This twice-baked potato recipe is a great use of those leftover mashed potatoes. Adding onion to the mix and a generous coating of cheddar cheese really breathes new life into the potatoes.
If desired, add chopped chives instead of onions and serve with a dollop of sour cream. Or, add crunchy bacon bits, once plated.
Twice-Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients:
Cold leftover mashed potatoes (enough to fill baking dish)
1 medium onion, chopped
1/8 -1/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Mix the chopped onion into the cold mashed potatoes. Add milk a little at a time, if the potatoes are too stiff and/or thick.
2. Put potato mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish and spread/mash evenly into the dish.
3. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of potato mixture.
4. Cover dish with foil or a lid and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
How to Make Healthy Twice-Baked Potatoes
If you're watching your calories, then we've got you! You can still enjoy this great recipe while not straying from your diet. Let's talk about the changes you need to make to make this recipe healthier.
First, you'll want to use low-fat cheese instead of regular cheese. Low-fat cheese is significantly lower in both calories and saturated fat. High-calorie, high-fat foods are easy ways to put on or keep on pounds. Searching for ingredients that reduce a recipe's fat and calorie content is key to making that recipe diet-friendly.
Second, if you choose to use sour cream, make sure it's low-fat sour cream. Low-fat sour cream serves the same purpose as low-fat cheese. Third, if you use bacon bits, aim to use turkey bacon bits. Turkey bacon is significantly lower in calories and saturated fat than pork bacon, making it ideal for those on a diet.
Of course, if you can avoid using sour cream and bacon bits entirely, that will be best. This recipe is delicious with just cheese; the sour cream and bacon are simply complements. If you really want a fully-loaded potato, though, know that there are ways to make it happen without going off-course with your diet.
You don't need to give up amazing recipes on your diet! With a little effort, you can quickly turn delicious recipes like this one into diet-friendly versions. This healthier version of our twice-baked potato recipe will go perfect with any dinner you're thinking of serving this week. If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out the hundreds of other recipes we have on our site!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Msphotographic / Dreamstime.