Twice Baked Potato Casserole (Potatoes Romanoff): The Ultimate Holiday Side Dish

Transform your baked potato experience with this incredible Twice Baked Potato Casserole, famously known as Potatoes Romanoff. This delightful dish combines fluffy shredded baked potatoes with a rich blend of sharp cheddar cheese, aromatic shallots, savory seasonings, and generous dollops of tangy sour cream. It’s a truly unforgettable side that will have everyone asking for more!

As the vibrant hues of autumn fade and November ushers in cooler temperatures, our thoughts naturally turn to comforting meals and festive gatherings. While October’s spooky delights and stormy nights might be behind us, there’s no denying that the anticipation of the holiday season is already in the air. For many, this means meticulously planning menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and countless dinner parties. And when it comes to holiday feasts, one truth stands supreme: it’s all about the side dishes, not just the turkey.

This year, elevate your holiday table with a side dish that promises to steal the show: the Twice Baked Potato Casserole, also lovingly referred to as Potatoes Romanoff. This isn’t just a simple potato dish; it’s a culinary masterpiece, perfectly suited for the grandeur of Thanksgiving, the warmth of Christmas gatherings, and any special occasion where hearty, flavorful comfort food is desired.

What Exactly is Potatoes Romanoff?

Potatoes Romanoff is, at its heart, an elevated and decadent version of a traditional twice-baked potato. Instead of refilling individual potato skins, this casserole takes baked potatoes, cools them, then grates them before folding them into an incredibly rich and creamy mixture. The magic happens with a generous blend of sharp white cheddar cheese, finely minced shallots, a carefully selected array of seasonings, and, of course, a substantial amount of luscious sour cream. The result is a fluffy, flavorful, and utterly satisfying potato dish that is far more sophisticated and shareable than a standard baked potato. While it might not become a weekly staple, it is undeniably the perfect indulgent side dish for your most cherished holiday meals.

The Essential First Step: Selecting and Preparing Your Potatoes

The foundation of an outstanding Twice Baked Potato Casserole begins with the right potatoes. Russet potatoes are unequivocally the best choice for this recipe due to their starchy texture, which bakes up light and fluffy, perfect for grating and mixing. As russets vary in size, aim for a total weight of approximately 2 ½ pounds. Start by giving them a thorough scrub under running water. This step is crucial because we will be incorporating the entire potato – skin and all – into our casserole, adding both flavor and essential nutrients. Before cooking, use a fork to pierce holes all over each potato. This simple act allows steam to escape during cooking, preventing the potatoes from bursting in your chosen appliance.

Mastering Potato Baking for the Perfect Casserole Base

Achieving perfectly baked potatoes is paramount for this casserole. Depending on your preference and available time, you have several reliable methods:

Instant Pot: For a quicker cooking time, the Instant Pot is an excellent option. Depending on the size of your potatoes (larger ones nearing a pound each), they will typically cook in about 10-20 minutes under high pressure. For potatoes weighing around a pound, expect to cook them for 18-20 minutes for ideal tenderness.
Oven: The traditional oven method yields wonderfully fluffy results. Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack for approximately 35-50 minutes. The exact time will depend on their size, so keep an eye on them.
Microwave: While often the fastest, this method requires a bit more attention to ensure even cooking. Cooking time varies significantly based on the number and size of your potatoes. For larger russets, anticipate 10-18 minutes per potato. To ensure they cook uniformly, it’s advisable to microwave them in smaller batches.

How to Know When Your Baked Potatoes Are Perfectly Done

Regardless of the cooking method you choose, the most reliable way to test for doneness is with a simple fork test. Gently pierce a potato with a fork; if it glides through with minimal resistance, your potatoes are perfectly baked and ready for the next step.

The Advantage of Advanced Preparation

One of the many benefits of this Potatoes Romanoff recipe is its flexibility for make-ahead preparation. Once your potatoes are thoroughly baked, allow them to cool completely to room temperature. This cooling period is crucial for achieving the ideal texture when grating. After they’ve cooled, wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate them overnight. This step makes grating the potatoes for your casserole exponentially easier and less messy the next day. By preparing your potatoes in advance, all that remains on the day of serving is to grate them, mix with the remaining ingredients, and pop the casserole into the oven!

The Best Techniques for Grating Baked Potatoes

Achieving the right consistency for your casserole relies heavily on how you grate the baked potatoes. You have two primary and efficient options:

Manual Grating: Use a sturdy box grater. This method gives you excellent control over the texture, resulting in light and airy potato shreds.
Food Processor: For a quicker and less strenuous approach, utilize your food processor fitted with the grating attachment. This is my preferred method, especially after a morning workout, when my arms appreciate the break!

Regardless of the method chosen, remember to grate the entire potato, including the skin. The skin contributes a subtle earthy flavor and additional texture that enhances the overall casserole experience.

Key Ingredients for Flavorful Potatoes Romanoff

Once your potatoes are perfectly grated, you’re ready to combine them with a symphony of flavors that define Potatoes Romanoff:

Minced Shallots: These provide a delicate, sweet onion flavor that is less pungent than regular onions, complementing the richness of the potatoes.
Grated White Cheddar Cheese: Sharp white cheddar offers a robust, tangy flavor that melts beautifully, creating pockets of cheesy goodness throughout the casserole.
Garlic Powder: A classic seasoning that adds a warm, savory depth without the raw bite of fresh garlic.
White Pepper: Used for its milder heat and ability to blend seamlessly into lighter-colored dishes without visible specks.
Melted Butter: Essential for richness and moisture, ensuring a creamy, indulgent texture.
Sour Cream: The cornerstone of Potatoes Romanoff, it provides tanginess, creaminess, and a luxurious mouthfeel.
Chopped Scallions/Chives/Parsley: Fresh herbs for garnish, adding a burst of color and a refreshing, aromatic finish.

Assembling and Baking Your Romanoff Masterpiece

Here’s where the magic truly comes together. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients listed above, excluding the grated potatoes and fresh herb garnish. Mix thoroughly until everything is well incorporated. Then, gently fold in the grated potatoes. Be careful not to overmix; you want to maintain a light and fluffy texture, not a dense, compacted one. Transfer this glorious mixture into a prepared casserole dish. For an extra touch of indulgence, sprinkle a generous amount of additional shredded cheese over the top – because who can resist more cheese?

Bake the casserole until it’s beautifully golden brown and bubbling around the edges, indicating that the flavors have melded perfectly and the cheese has melted into a delicious crust.

This Thanksgiving, dare to deviate from the usual potato offerings. While traditional sweet potato casserole or roasted garlic mashed potatoes are always welcome, this Twice Baked Potato Casserole is designed to impress. It’s a sophisticated twist that is guaranteed to garner delighted murmurs and rave reviews from your guests. It might just become your new signature holiday side!

And for a truly complete meal, don’t forget the perfect accompaniment: warm, soft dinner rolls. Whether you prefer traditional fluffy rolls or the irresistible aroma of garlic herb dinner rolls, they’re the ideal pairing for scooping up every last bit of this creamy potato goodness!

Yield: 10-12 servings

Twice Baked Potato Casserole (Potatoes Romanoff)

Prep Time
55 minutes

Cook Time
30 minutes

Elevate your traditional baked potato with this luxurious casserole! This Twice Baked Potato Casserole, also known as Potatoes Romanoff, features shredded baked potatoes folded into a rich, creamy mixture with sharp cheddar cheese, shallots, and sour cream. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for any holiday or special occasion!

Delicious Twice Baked Potato Casserole (Potatoes Romanoff) with a golden, bubbly cheese topping, ready to be served.

Ingredients

2 ½ pounds russet potatoes
1 cup shallots, minced
3 cups grated white cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon white pepper
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 ¾ cups sour cream
chopped scallions/chives for garnish

Instructions

POTATOES: Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Thoroughly scrub each potato, then wrap it in aluminum foil and pierce the foil-wrapped potatoes several times with a fork. Place them directly on the oven rack and bake until they are tender when squeezed, which typically takes about 40–55 minutes, depending on size. Alternatively, you can cook them in the microwave (around 35 minutes total, adjusting for batch size) or in an Instant Pot (18-20 minutes for larger potatoes). Once cooked, remove potatoes and allow them to cool completely on a plate. For best grating results, wrap the plate in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
PREP: When you are ready to assemble and bake the casserole, preheat your oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 1 ½ quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Using either a box grater or the grating attachment on a food processor, grate the cooled potatoes, including the skin.
CASSEROLE: In a large mixing bowl, combine half of the shredded cheddar cheese, all of the minced shallots, salt, garlic powder, white pepper, melted butter, and sour cream. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until well combined. Gently fold in the grated potatoes, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the creamy mixture. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the potatoes dense. Transfer the mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly but without compressing it too much, to maintain a fluffy texture. Sprinkle the remaining half of the shredded cheese generously over the top.
BAKE: Bake the casserole for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted. Garnish with fresh chopped scallions or chives before serving.

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