Short Description
Crispy potato skins filled with creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes enriched with cheeses and cream, then topped with melty mozzarella and garnished for a rich, indulgent side or meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Oven-crisped potato skins packed with fluffy, garlicky mash
- Enriched with butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, and two cheeses for ultra-creamy filling
- Roasted garlic adds a deep, caramelized sweetness
- Topped with melted mozzarella and optional sour cream and scallions for freshness

Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the Baked Potatoes
- 2 large potatoes (~350 g or 12 oz each)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
For the Filling
- 30 g salted butter (2 Tbsp)
- 60 g cream cheese (¼ cup)
- 40 ml heavy cream (2 Tbsp + 2 tsp)
- 2 pinches red chili flakes
- 1 tsp salt (plus extra to taste)
- Black pepper to taste
- 25 g mozzarella (¼ cup), diced into filling
- 30 g gouda (¼ cup), diced into filling
- 50 g mozzarella (½ cup), shredded topping
For the Roasted Garlic
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Chopped green onions
Directions
Bake Potatoes and Roast Garlic
- Wash and pat dry the potatoes. Pierce all over with a fork or knife.
- Rub potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Microwave on high for ~10 minutes (adjust for size). Test for tenderness with a fork. Handle carefully with tongs.
- Place potatoes and the top-trimmed head of garlic (drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, wrapped in foil) into an air fryer. Air-fry at 200 °C (400 °F) for ~10 minutes, then flip the potatoes and cook another 2 minutes until skins are golden and crispy, and garlic is soft and caramelized.
Prepare Filling
- Once cool enough, slice off the tops of each potato. Scoop out most of the flesh into a bowl, leaving a sturdy shell.
- Add butter to the hot potato flesh and stir until melted. Add cream and cream cheese, stirring until smooth and creamy.
- Squeeze roasted garlic cloves into the mash and fold in. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Mix in mozzarella and gouda until melted and well-combined.
Assemble and Finish
- Spoon the creamy filling back into the potato skins, mounding a bit.
- Top each potato generously with shredded mozzarella.
- Return to air fryer at 200 °C (400 °F) for 5–7 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serve
- Remove and top with sour cream and green onions if using. Serve immediately and enjoy warm.
Servings And Timing
- Serves 2 (1 potato each)
- Prep time: ~10 minutes (plus microwaving for potato)
- Air frying/roasting: ~12–15 minutes per stage
- Assembly and second bake: ~10 minutes
- Total time: ~35–40 minutes
Variations
- Cheese swaps: Use cheddar, Gruyère, or fontina instead of gouda or mozzarella.
- Add-ins: Fold in chopped bacon bits, cooked spinach, or chives into the mashed filling.
- Extra herb flavor: Mix in fresh thyme, parsley, or rosemary with the mash.
- Spice level: Increase chili flakes or add diced jalapeño for heat.
- Non-dairy version: Use vegan butter, cream cheese, and plant-based cream/cheese.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store filled and topped potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Warm in an air fryer or oven at 180 °C until heated through and crispy again. Avoid microwaving to preserve texture.

FAQs
Can I bake the potatoes in an oven instead of an air fryer?
Yes—bake at 200 °C (400 °F) for ~45 minutes until crispy, and roast garlic alongside wrapped in foil.
How do I press out roasted garlic easily?
Gently squeeze each garlic clove from its papery skin—softness after roasting makes it effortless.
Can I prep these ahead of time?
You can scoop potato flesh and prepare filling in advance. Assemble and air-fry topping just before serving.
How do I make sure the potato skins stay crisp?
Do not cover tops while cooling; crispiness lasts better when exposed to air.
Can I make more servings?
Yes—scale ingredients and bake potatoes and garlic similarly. Adjust air fryer batches as needed.
How spicy will these be?
Mildly spicy from chili flakes—you can omit or reduce them if preferred.
What if I don’t have cream cheese?
You can use more butter and a splash more cream for richness, though texture will be slightly different.
Are these suitable for gluten-free diets?
Yes—potatoes are naturally gluten-free. Just ensure butter and cheeses are certified gluten-free.
Can I add meat to the filling?
Absolutely—mix in pulled chicken, crumbled sausage, or bacon for extra protein.
What is the best way to serve these?
Serve warm with a side salad or steamed greens. They also pair well with grilled meats or vegetables.
Conclusion
These roasted garlic twice-baked potatoes deliver a harmonious blend of textures and flavors—from crispy skins to garlicky, cheesy filling and bubbly melted topping. They’re easy to customize, elegant enough for entertaining, yet comforting enough for cozy weeknight dinners.
Print
Roasted Garlic Twice‑Baked Potatoes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Crispy twice-baked potato skins filled with creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes enriched with butter, cream cheese, gouda, and mozzarella, topped with melted cheese for a rich, indulgent side or meal.
Ingredients
2 large potatoes (~350 g each)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
30 g salted butter (2 Tbsp)
60 g cream cheese (¼ cup)
40 ml heavy cream (2 Tbsp + 2 tsp)
2 pinches red chili flakes
1 tsp salt (plus extra to taste)
Black pepper to taste
25 g mozzarella, diced
30 g gouda, diced
50 g shredded mozzarella (topping)
1 head garlic
1 tsp olive oil (for garlic)
Pinch of salt (for garlic)
Optional: sour cream and chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry potatoes; prick all over with fork or knife.
- Rub potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Microwave potatoes ~10 minutes until tender; handle with care.
- Trim garlic top, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt; wrap in foil.
- Air-fry potatoes and garlic at 200 °C (400 °F) for 10 minutes; flip potatoes and cook 2 more minutes until skins crisp and garlic soft.
- Slice potato tops, scoop out flesh leaving shells intact.
- Mix hot potato flesh with butter until melted, then stir in cream and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add roasted garlic cloves, chili flakes, salt, pepper, diced mozzarella, and gouda; combine thoroughly.
- Fill potato shells with mixture, mound slightly; top with shredded mozzarella.
- Air-fry at 200 °C for 5–7 minutes until cheese bubbles and turns golden.
- Serve warm, optionally topped with sour cream and green onions.
Notes
- Swap cheeses for cheddar, Gruyère, or fontina.
- Add cooked bacon, spinach, or herbs to filling.
- Increase chili flakes or add jalapeño for spice.
- Use vegan substitutes for dairy-free version.
- Potato skins stay crisp longer if not covered while cooling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side
- Method: Microwaving and Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg