Making Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skins has been a life-saver for me.
With four kids and a spouse, my house can get a little crazy when it comes time for a Big Game or just a regular afternoon. Parties and get-togethers every weekend are almost a must, even more so now that the kids are older and like to invite lots of friends. Keeping a rowdy bunch of young folks happy and well-fed can be a bit of a challenge at times.
That’s where loaded potato skins topped with your favorite toppings come in handy. They’re one of my favorite snacks (that and air fryer pizza rolls!)
Where did potato skins come from?
There is no one origin story for the stuffed potato skin. Instead, it results from several restaurants putting their spin on an existing dish. The Prime Rib Restaurant in Washington, DC, claims to have been the first to stuff potatoes with cheese and bacon in the early 1970s. R.J. Grunts in Chicago followed suit a few years later, adding sour cream and chives to the mix. And TGI Fridays, with its massive menu and wide reach, helped make the appetizer popular across the country.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skins
Finger food and snack food that will fill them up is my usual go-to when the games are on. Extra bonus points if the snacks are easy and delicious. My Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skins are not only super easy, but they are also incredibly tasty too. The Air Fryer makes them light and crispy, their favorite toppings take them over the top.
Making snacks for the guys during the Big Game doesn’t have to be stressful or over the top. Most of the time they just want classic football food. Cold drinks and tasty appetizers are always a hit during any party. One of my most popular go-to appetizers has always been oven-baked potato skins. This year I decided to put my new air fryer to the test and whip up a batch from start to finish in less than half the time it takes in a conventional oven.
What Makes A Good Potato Skin?
We have all gone to our favorite restaurant or sports bar that makes the absolute best potato skins. What exactly makes them the best? Crispy seasoned skins to start with. No one likes a soggy potato skin! Creamy potato on the inside is also a must. Not too much potato, but you don’t want just the skin and no flesh either. Last but not least, the toppings. You can’t have really great potato skins without all of the good stuff piled on top. Cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, and sour cream are the classics. This is what they call “loaded” potato skins in restaurants.
My Secret Weapon
“Loaded” potato skins are really good, a classic even. What if I told you I have a secret weapon to take them from good to GREAT. Well let me tell ya, I actually have TWO secret weapons!
The first … My first secret weapon is all about the toppings. Simply replace the sour cream in your “loaded” potato skins with cool and creamy Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip! Yes, there is bacon crumbles on the potato skins, but let’s face it there is no such thing as too much bacon! Everything is better with bacon, why not add both.
Adding Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip to my potato skins was a happy accident when my son wanted to try it on top of his baked potato one night at dinner. They talked about it for 2 days. I just knew it would be on the food table for the big game, right next to the crispy potato skins.
We picked up Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip right at Walmart. You can find it with refrigerated dips and sour cream. Ours is in the back of the store along the wall. Dean’s dip is ready to eat, convenient, and delicious. It is a no-brainer when it comes to adding the dairy fresh taste to your favorite dishes.
Find out which store in your area carries Dean’s Cheddar Bacon and Dean’s Bacon Ranch Dips along with some tasty recipe ideas by clicking HERE.
Don’t forget to print your $1 off Coupon on ONE Dean’s Dip new Bacon varieties! While supplies last.
Secret Weapon #2!
Cooking the skins! How you cook your potato skins makes a world of difference. I recently got a new 6 qt. air fryer for my birthday. Cooking just about anything in the air fryer adds so much texture and flavor to your food. I was pleasantly surprised when the last batch of potato skins came out as incredible as they did.
Making Air Fryer Potato Skins
Ingredients
- 6 Russet Potatoes
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 cup Bacon Crumbles
- 2 tbsp Chives
- 1 1/12 cup Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip (Or Sour Cream)
Bake your potatoes according to your air fryer manual (each brand will differ). Make sure you season them well before placing them in the air fryer basket. Once your baked potatoes are seasoned and cooked, it is time to make the skins for the big game.
Slice your potatoes in half and scoop out most of the flesh with a spoon. Don’t scoop out all of the flesh, you want some of that creamy potato goodness with your skins.
You can use a melon baller for this step also.
Top each potato with bacon crumbles and shredded cheddar cheese. Place them in a single layer in your air fryer. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Top with thinly sliced chives and your favorite cool toppings. We chose to top ours with cool and creamy Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip.
You can see just how light and flaky the skins are. How thick and even the potato flesh is. And how creamy and flavorful Dean’s dip is piled high on top of the skins. The guys are going to love this appetizer bar while they are watching the Big Game!
What are you serving to your sports fans? I would love to hear all of your ideas.
If you love this recipe Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skin Recipe, please be sure to PIN IT using the image below. Don’t forget to check out all of our favorite recipes. Lots of tasty appetizers and main dish ideas that will please everyone.
Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skins
Ingredients
Cooking Baked Potatoes in an Air Fryer
- 6 Russet Potatoes (Small to Medium Size) Potatoes selected should about the same weight and size. You can also use Yukon or Sweet Potatoes instead of Russet.
- 1 to 2 sprays Olive Oil (per potato)
- 1 pinch Sea salt
Potato Skin Toppings
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 cup Bacon Crumbles
- 2 tbsp Chives
- 1 1/12 cup Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip (Or Sour Cream)
Instructions
Cooking Baked Potatoes in an Air Fryer
- Bake your potatoes according to your air fryer manual (each brand will be different). Make sure you season them well before cooking them. Once your baked potatoes are seasoned and cooked, it is time to make the skins for the big game.Â
- Wash and dry your potatoes. Then coat them with olive oil and sea salt
- Use a fork and prick each potato 3 to 5 times
- Place your potatoes in the air fryer. Only one layer.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. The potatoes are done when a fork can easily pierce the potatoes completely through.
Baking Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Slice your potatoes in half and scoop out most of the flesh with a spoon. Don’t scoop out all of the flesh, you want some of that creamy potato goodness with your skins. Â
- Top each potato with bacon crumbles and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Place them in a single layer in your air fryer.
- Cook for 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.Â
- Top with thinly sliced chives and your favorite cool toppings. We chose to top ours with cool and creamy Dean’s Cheddar Bacon Dip.Â
Nutrition
Are Potato Skins Healthy?
Potato skins are a good source of fiber, which can help with bowel regularity and digestion. Additionally, the high amount of potassium in potato skins can help regulate blood pressure. Fiber and potassium are both important nutrients for overall health.
According to the USDA, a single potato skins contains:
- Calories: 115
- Carbohydrates: 27 grams
- Protein: 2.5 grams
- Fiber: 4.6 grams
Are you looking for more great Air Fryer recipes? We’ve got just that! Here are our favorite Air Fryer recipes. All tested and all very delicious!
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Have questions or suggestions? Leave them in the comments below. Until next time: Stay salty, and sweet 😉
Honestly Heather, your potato skins look better than anything at TGIF or anywhere else. I am definitely going to make these, but I don’t have an air fryer. Anyway, thank you for the great idea to make potato skins.
Thanks Sue. They can be made in the oven also. The air dryer just gives them a little more crispy and crunch! Either way they will be fabulous.
These potato skins look delicious! Never considered an air fryer, but I definitely plan to give it a shot. Thanks for sharing!
They are a fan favorite for sure. The air fryer and the dip just takes them over the top! Hope you’re able to give them a try soon.
I think I need an air fryer and some of that dip. You are right…there is no such thing as too much bacon. These look scrumptious!!
I didn’t think I would use the air fryer as much when I first got it, but you can cook almost everything in there. I am in love! The dip is our new fav. On the shopping list every time now.
Rainy and cold in North Texas so a perfect day to try new things in the kitchen. Even though I just made breakfast this looks so good I had to try it NOW. Did a little simpler version but it was great. Adding venison chili to the next batch.
Just bought an air fryer and hubby wants potato skins, so I looked on Pinterest, and there you were with this great post! I love that you took the time to post the pics of where to find the dip in Wal-Mart! Going home to make these now. Thanks so much for your help!
I love my air fryer! Just wait til’ you make bacon in it 😀 I hope you enjoyed the skins and the dip.
These looked so good I made them last night. We ate them for dinner and added some pulled pork I had leftover. And a little cilantro. Five stars.