Loaded Twice Baked Potato Bites Bacon, Cheddar and Ranch!!!

Loaded twice baked potatoes are a great appetizer or even dinner. (Yes, we have made “stand-alone” twice baked potatoes for dinner!!!) Usually, twice baked potatoes are made with a “regular size” baking potato, but we decided, “why not try the walnut sized potatoes???”. AKA, the perfect size for an appetizer.

After trying these twice baked potato bites you’ll never want those large potatoes again or, as far as that goes, a regular baked potato again! These bites are loaded with cheese, bacon and Ranch seasoning. It’s a super easy appetizer or side dish for dinner. So simple to make!!!!!!

Small Loaded Twice Baked Potato

The small potatoes cook faster than a large baking potato, so it’s easy to make most of it ahead of time and just do some quick steps right before you’re ready to eat. One quick trick: Make a large amount of potatoes then when you want them during the week it takes just a few minutes to make.

Next Game Day!!!

Yes, we’re making these for our next game day. Now, for us, that could be every weekend since we love so many sports. We usually only do game day appetizers for Football and sometimes during Stanley Cup playoffs. Best part, as I mentioned, we can make them a day or two ahead and just finish the final steps up a few minutes prior to the game.

Making Loaded Twice Baked Potato Bites

First steps are to wash the potatoes, dry them with a paper towel, then toss them with some olive oil to coat, and sprinkle with chunky (or coarse, we call it chunky 😃) sea salt. Put them in the air fryer or oven. Bake until done, approximately 20 minutes in the air fryer and 30 minutes in the oven. The potatoes are done when a fork can be easily inserted.

For the bacon, place in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 15 minutes or until done. To make the bacon in the oven, place the bacon on a foil lined baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes (the foil is only there to help make clean up a breeze…What can I say, we’re lazy.).

Cut the cooked bacon into small chunks. You can leave the bacon out if you want to trim some calories, but we highly recommend the little splurge because the loaded twice baked potato bites are soooooo good with the bacon!

Tip for Making the Bacon

NOTE: The bacon turns out great both ways (oven or air fryer). I actually prefer making the bacon in the oven only because I can make more bacon at one time. The clean up of the bacon in the oven is much easier as long as the foil is up along the sides of the cooking sheet. Just let the bacon grease cool and then just wrap it up and toss the foil with the grease.

Let the potatoes cool for 15 minutes or so. You want the potatoes cool enough so you can hold the potato in your hands. Cut the potatoes in half. Take a spoon and scoop out the “meat” of the potatoes. Leave a small layer of the potatoes attached to the potato skin.

NOTE: When making the loaded twice baked potato bites for a future time make sure to place them in an air tight container.

If making them now, place the potato skins back in the air fryer for 8 minutes until the potato skins are crispy or in the oven for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Mix together the scooped out potato, cheese, ranch seasoning, onion, milk and salt. (the onion is optional). Using a hand mixer or a potato masher mix all ingredients together. This takes about 3 to 5 minutes. NOTE: If making the Loaded Twice Baked Potato Bites for another time. Place the mixture in an air tight container and keep in the refrigerator.

Final Steps for loaded twice baked potato

After the potato skins are crispy, using a spoon, fill the potato skins with the potato mixture. Place them in the air fryer for 5 minutes until the filling is heated and the cheese is melting. Place 1 ounce of cheese on top of the potatoes and place back in the air fryer (or under the broiler) for about 2 minutes until the additional cheese is melted.

Top potatoes with the bacon bits and jalapenos and ENJOY!!!! Serve the loaded twice baked potatoes with a ranch dressing or hot sauce.

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