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    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Appetizers

    Potato Skins

    Published: Oct 12, 2023 · Modified: Oct 9, 2023 by Melissa · Leave a Comment

    Melissa
    Oct 12, 2023 · Updated Oct 9, 2023

    No ratings yet
    Potato skins make the perfect appetizer with their crispy texture and customizable toppings that satisfy a variety of flavor preferences.
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    pin with text that reads potato skins with images of twice baked dressed potato skins
    pin with text that reads potato skins with images of twice baked dressed potato skins
    pin with text that reads potato skins with images of twice baked dressed potato skins
    pin with text that reads potato skins with images of twice baked dressed potato skins

    These tender, crispy Potato Skins are sure to be a winning dish! Cooked to perfection and topped with an array of delicious ingredients, these potato skins are inexpensive and come together in no time.

    round plate with baked potato skins


     

    Our easy-to-make potato skins feature large russet potatoes that are cooked to perfection and then hollowed out. The cooked potato acts as a shell that can be piled high with toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onions, and crumbled bacon.

    Table Of Contents
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Popular Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make Potato Skins
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Expert Tips
    • What Should I Serve With My Potato Skins?
    • How to Store Your Leftover Potato Skins
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    1. Flavor: Potato skins are often seasoned and baked or fried to perfection, resulting in a crispy and flavorful outer layer. The combination of seasonings, oils, and the natural taste of the potato itself creates a delicious and satisfying flavor.
    2. Easy to make: Potato skins are easy to make at home, which can be appealing to those who enjoy cooking or want a quick and satisfying snack.
    3. Great Appetizer or Snack: Potato skins are often served as appetizers or snacks in restaurants and bars, making them a popular choice for social gatherings. Their bite-sized nature makes them easy to share and enjoy with friends.
    ingredients for baked potato skin recipe

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Potatoes—Preferably large russet potatoes.
    • Butter—To help give the potatoes a nice crispy, buttery exterior.
    • Spices—A blend of garlic salt and black pepper.
    • Cheddar Cheese—Mild, medium or sharp cheddar.
    • Green Onion—Or chives.
    • Bacon—Cooked and crumbled.
    • Sour Cream—Adds an acidic tang that balances some of the savory flavors.

    Popular Substitutions and Variations

    1. Sweet Potato Skins: Substitute regular potatoes with sweet potatoes for a sweeter and slightly healthier twist.
    2. Zucchini Skins: Create a lower-carb option by using zucchini instead of potatoes.
    3. Vegetarian Potato Skins: Skip the bacon and add sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms for a vegetarian version.
    4. Chicken or Chili Potato Skins: Add cooked shredded chicken or chili for a heartier filling.

    How to Make Potato Skins

    ingredients for baked potato skin recipe
    1. Preheat the oven and wash your potatoes. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and cook until tender.
    ingredients for baked potato skin recipe

    2.Cut each potato in half and scoop out the insides to form a sturdy shell. Place the potatoes in a baking dish and set aside.

    baked potato skins lined in a casserole dish

    3.Melt the butter and spices in a small bowl in the microwave. Once the mixture is homogeneous, coat the potatoes in butter and cook until the tops are crispy.

    round plate with baked potato skins

    4.Top your potato skins with cheese and cook until the cheese is bubbly. Garnish with sour cream, green onion, and crumbled bacon.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What other toppings can I put on these potatoes?

    We love how easy these potato skins are to customize! If you want something a little more savory, try serving your potato skins with chili. For a spicier dish, add a few drops of tabasco sauce or a sprinkle of chili powder to your melted butter. You can also top your potato skins with red pepper flakes. Other toppings that go great include pepper jack cheese, cottage cheese, olives, and diced white onions.

    What type of potato works best for this recipe?

    We recommend using large russet potatoes. Their large shape will give you a sturdy shell with plenty of room to load on the toppings. You can also use small or medium russet potatoes. If you are looking to switch things up a little bit, you can use Yukon gold potatoes. These sweet potatoes will be extremely soft and tender and will give your potatoes a slightly sweet taste.

    How do I know when my potatoes are done cooking?

    Easy! Poking holes in your potatoes will help the potatoes tenderize. After cooking your potatoes, poke them a few more times with a fork. The fork should be able to pierce the potato with little to no resistance. If you can easily poke a new hole in the middle of your potatoes then they are ready to use.

    a forkful of baked potato skins with melted cheese sour cream and toppings

    Expert Tips

    • I use microwaved bacon to cut down on prep time, but freshly cooked bacon works great as well. As long as it is crispy enough to crumble it will work. You can also use bacon bits if you would like.
    • Poking your potatoes with a fork helps the moisture inside escape, allowing the potatoes to cook and become tender.
    • The last seven minutes of cooking time is really to just melt the cheese. If you’d like you can also do this using the broiler on high heat. It will save you a few minutes.
    • You can prep these potatoes up until the point when they are brushed with butter and store all of the prepared ingredients in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    What Should I Serve With My Potato Skins?

    These potatoes are great served as a side, or they can be loaded up with toppings and served as an entree. Whether you are serving these potato skins as a side or a main dish, there are a few complimentary dishes that go great with them. We love serving these delicious potatoes with macaroni and cheese, cornbread salad, chicken legs, or sloppy joes.

    How to Store Your Leftover Potato Skins

    We recommend serving these potato skins fresh. When served fresh, your potato skins will have a nice crispy exterior while the inside remains soft and tender. However, you can store any leftover potato skins in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. When storing your leftovers, be sure to store them without any toppings, except for cheese, so you can reheat them. Reheat your leftovers in the microwave for about 45 seconds, or until the middle is warm. Your potato skins will dry out a little bit after being microwaved.

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    📖 Recipe

    baked potato skins lined in a casserole dish
    Print Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Potato Skins

    Potato skins make the perfect appetizer with their crispy texture and customizable toppings that satisfy a variety of flavor preferences.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess

    Ingredients

    • 4 large russet potatoes washed
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ¼ cup diced green onion
    • ½ cup crumbled bacon
    • ½ cup sour cream

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degree F.
    • Place all four potatoes on a baking sheet and poke a fork a few times. Cook the potatoes for 45 minutes.
    • Allow the potatoes to cool for about 15 minutes out of the oven.
    • Cut each potato in half and use a spoon to scoop out the inside, creating a sturdy shell (leave about a ¼ inch of potato next to the skin. Place these potato shells in a baking dish.
    • Melt the butter and combine it with the pepper and garlic powder. Use a pastry brush to coat the potato skins with the melted butter mixture and cook for another 20 minutes.
    • Top the skins with cheese and cook for 7-10 more minutes.
    • Top your potato skins with sour cream, green onion, and crumbled bacon.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • These potato skins are best served fresh. However, you can prep the potatoes until they are brushed with butter and store all of the ingredients in the fridge for up to 2 days in airtight containers.
    • Other toppings that go great on these potato skins include chili powder, red pepper flakes, cottage cheese, and chives.
    • I use microwaved bacon to cut down on prep time, but freshly cooked bacon works great as well. As long as it is crispy enough to crumble it will work. You can also use bacon bits if you would like.
    • Poking your potatoes with a fork helps the moisture inside escape, allowing the potatoes to cook and become tender.
    • The last seven minutes of cooking time is really just to melt the cheese. If you’d like you can also do this using the broiler on high heat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 628mg | Potassium: 486mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 352IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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