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Home » Recipe Index » Appetizers

Loaded Potato Skins

Published: Nov 28, 2021 · Modified: Feb 14, 2024 by Kris Longwell · This post may contain affiliate links

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This iconic appetizer has been served for years at favorite chain restaurants across the globe.

Now, you can make them better than ever in the comfort of your own home. Don’t skimp on the quality of bacon and cheese, and you won’t believe how fast these will go when you serve them to friends and family.  

A black baking sheet filled with loaded potato skins.

How To Make Loaded Potato Skins

These potato skins are so much easier than you might think to make at home.

And the great thing is you can make them all the way up to finishing them off in the oven hours before serving them.

These are our all-time favorite appetizers!

 

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The Best Potato for Skins

There are many types of potatoes to choose from when cooking with them.

We highly recommend the trusted Russet potato for that classic taste and texture.

EXPERT TIP: You’ll need to remove much of the flesh (the inside) of the potato before frying the skins. Keep the potato flesh and make mashed potatoes! We simply heat the potatoes in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes, which makes them soft and easy to split and clear out the flesh.

Deep-frying is traditional, but you could also fry them in an air-fryer or bake them on HIGH in your oven.

Cook up the bacon and then load the skins with shredded cheddar and crumbled cooked bacon.

A person using a spoon to scoop out the flesh of a cooked potato half, and then 5 potato skins in a fryer basket and then bacon being added to a potato skin.

When To Serve Loaded Potato Skins

Whenever we are having friends and/or family over to watch the big game, or for a summer get-together, we always serve these and they immediately get devoured.

They are really perfect for parties because they can be prepped ahead of time.

We serve them year-round and they are always requested.

A potato skin on a baking sheet filled with melted cheddar cheese and topped with cooked crumble bacon.

Other Party Favorite Foods

These skins are always a crowd favorite when served at parties. But, these gems get lots of “oohs” and “ah’s,” too.

Jalapeno Poppers
Crispy Chicken Tenders
Classic Buffalo Wings
Swedish Meatballs
TexMex Queso
Stuffed Mushrooms
Spinach and Artichoke Dip

In the meantime, aren’t you ready to sink your teeth into these babies?

A person adding sour cream on top of loaded potato skins sitting on a black plate.

Be sure to have plenty of sour cream and snipped chives so folks can really load their skins up.

Lots of folks would say these loaded potato skins are the original appetizer.

They’ve been around a long time and they have stood the test of time. Yum.

Two loaded potato skins sitting next to each other on a black plate with a tall beer next to it.

Ready to make the best skins in the world? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo of them, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!

A black baking sheet filled with loaded potato skins.

Loaded Potato Skins

Loaded Potato Skins are always a huge hit when served at parties and gatherings of friends and family. Much of the simple prep work can be done in hours which makes serving them super easy!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 8
Calories: 342kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Video

Equipment

  • Deep fryer, or sturdy skillet with candy-thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1 lb bacon thick-cut, smoked Applewood
  • 8 large potatoes preferably russet
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • Kosher salt
  • 4 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 8 oz sour cream for serving
  • ¼ cup chives snipped, for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and place the bacon strips on it. You may need two baking sheets.
  • Cook the bacon in the oven until crispy, about 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
  • Stab each potato a few times with a fork. Wrap each potato with a paper towel. Place on a microwave-safe plate and cook them on HIGH in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes, or until a sharp knife will easily pierce through the flesh.
  • Heat oil to 350°F.
  • Once cool enough to handle, carefully slice each potato down the middle, lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop most of the flesh out of each potato half.
  • Fry the potato halves until crisp and lightly browned. Drain on a paper towel-lined plated. You may need to fry in batches.
  • Liberally brush the inside of each potato boat with melted butter. Sprinkle salt on the inside of each potato.
  • Crumble the bacon and then load each potato with a heap of cheese. Top with crumbled bacon. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 12 minutes. Serve at once with sour cream and snipped chives on the side.

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance.  If you like the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
The bacon can be made up to 24 hours in advance. The potatoes can be fried up to 6 hours in advance.   Simply load them and bake them just before you plan on serving them. 
Other wonderful ingredients to serve with the skins are hot sauce, chopped jalapeños, and chili.
These skins are best served fresh out of the oven, but they can be reheated in a 350°F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes.  We don't recommend freezing them. 

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 427IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

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Comments

  1. Tarre says

    November 28, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    5 stars
    YUM YUM, Thank You! Perfect for appetizers for guests, perfect for just us two watching the football game 🙂

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      November 30, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      These are GREAT for game-time snacking!!! Especially just the two of you, more to munch on!!!

      Reply
  2. Diane DiPrete says

    November 28, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    5 stars
    Can you please tell me what temperature and time to cook in the oven? Air fryer?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      November 28, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      Hi Diane, you can preheat to 400°. Cook the potatoes, skin side down, for about 5 minutes. Take them out, fill with cheese and bacon, and cook again for another 3 minutes. Lightly oil the potatoes at first. Hope this helps!!!

      Reply
5 from 2 votes

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