicken, Brisket Or Pulled pork.

For broccoli and cheese twice baked potatoes, add Roasted broccoli And use cheddar cheese.

What to serve with this Twice Baked Potatoes Air Fryer recipe

Not only can you serve them up as an straightforward side dish to steak or salmon, but twice baked potatoes are a wonderful appetizer and party snack.

They’d be so good alongside these Air Fryer Chicken Wings For a game-day gathering. Don’t forget the chips and Queso.

You can also enjoy them with the main dish like a hearty Steak dinner Or even Salmon.

For a veggie side dish, try a Chopped salad On the side or Roasted frozen green beans.

Twice Baked Potato Air Fryer Topping suggestions

You can have so much fun with toppings for Twice Baked Potatoes, especially for parties.

If you’re feeding a crowd, set out a bunch of topping options as if you were building a baked potato bar. These stuffed potatoes can be loaded with even more toppings!

Here are a few ideas:

• Extra bacon
• Chives
• Green onions
• Parsley
• Salsa
• More cheese
• Black beans
• Tomatoes
• Guacamole
• Onion straws
• Gravy
• More butter

How to store Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes

Place the leftover twice baked potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They are as great the second time as they are the first!

You can also freeze them! Place the loaded baked potato in a single layer in a freezer-safe container. You’ll want to allow them to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating them.

How to reheat Twice Baked Potato in the Air Fryer

If you have leftover twice baked potatoes, you can pop them back in the air fryer to reheat them. Cook them at 400°F for about 5 minutes. / Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, then cook for about 5 minutes.

Reheating Air Fryer Twice Baked Potato in the oven

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Heat them in a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes.

Remove the twice baked potatoes from the air fryer and top with any of your favorite toppings!

Twice Baked Potatoes Air Fryer FAQs

Prep 5 minutesCook 40 minutesMakes 8

Ingredients

• 4 baking potatoes
• 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
• 6 slices thick cut bacon
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Coarse kosher salt to taste & for coating the skin of the potatoes
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Option toppings: extra bacon chives, green onions

Method

1. Start by washing the potatoes. Be sure to remove all the dirt from the potatoes and dry them.
2. Poke each of the potatoes with a fork or knife.
3. Brush the extrior of the potatoes with oil until they are completely coated.
4. Sprinkle salt on the exterior of the potatoes on all sides.
5. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F.
6. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket without crowding them.
7. Air fry the potatoes at 400°F for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through. You may need up to 40 minutes for large potatoes.
8. Test that the potatoes are done by seeing if a fork easily slides in. If so, remove them from the air fryer and set aside to cool.
9. While the potatoes are cooling, cook the bacon in a heavy bottom skillet . Once the bacon has cooked, set it aside to cool.
10. Once the potatoes have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut each one length-wise.
11. Scoop the inside of each potato into a large mixing bowl, but leave about a quarter of an inch border along the sides and bottom of the potato so that it keeps it shape.
12. Add the sour cream, half of the shredded cheese, butter, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Crumble in the bacon and mix it all together.
13. Scoop the filling into the potato shells dividing it evenly between them.
14. Place the potatoes back into the air fryer basket and top with the remaining shredded cheese.
15. Cook them in the air fryer at 400°F for about 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
16. Remove them from the air fryer and top with any of your favorite toppings!

Notes

• Russets are a house favorite for this
• Be sure to clean the skin of the potatoes well to remove all the dirt
• Sharp cheddar stands up well to the other flavors
• Can top with chives or green onions
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – air needs to circulate around them
• All air fryers are different and some may take additional time to bake the potatoes depending on the model, basket, and heating element.