Crispy Potato Skins Loaded (Printable)
Crunchy potato skins topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions make a tasty starter or party snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Potatoes
01 - 4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed
→ Toppings
02 - 4 slices bacon
03 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (115 g)
04 - ½ cup sour cream (120 ml)
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Seasoning
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
07 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
→ Optional Garnishes
10 - Chopped chives
11 - Hot sauce
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Pierce the potatoes several times with a fork and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until tender. Let cool slightly.
03 - While the potatoes bake, cook the bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble.
04 - When cool enough to handle, halve each potato lengthwise and carefully scoop out most of the flesh, leaving about a ¼-inch border. Reserve the flesh for another use.
05 - Brush both sides of the potato skins with olive oil, then sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place skins cut side down on the baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes.
06 - Flip the skins cut side up and fill each with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Return to the oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts and edges crisp.
07 - Remove from the oven and top each skin with sour cream and green onions. Garnish with chopped chives or hot sauce if desired and serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- They taste like the crispiest part of a loaded baked potato, only better because theres more surface area to get golden.
- You can prep the potatoes hours ahead and finish them right before guests arrive, so youre not stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
- If you skip the first bake and try to rush it in the microwave, the skins will steam instead of crisp and youll end up with something floppy.
- Dont fill the skins all the way to the rim with cheese or itll spill over and burn onto the pan, making cleanup miserable.
03 -
- If the skins arent crisping enough, switch the oven to broil for the last 2 minutes and watch them carefully so they dont burn.
- For extra crispy edges, brush the skins with melted butter instead of olive oil, it browns faster and tastes richer.