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Home » Recipes » Uncategorized

Baked Potato Skins

Published: Feb 27, 2023 by Marisa Franca · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe
Collage with four images of the russet potato baked dippers with dipping sauce.Pinterest image of title overlay for the Crispy Potato Skins Recipe for appetizer dippers.

Baked potato skins are a delectable appetizer that tantalizes the taste buds with their crispy texture and savory flavor. These scrumptious treats are made by scooping out the insides of a baked potato and filling the shells with a delectable combination of shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and finely chopped green onions.

A wooden serving round holding half of a potato skin that has been baked with melted cheese, bacon, and green onion.
These baked russet potato dippers are a family favorite snack while cheering our favorite team on TV.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why I love this recipe
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 🗒 Instructions
  • 🔪 Equipment
  • 🤔 FAQs
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
  • 📚 Variations
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📗 Related Recipes
  • 🍽 Serve with
  • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
  • 📝 Recipe Card
  • 📖 Recipe

❤️ Why I love this recipe

  • Baked potato skins can be enjoyed as tasty appetizers but can just as easily be paired with other dishes such as soups and chili.
  • The crispy seasoned potato skin is the perfect edible container for your favorite toppings!
  • This recipe is incredibly easy to make and bursts with umami flavor.

With their irresistible flavor and satisfying crunch, baked potato skins are a must-have for any appetizer platter or game day snack.

🛒 Ingredients

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Image of the ingredients needed for making the Baked Potato Skins Appetizer.

Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.

  • Small potatoes -- we like russet for baking but may also use yellow like Yukon gold.
  • shredded cheese -- use your favorite.
  • olive oil -- may also use vegetable oil.
  • coarse kosher salt -- best for sprinkling on the outside of the potatoes while baking.
  • garlic powder -- for seasoning.
  • green onions -- may also use fresh chives
  • bacon -- to make life easier, you can use pre-cooked bacon.
  • black pepper -- for a bit of zingy spice.
  • fresh flat parsley - may also use dried parsley.

🗒 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

First four set of instructions for making an appetizer potato dipper.
  1. Add butter, salt, garlic powder, and parsley in a small bowl.
  2. Combine well.
  3. Melt the butter mixture in the microwave in 15-second increments. Set aside.
  4. Cut the cooled baked potatoes in half longways.
The second set of four instructions to assembling the potato skin appetizers with cheese and bacon.
  1. Use a spoon to scoop out the potato flesh, leaving ¼ inch of potato.
  2. Repeat this with all of the potato halves.
  3. Place the potatoes skin side up in a baking dish and brush them with the melted butter mixture. Bake for 15 minutes.
  4. Flip the potatoes over and bake for another 5 minutes.
The third set of four steps to finishing the crispy potato skin appetizers.
  1. Sprinkle pepper and cheese on the inside of the potatoes and add the chopped bacon.
  2. Cook for another 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  3. Chop the green onions.
  4. Sprinkle the chopped green onions onto the potatoes and serve.

🔪 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • knife -- halving the potatoes for the appetizers.
  • baking sheet -- for baking the potatoes.
  • parchment paper -- lining the baking sheet.
  • pastry brush -- brushing the potato with oil.
  • bowls -small and medium size
  • spoon -- for scooping out the potato center.
  • bowls -- small and medium size.
Crispy baked potato skins piled on a wooden serving tray with a Ranch our cream dip on the side.
The crispy bacon chips on the potato adds the ideal amount of saltiness but when I don't have time we buy the prepared bacon bits.

🤔 FAQs

These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Potato Skin Dipper Recipe.

What is the best potato for baked potatoes?

Russet potato (also known as Idaho potato) have a higher starch content which makes them great for baking. You could also use yellow potato such as Yukon Gold.

Can potato skins be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can cook these potato skins 1-2 days ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat them in the oven until crispy before serving.

What toppings are good on baked potato skins?

Shredded cheese, chopped bacon, chopped green onions or chives, salsa, chili, sour cream, guacamole, or barbeque sauce are all delicious topping options for baked potato skins.

How do you make baked potato skins crispy?

There are a few things you can do to ensure crispy baked potato skins. First, choose the right type of potato - the higher the starch in a potato, the crispier the skin will be. You also want to coat the skins in oil or butter and flip them during cooking. Lastly, ensure that you only add toppings like shredded cheese towards the end of the cooking. 

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

  • The scooped potato can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer and used in recipes such as mashed potatoes, baked potato soup, or broccoli potato soup.
  • Poking holes in the potatoes before baking them will allow steam to escape and prevent them from exploding.
  • To reduce recipe prep time, bake the potatoes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can continue with this recipe the next day by halving the potatoes, scoop out the flesh, and bake. 
  • Always scrub the potatoes well before baking to prevent any residual debris or dirt remaining on the potato skin.
A hand grabbing a baked potato skin half that's been made with cheese, bacon and sprinkled with green onions.
All it takes is the right amount of high heat to get those skin nice and crispy enough to hold the toppings.

📚 Variations

  • Use other high-starch potatoes like Yukon Gold.
  • Change the seasoning in this recipe by adding Italian seasoning to the melted butter mixture or cayenne pepper and chili flakes for a kick of heat.
  • Sprinkle crumbled feta, shredded Parmesan cheese, or a Mexican cheese blend instead of cheddar cheese. 
  • Give these baked potato skins a meaty twist by loading them with shredded chicken, shredded turkey, ground beef, ground pork, ground sausage, or sliced pepperoni.
  • Add texture to these baked potato skins by loading them with black beans, corn, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, or olives. 
  • Use chives instead of green onions.
  • Dried parsley can be used instead of fresh, but you must reduce the quantity as dried herbs are more concentrated.

🥫 Storage

Store these baked potato skins in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze these baked potatoes for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven until crispy.

📗 Related Recipes

  • Grilled Cheesy Potatoes In Foil - Foil packed potatoes are loaded with peppers, bacon, onion, and cheese, grilled to perfection!
  • Roasted Rosemary Potatoes With Garlic - This easy dish boasts roasted potatoes that are seasoned in rosemary, garlic, olive oil , salt and pepper. 
  • Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere Cheese - A popular holiday potato side dish everyone loves! 
A potato skin half dipped into a ranch sour cream dip.
Everyone has their own favorite topping, salsa, chili, fried onions, and my favorite is chipotle ranch dressing.

🍽 Serve with

Baked potato skins can be served as a snack, appetizer, or side dish and paired with various foods, such as salad, soup, other grilled or roasted vegetables, chicken or beef skewers, nachos, burgers or sandwiches, and dips.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

I always wondered what the big fuss was over baked potato skins, but when you try this recipe, you’ll know exactly why they’re loved by everyone! As you bite into these baked potato skins, the crispy skin gives way to the warm and creamy potato filling, which is perfectly complemented by the gooey melted cheese, salty bacon bits, and fresh green onions. The combination of textures and flavors is truly irresistible.

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

A wooden serving tray with crispy baked potato skins made with cheese, bacon and green onions.
There is no trick to making this popular baked potato skins recipe, the trick is to make sure you make enough.

What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

📝 Recipe Card

Baked potato skins are crispy and buttery with a soft inner potato lining, topped with shredded cheese, salty bacon, and freshly chopped green onions - perfect as an appetizer or side dish. 

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

📖 Recipe

Wooden tray holding baked potato skins with sour cream Ranch dip in the center.

Crispy Baked Potato Skin Appetizer

These are the best potato skins! So much better than a restaurant as the butter, garlic powder, and salt on the outside of the potato is beyond delicious. These potato skins are topped with cheese, bacon, green onions, and sour cream. Super easy to make and will be a hit at your next get-together.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Party appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
Resting time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 3 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 340kcal
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 10"large kitchen knife
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • pastry brush
  • Spoon
  • Mixing bowls small and medium

Ingredients

  • 5 small russet potatoes fully baked
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice.
  • 3 slices cooked bacon finely chopped cooked bacon
  • 2 tablespoons green onions

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425° F.
  • Scrub your potatoes first. With a knife poke 3-4 holes in the 5 potatoes. With a pastry brush cover the baked potatoes with olive oil (1 tablespoon). Sprinkle them with salt.
  • Place the baked potatoes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and cook for 40-60 minutes or until a knife can easily be inserted.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
  • In a small bowl mix the butter (2 tablespoons), salt (½ teaspoon), garlic powder (½ teaspoon), and parsley (1 teaspoon) together.
    Place in the microwave to melt in 15-second increments. Once melted set aside.
  • Cut the cooled baked potatoes in half longways.
  • With a spoon carefully scoop out the inside leaving at least ¼ inch of potato. Save the scooped-out potato and use for another dish. ** see notes
  • With a pastry brush cover both sides of the potatoes with the melted butter mixture.
  • Place the potatoes skin side up in a baking dish and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Flip the potatoes over and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the inside of the potatoes with the pepper (2 teaspoons), cheese (1 cup), and bacon (3 slices chopped).
  • Cook for 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Sprinkle with the green onions (2 tablespoons) and serve.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

** Save the inside for mashed potatoes, baked potato soup, or broccoli potato soup. 

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 461mg | Potassium: 954mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 321IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 2mg

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    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

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