You will love this classic basic potato skin recipe made with bacon and cheddar cheese that is very similar to your favorite restaurant appetizer. Delicious potato skins that can be served as a main course for dinner, game-day snack, or served with a side of soup or tossed salad. Loaded baked potato skins – one of our favorite potato dishes.
Baked Potato Skins with Bacon and Cheddar Cheese
How to make potato skins in the oven to serve as a snack or main course for dinner. Potato skins also make for an awesome game-day snack or a party appetizer. Serve with a side of sour cream for dipping or some fresh Ranch dressing.
Ingredients Needed for Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins:
- Large Baking Potatoes
- Olive oil or *reserved bacon grease
- Sharp Cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
- Thick-cut Bacon
- Sour cream
- Green onions
- Fresh Parsley
*If using the bacon grease to season the skins, cook the bacon in a skillet while the potatoes are baking. Reserve the grease to use instead of oil for Step #5 below.
How to Bake Your Potato Skins:
Make sure to clean and scrub your potatoes before cooking and let dry. Since you will be eating the skins, try and get them as clean as you can. Buy organic Russet potatoes if possible.
- Position the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 425°F.
- Place the potatoes in the pre-heated oven and bake until cooked through, approximately 50 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and transfer to a baking rack to cool for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
- Once cool, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the soft interior with a spoon, leaving a one-quarter inch margin around the skins. (Save the cooked potato filling for another recipe).
- Place the potato skins cut side down on a baking rack set over a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil or *bacon grease, sprinkle with salt and place back in the hot oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip over the skins with tongs. Fill each skin with an equal amount of cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and top each potato skin with a dollop of sour cream, some sliced green onion, and a little fresh parsley before serving. Enjoy!
TIP: For a great boost of flavor and crispier results, brush the outside and rim of each potato skin with a little bacon grease right before placing back in the oven. Use olive oil for a healthier alternative or feel free to skip this step completely.
We love serving delicious Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins for an appetizer or family dinner
- 6 large baking potatoes, cleaned and pierced several times with a fork
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or *bacon grease
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled*
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 large green onions, sliced, green parts only
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
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Position the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 425°F.
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Place the potatoes in the pre-heated oven and bake until cooked through, approximately 50 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and transfer to a baking rack to cool for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
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Once cool, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the soft interior with a spoon, leaving a one-quarter inch margin around the skins. (Save the cooked potato filling for another recipe).
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Place the potato skins cut side down on a baking rack set over a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil or bacon grease (see note above) and place back in the hot oven for 10 minutes.
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Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip over the skins with tongs. Fill each skin with an equal amount of cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
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Remove from oven and top each potato skin with a dollop of sour cream, some sliced green onion, and a little fresh parsley before serving. Enjoy!
This recipe yields 12 baked potato skins, but it can be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd, if desired.
What to do with the Leftover Potato Scooped out?
Make a delicious potato soup.
How To Reheat Potato Skins
Potato skins can easily be reheated in your microwave. Place on a microwave safe plate and heat for 1 minute. For 1-2 skins, heat for 30 seconds on high.
What to Serve with Potato Skins
Serve with a fresh tossed salad or a Caesar salad in a bag.
Chicken Pastina Soup
Cucumber and Blueberry Salad
You will Also Love Our Other Potato Recipes
Pizza Potato Skins
BBQ Chicken Potato Skins
Redskin Mashed Potatoes
Skillet Roasted Potato
