Straightforward Air Fryer Potato Skins

Air Fryer Potato Skins make the ultimate appetizer. Top them with traditional toppings of bacon, cheese, sour cream, and chives, or have fun building your own creations. The air fryer makes them a cinch.

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Air Fryer Potato Skins Recipe

Don’t potato skins take you right back to your favorite college hangout? When you get a hit of nostalgia, try making them at home in your air fryer.

Also sometimes called potato jackets, potato skins are divine little treats made from unpeeled potato halves that are hollowed out and filled with all kinds of toppings.

They’re made similarly to our Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes, though the potatoes don’t get that mashed treatment that’s then stuffed back into the skin.

Instead, these are hollowed out, cooked to get a crispy skin, then topped with all kinds of goodness. They get cooked a little longer to melt cheese and toppings together. Then they’re ready to eat!

Why you will come back to this potato skin recipe

Potato skins are a satisfying and straightforward recipe, and we know you will come back to this air fryer version, for a few reasons:

• Potato skins make the well-balanced appetizer for a party! They’re a great game-day appetizer.
• They are straightforward to cook in the air fryer. In a few plain steps, you have satisfying air fryer potato skins.
• The air fryer gives them a short cooking time so they are ready quickly.
• They aren’t for appetizers, you can also make them as a side dish rather than mashed potatoes.

They are a great choice for so many occasions, like big game parties or board game nights.

Ingredients for potato skins

A full recipe card with measurements, full instructions, and nutritional information can be found at the bottom of this post.

You only need a few ingredients to put together these loaded potato skins at home:

• Russet potatoes – These should be already baked before you begin.
• Avocado oil – Any neutral-tasting oil like canola oil or olive oil is also fine.
• Coarse kosher salt – You can use sea salt, too.
• Ground black pepper – If you can freshly grind it, you’ll get a house favorite flavor.
• Cooked bacon – Fresh bacon makes the ultimate crumbles. Try Air fryer bacon For something new. In a pinch, you could also use bacon crumbles or bacon bits.
• Cheddar cheese – Your favorite cheese works, too.
• Sour cream – Full fat is the creamiest, but light works too.
• Chives – Green onions make a fine substitute.

You can substitute another type of potato, but russets are a house favorite for baked potatoes and potato skins.

Air fryer recommendations

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How to cook Air Fryer Potato Skins

From-scratch potato skins in the air fryer are straightforward. Let’s take this recipe step-by-step together:

You’ll need to start with already-baked potatoes. You can make them in the Oven, Air fryer Or Microwave.

Then you can start making the potato skins.

Step 1: Cut the baked potatoes in half lengthwise.

Step 2: Using a spoon, scoop out the inside of the potato. You’ll want to leave about 1/2″ of potato on all sides. If you take out too much, the skins won’t be as soft. Potato skins need a little bit of potato flesh to keep from collapsing.

Step 3: Brush the potato on all sides with oil – the skins and even the tops. Sprinkle the potato, both inside and the skin with salt and pepper. You can also use melted butter for extra flavor.

Step 4: Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin side down. Be sure they aren’t overlapping because the hot air needs to circulate on all sides. Cook the potatoes at 350°F for 5 minutes. The air fryer doesn’t need to be preheated.

Step 5: Pull the basket out of the air fryer. Use tongs to remove the hot potatoes.

Step 6: Fill them with sour cream, cheese, and bacon – or your favorite toppings (we have some ideas for you below). Put the potatoes back into the basket and cook at 350°F for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Step 7: Remove them from the air fryer and top them with chives or green onions to serve!

Tips & Tricks for crispy air fryer potato skins

Be careful about removing too much of the inside of the potato. You want to keep enough to keep it sturdy.

Brushing the exterior of the potatoes with oil and seasoning them with salt is important for flavor and the ultimate crispiness.

For a fun twist on loaded potato skins, you could swap them for sweet potatoes and then top them with butter, brown marshmallows, sugar, and cinnamon.

Toppings for Potato Skins

Potato skins can be served the traditional way, or you can have fun with toppings. If you want to, you can serve them with dipping sauces like Wingstop ranch, blue cheese sauce, or honey mustard.

If you want to try them in different ways, here are a few suggestions:

Traditional potato skins: Think baked potato toppings. Serve them with cheddar cheese, crumbled crunchy bacon, sour cream, and chives (or green onions). Crispy onions are a nice touch, too.

Buffalo chicken potato skins: Add chicken, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese. Or simply spoon buffalo chicken dip on top.

Chili potato skins: Spoon your favorite chili recipe on top. (Mine is this Crockpot chicken chili.) Add sour cream, cheese, and chives if you like.

Taco potato skins: Add your favorite taco toppings, like ground beef or chicken, cheese, Salsa, Guacamole, lettuce, sour cream, and hot sauce.

Broccoli and cheese potato skins: Add cooked broccoli and cheddar cheese (or even Queso) in each scooped-out skin.

Mac & cheese potato skins: Hear us out — put your favorite mac & cheese in each potato skin and top with more cheese.

What to Serve with Crispy Potato Skins

Potato skins make for a great appetizer. When you’re planning your party menu, think pub food like Chicken wings And sweet potato fries with Fry sauce.

You could also add some dips to the table like Bacon ranch dip And Jalapeño artichoke dip.

Potato skins could also be a side dish to a hearty meal like White chicken chili Or smoked Chicken thighs.

FAQ for air-fried potato skins

How to store leftover potato skins

Leftover potato skins should be cooled completely and then placed in an airtight container. When stored properly, they will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

To freeze, place the leftover potato skins on a baking sheet and flash-freeze them. Once frozen, place them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Prep 10 minutesCook 8 minutesMakes 4

Ingredients

• 2 baked russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 9 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• chives or green onions optional:

Method

1. Cut the baked potatoes in half length-wise.
2. Scoop out the inside of the potato leaving about 1/2 inch of potato on all sides.
3. Brush the potato on all sides with oil.
4. Sprinkle the potato, both inside and the skin with salt and pepper.
5. Place the potatoes in the air fryer . Cook at 350°F for 5 minutes.
6. Fill the potatoes with sour cream, cheese, and bacon.
7. Cook at 350°F for an additional 2-3 minutes.
8. Remove from the air fryer and top with chives or green onions and serve!

Notes

• Be careful about removing too much of the inside of the potato. You want to keep enough to keep it sturdy.
• Brushing the exterior of the potatoes with oil and seasoning them with salt is important for flavor