Preheat oven to 400° F.

Scrub potatoes until clean and dry them.

Place on a baking sheet and bake one hour or until potatoes are cooked through.

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool slightly.

While potatoes are cooking, cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Season with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper.

Lower oven temperature to 350° F.

Cut potatoes lengthwise in half, leaving them attached on the skin. Scrape insides of potatoes with a spoon into a large mixing bowl. Season the potato skins with salt and pepper and place back into the oven while you are preparing the filling.

Add butter, sour cream, ½ cup of cheese to the scooped out potatoes. Mash together to your desired texture. Fold in cooked ground beef.

Spoon filling into potato shells and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle each potato with remaining cheese and bacon.

Bake for 20 minutes or until potatoes are heated through and cheese is melted.