Twice Baked Potatoes with Spinach and Feta Cheese Recipe

Name: Spanakopita Twice-Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 4 large Russet Potatoes (about 320 grams each), scrubbed and dried; 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided; 1 1/4 cups Greek yogurt; 2 (10-ounce) boxes frozen spinach, thawed and very well drained; 2 scallions, thinly sliced; 5 tablespoons finely minced fresh dill; 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley; 8 ounces feta, divided; Freshly ground black pepper

A twice-baked potato is the perfect love child of a baked potato and mashed potatoes. It’s also a brilliant blank canvas for so many flavors.

A classic version is made with cheese, sour cream and bacon, but this vegetarian recipe sneaks in spinach for some extra veg, Greek yogurt for a boost of protein and creamy, salty feta for
can’t-stop-eating flavor.

Plan Ahead Potatoes

There’s nothing difficult about making twice-baked potatoes, but as the name implies, you do need time to bake them twice. Once your oven is heated, you’ll need 60 to 70 minutes for the first bake, depending on the size of your potatoes. Then allow another 15 to 18 for the second bake.

The good news is there are ways to make this recipe in stages:

Do the first bake, make the filling and stuff the potatoes ahead of time. They’ll keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Complete the second bake when you’re ready to eat (allow a few more minutes if you’re starting with cold potatoes).
Do only the first bake and let them cool. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to scoop, stuff and bake later. Cold potatoes are easy to scoop, but they need a little more
love to mash. Warm potatoes are easy to scoop and mash.
If you’re in a hurry, do the first “bake” in the microwave. Place the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating halfway through. The second bake is still best done in an oven or toaster oven.

However you cook them, make sure you prick them all over to allow steam to vent. Then rub them with a little oil and sprinkle with salt so that the skin is as flavorful as the filling.

Spinach and feta stuffed twice baked potatoes on a platter with a salad in the background. — Alison Bickel

Plenty of Potato Partners

It’s easy to customize ingredients for twice baked potatoes. Don’t like spinach? Chop up cooked and well-drained broccoli—or just leave out the spinach. No dill on hand? Use only parsley or
swap in finely minced chives.

No feta? Go to the store because feta is delightful. Just kidding: Substitute salty cheeses like Parmesan or Romano to taste, or try havarti, which pairs really well with dill.

Tip: Feta can range in saltiness, so taste as you go. You might need less cheese to make you
happy, or you might want more.

Make it A Meal

You could go full-on steakhouse and serve these with a seared steak to make the potatoes a rich side dish.

But they are an entrée in their own right, so pairing them with a Greek salad—with crunchy lettuce, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and, yes, more feta—would be a thematically pleasing way to round out your dinner.

Close up of twice baked potatoes stuffed with spinach and feta on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. — Alison Bickel

Leftovers!

If you have leftover potatoes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Reheat: Twice-baked potatoes are very forgiving when it’s time to reheat them. Cut a little slit in the center (to speed heating all the way through) and then heat them for 3 to 4 minutes in the microwave or 5 to 8 in the toaster oven or air fryer.
Freeze: These creamy stuffed potatoes freeze well too. Let the twice-baked potatoes cool completely, then wrap individually in plastic wrap. Wrap each again in foil, or store in a zip-top bag or air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Thaw: Thaw in the
fridge overnight and they’ll bake up (unwrapped) in 25 to 30 minutes at 350˚F.
To Bake from Frozen: If you’re baking from frozen, bake for 30 minutes covered
with foil at 350˚F and then another 20 to 30 uncovered, depending on their
size.

More Baked Potato Recipes

Spanakopita Twice-Baked Potatoes

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 80 mins

Cool time 15 mins

Total Time 105 mins

Servings 4 to 6 servings

4 large russet potatoes (about 320g each), scrubbed and dried
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 1/4 cups Greek yogurt
2 (10-ounce) boxes frozen spinach, thawed and very well drained
2 scallions, thinly sliced
5 tablespoons fresh dill, finely minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely minced
8 ounces feta, divided
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven:

Heat oven to 400°F.
Bake the potatoes:

Prick the potatoes all over with the tines of a fork or tip of a paring knife. Rub
them with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake until they’re tender throughout (they should slip off a cake tester or paring knife when poked), 60 to 70 minutes.

Let them rest for 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re cool enough to handle.

Alison Bickel
Split and Scoop the potatoes:

Split the potatoes lengthwise and create a potato shell by scooping out the center, leaving a 1/4-inch rim. Put the scooped out flesh into a large bowl and give it a rough mash with a potato masher or large fork.

Alison Bickel

Alison Bickel
Finish making the filling:

To the bowl with potato flesh, add the yogurt, spinach, scallion, dill, parsley and remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt.

Crumble in 6 ounces of feta and mash and mix well, until the filling is uniform and creamy. Taste filling and add black pepper to taste.
Stuff the potato shells:

Divide the filling among the shells and pat into shape as needed. Finely crumble the remaining 2 ounces of feta evenly over the potatoes.
Bake again:

Bake the stuffed potatoes until the filling is heated through and cheese has browned, 15 to 18 minutes.
Serve:

Twice baked potatoes are best served immediately on their own, with a salad or alongside a protein of your choice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
293	Calories
18g	Fat
20g	Carbs
16g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	293
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g	23%
Saturated Fat 7g	36%
Cholesterol 36mg	12%
Sodium 993mg	43%
Total Carbohydrate 20g	7%
Dietary Fiber 5g	18%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 10mg	48%
Calcium 399mg	31%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 693mg	15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.