Loaded Potato Skins

Loaded Potato Skins are the perfect appetizer if you are hosting a party! Baked and not fried, these bacon and cheese potato skins are easy to make and a crowd pleaser!

Loaded Potato Skins

Are you in love with potato appetizers like me?

I am always ready to grab a handful of hot and crispy french fries, tater tots, and even a poutine or two.

But one thing I really love are loaded potato skins!

The crispy and slightly salty skin, filled with a small layer of flaky potato, and topped with lots of smoky bacon and melty cheese has me dreaming of them non-stop.

Try these in dip form like this loaded potato skin skillet dip along with all my other skillet dips!

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Ingredients Needed

Potatoes – Russet potatoes the best potatoes for this recipe. You can also use baby red potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Bacon – Cooked bacon not crumbles or bits. Thick cut or thick slab bacon works too.

Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese, grated fresh, is the classic cheese for these potato skins.

Sour cream – Use full fat, low fat, or fat free sour cream. Substitute plain Greek yogurt if needed.

Green onions – The perfect garnish for potato skins. You can also use fresh chives or parsley.

What are the best potatoes for potato skins?

If you are wanting to make the perfect potato skins, you have to start with the right potato!

You can use fingerling, red skinned, Yukon gold, and sweet potatoes, but the best one to use is the Russet.

The skins are slightly thicker so they hold up well when baked and the inside turns light and fluffy. A reason they are perfect for mashed potatoes too.

I like to choose Russet potatoes that are firm, a consistent earthy brown color, and one that is free of blemishes and sprouts.

The skins are what you are using as a serving dish for all those yummy topping so they need to be pretty too!

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How to Make Loaded Potato Skins

First: Lightly brush, rinse, and pat dry. Using a fork, poke holes in the skin all over. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Second: Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400F for approximately 40 mins or microwave for 5-8 mins.

Third: Make sure the potatoes are done by poking with a fork. Remove from the oven and let cool.

You can stop here and save the rest for right before you are ready to serve. Just store in the refrigerator until you are ready.

Fourth: Cut the potatoes in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the potato flesh, leaving 1/4 inch inside.

Fifth: Place the potatoes skin side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 5-7 minutes to crisp the skin.

Sixth: Remove and flip the skins over. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper if desired. Bake for another 5 minutes to brown and crisp them.

Check out my post on how to make plain baked potato skin shells using any type of potato! You can make them in the air fryer too!

Load the Potato Skins

Fill the potatoes with bacon and cheddar cheese. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melty.

Remove and top with sour cream and garnish with chopped green onions.

Can’t you just see yourself serving these delicious potato skins at your next party? I mean, everyone loves cheese and bacon.

Think of them as really awesome adult french fries!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Can you freeze potato skins?

You can freeze them before or after filling them, just as long as the shells are cooked. Freeze on a baking sheet in a single layer and then transfer to a zip top bag for easier storage.

If you are going to freeze filled skins, do the same just leave off any sour cream!

How to Reheat Them

You can use the microwave to reheat 1-2 potato skins. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute on the reheat setting or on high until they are hot all the way through.

If you are reheating a larger batch, place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in the over at 325F for 10-15 minutes or until hot.

How do you cook loaded potato skins?

If the skis are already filled, place on a foil-lined or nonstick baking sheet, cheese side up, and bake in the center of a 350F for 15 minutes.

Once the potatoes are heated through and the cheese is melted, remove them from the oven.

Let them stand 2 minutes before serving. The cheese can be very hot!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

What goes great with loaded potato skins? Enjoy them with the Beer Cheese Bread Bowl Dip, these spicy Sriracha Pineapple Chicken Wings, more cheese with Jalapeno Poppers, and wash them down with a Penitent Punch!

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