Potato lovers unite! Baked potatoes are great, and twice baked? Twice as great!! Its the best possible combination of baked potatoes with mashed. And of course, include all the favorite fixin's for a baked potato, like sour cream, green onions and BACON.
Everyone knows that baked and twice-baked potatoes are best when made in the oven. But during hot weather, you sure don’t want to have a hot oven going in your house for the 1½ hours it will take.
That’s what’s so wonderful about using a grill to make twice baked potatoes. No hot oven, and all the creamy delicious goodness of a twice baked potato. You will keep your house cool while enjoying every single bite!
Why I love this recipe
I can’t help it; I just LOVE potatoes. And when you make them twice baked? Oh, that’s too good for words!
For many years my twice-baked filling was just made of potato, sour cream and a little milk. I’d sprinkle a little shredded cheese on top before baking. My kids would eat that top layer and hardly any of the rest LOL.
But this filling is a level up from that: in addition to the sour cream and milk, I add bacon bits, chopped green onion and shredded cheese. All mixed in so it is evenly incorporated. Every bite of potato includes the goodness of all the ingredients – a delight!
And, by making these twice baked potatoes on the grill, I can enjoy them without heating up the house during the super-hot days of summer. Winning!
Ingredients needed
How to make twice baked potatoes on the grill
It starts, of course, with a baked potato. You can make your baked potato by a few different methods, here are a few to consider:
Oven baked – this is of course the classic way to bake a potato. Great for cold weather, not so much for the hot days of summer. All that extra heat in the house? No thanks!
Microwave – perfect for when you haven’t planned ahead. I’ve microwaved many a potato in my day! Just clean the potatoes well, poke a few holes in the skin for steam to escape, place them in a covered microwave dish with a little water and microwave on high. I usually start with 5 minutes, then check and turn the potatoes before microwaving a few minutes more. Total time needed depends upon the size of your potatoes.
This method has the disadvantage of producing a much drier potato than you get if you wrap it and bake it in the oven or grill. However, this is slightly less tragic for a twice-baked potato since you add so many moisture-rich ingredients when mixing the filling.
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Grilled baked potato – I do love to make baked potatoes on the grill in summer, so I choose to use the BBQ grill for the first “bake” as well as the second to produce these twice-baked potatoes. Follow the full directions for the first bake in my baked potato on the grill post.
Making the filling
Once you’ve baked the potatoes, let them sit and cool a little before trying to handle. Those wrapped potatoes retain their heat! I like to wait at least 20-30 minutes before opening.
Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Then, scoop the cooked potato from each half, leaving at least a ¼ inch “wall” of potato behind. This, with the skin, forms the structure to hold the filling.
Place the scooped potato in a bowl and add the other ingredients: sour cream, chopped green onion, bacon bits, cheese, butter and a little milk or cream. Season with a little salt and pepper and mix well. You can mix with a spoon and have a slightly chunky texture, or use a hand mixer for a smoother mix, more like a mashed potato.
Fill and bake
Divide the filling evenly between the potato shells, heaping up slightly as needed.
Preheat your grill to have an indirect heat area. If your grill has a thermometer, try for a temperature around 350F. On my gas grill, this means I keep at least one of the (3) burners going at highest level. With the lid closed, the temperature holds pretty steady at about 350F. On a cooler day I might need to use 2 burners at a lower setting. Every grill is different, so you might need to figure out what works best with yours.
Place the filled potatoes carefully on the grill grates over indirect heat. Close the grill lid and bake for 20-30 minutes. The potatoes will be heated through and will form a slight crust on top of the filling.
Remove the twice baked potatoes from the grill. They are ready to be served right away, or you can add a little extra topping if you’d like for presentation. I like a little extra cheese, so I sprinkle that on right away, so it melts a little. A dollop of sour cream and a few more slices of green onion will dress things up a little more.
FAQ’s
If you have a gas grill, turn on half of the burners. Once warmed up, the grill will have two distinct heating zones. Logically, the hottest areas are right over the lit burner(s) – this is direct heat. The other area of the grill will be hot, but a lower temperature. This is indirect heat.
Typically, direct heat is used for anything that cooks very quickly or just needs an external sear, such as a pre-cooked sausage. Indirect heat is “low and slow” – very similar to roasting or baking in an oven. Since we are trying to replicate a “baking” environment, our potatoes will heat best with indirect heat.
Potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which does make them healthy. However, they are also a high source of carbohydrates, with a high glycemic index. So moderation is important with this very yummy side dish.
More grilling ideas for you
Here are some more dishes to cook alongside your grilled twice baked potatoes:
📖 Recipe
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Grilled Twice Baked Potato
Ingredients
- 2 potatoes baked
- 2 Tablespoons bacon bits
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 2 Tablespoons milk or cream
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 green onions chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bake the potatoes according to your preferred method. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before handling.2 potatoes
- Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop the cooked potato from the middle of each half, leaving about ¼ inch attached to the skin as a “wall”.
- Place scooped potato in a bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix. For a smoother filling, use a hand mixer.2 Tablespoons bacon bits, ⅓ cup sour cream, 2 Tablespoons milk or cream, 2 Tablespoons butter, ⅓ cup cheddar cheese, 2 green onions, Salt and pepper to taste
- Divide the filling between the potato shells, mounding slightly higher that the original level as needed.
- Place the filled potatoes right on the grates in a preheated (350F) grill over indirect heat. Close the lid and allow the potatoes to cook for 20-30 minutes, until heated through.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Gregory Halpen
This is such a delicious comfort food. Making this one for sure!
Sula
I love having twice n=baked potatoes year round!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
This wi be perfect for the cottage this summer. We are always looking for something different to make other than hot dogs and hamburgers.
Sula
Oh yes, this will liven up your grilled food menu!
Jeannie
I think I know what’s my next carbo load meal!
Sula
Mine too!
Freya
I love this recipe! Baked potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, I like to do lots of mini ones too and serve them at parties, you can prep them in advance them grill them later. Yours look so scrumptious!
Sula
Oh yes mini potatoes are a great idea for parties! Twice baked minis would be a lot like deviled eggs - perfect bite size food!
Giangi Townsend
Love this recipe!! Love potatoes!! the best part: I have everything at home to make it.. Thank you for sharing
Sula
You're welcome, I hope you try them soon. They are SO GOOD!
Linda
Anytime we can take the cooking outside during the summer, we do it! We could totally make this on a camping trip, too! I've never 'baked' whole potatoes on the grill, but this I gotta do!
Sula
Oh yes, I hope you try it soon! This would be great for camping !
Toni
This quickly became a favorite side dish at my house! Thanks!
Sula
You're welcome, I'm so glad you enjoy it like we do.
Jessica Formicola
We love twice baked potatoes, but I've never thought to grill them before! This is such a great idea!
Sula
I was delighted when I realized how easy they are to grill!