Description

Baked Potato Skins are a crispy, cheesy, and savory appetizer or snack made from hollowed-out russet potato halves filled with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh green onions. Perfect for game days, parties, or a hearty side, these flavorful bites are easy to prepare and satisfying. Serve them hot with sour cream or your favorite dipping sauce for a classic comfort food experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Potatoes

4 large russet potatoes

Seasonings and Oil

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Fillings

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
2 green onions, sliced

Serving

Sour cream, for serving

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Instructions

Preheat and Bake Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Scrub the russet potatoes thoroughly and dry them. Pierce each potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a knife.
Cool and Hollow Potatoes: Remove the baked potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool slightly until comfortable to handle. Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the center flesh, leaving about ¼ inch of potato attached to the skin to maintain structure for the skins.
Prepare Potato Skins for Crisping: Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C). Brush both sides of each potato skin with olive oil, then season with salt and black pepper evenly. Arrange the skins cut side down on a baking sheet for the next step.
Crisp the Potato Skins: Bake the skins cut side down for 10 minutes. After that, flip the skins over and bake cut side up for an additional 10 minutes until the skins are crisp and golden.
Add Fillings and Melt Cheese: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the insides of each skin with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled cooked bacon. Return the skins to the oven and bake for another 5–7 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
Garnish and Serve: Once out of the oven, top each potato skin with sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot, accompanied by sour cream or your preferred dipping sauce.

Notes

Potato skins can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.
For variation, substitute bacon with cooked sausage or omit meat for a vegetarian option by adding black beans or sautéed vegetables.
Ensure not to scoop out too much potato flesh to prevent skins from breaking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Category: Appetizer, Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American