Oven-baked restaurant-style potato skins, topped with melted cheddar cheese, and smoked Applewood bacon are an irresistible appetizer and snack. These crispy, cheesy potato skins are positively restaurant-worthy, and the best part is you get to enjoy them at home!

Potato Skins

Recipe

Ingredients

4 medium russet potatoes
olive oil, for coating
4 strips of Applewood smoked bacon
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream, for serving

Supplies

2 rimmed baking sheets
tin foil
paper-towel-lined plate
broiler pan or baking sheet in a roasting pan
pastry brush
tongs

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Thoroughly rinse and wash potatoes. Dry the potatoes and then poke each potato about four times with fork or knife to allow steam to escape during baking.
Using your hands, rub each potato with olive oil. Place the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 1 hour or until they are fork-tender.
As the potatoes bake in the oven, prepare your bacon. Line a deep-sided baking sheet with tin foil. Align the pieces of uncooked bacon on the baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated 400 degrees oven, until the bacon is crisp. Carefully transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate allowing excess grease to drain away. Set aside until cool, then crumble into tiny pieces.
Remove the potatoes from the oven. When they are cool enough to handle, cut them in half horizontally. Using a spoon carefully scoop the inside out, leaving about 1/4 of the potato leftover on the skin. Discard the scooped potato or reserve for another use.
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place the potato skins on a broiler pan or use a baking sheet in a roasting pan. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the potato skins all over with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Bake the potato skins for 10 minutes, and then remove from the oven. Flip the potato skins using a pair of tongs. Continue to bake the skins for another 10 minutes.
Remove the potato skins from the oven with the potato side up. Add a mound of shredded cheese to each potato and sprinkle with bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 2 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted. Serve immediately with sour cream. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Learn how to make the perfect baked potato and how to cook bacon in your oven.

Recipe By: Brittany Baxter

Loaded Oven-Baked Potato Skins

potato skins with sour cream — Brittany Baxter

Our potato skins recipe make a mouthwatering appetizer, however you can also combine them with other dishes to create a more substantial meal with just a few simple ingredients. The sky is the limit!

Taco-Stuffed Potato Skins

Instead of Applewood smoked bacon, enjoy ground beef tossed in your favorite taco-seasoning. Fill your potato skins with taco seasoned beef, cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, avocado, sour cream, and fresh cilantro. The options for taco toppings are endless!