These Air Fryer Potato Skins are a total game-changer. They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and loaded with melty cheese, crunchy bacon, and all the toppings you love.
If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of in this house, it’s potatoes. Whether they’re homemade truffle fries, loaded smashed potatoes, or rosemary garlic roast potatoes, we’ll take them in any form. And if you feel the same way, you’re in for a treat!
Looking for more easy potato recipes? Try Twice-Baked Potatoes with Bacon, Air Fryer Red Potatoes, Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes, or Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Crispy Texture: Air frying creates perfectly crispy potato skins with less oil.
Customizable: These crispy air fryer potato skins are easy to adapt with your favorite toppings.
Time-Efficient: Using the air fryer is the quickest way to make them compared to the traditional oven-baked method.
Great for Entertaining: These homemade potato skins are perfect as a crowd-pleasing party appetizer or party snack.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Air fryer potatoes skins recipe.
Ingredient Notes
Russet potatoes: Offer a sturdy structure and neutral flavor that pairs really well with toppings. Their high starch content ensures that the air-fried potato skins have a crispy exterior when air fried. Sweet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes instead of Russet potatoes.
Olive oil: Helps the delicious potato skins achieve a golden-brown finish and enhances their crispiness.
Onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning: Add depth and savory notes to this delicious potato skin recipe.
Cheddar cheese: Provides a classic, melty topping, while bacon bits contribute a smoky, salty crunch.
Sour cream: Offers a cool, tangy contrast, and green onions add a fresh, mild onion flavor and visual appeal.
Salt and black pepper: Are essential for balancing and enhancing all flavors of the air fry potato skins
How To make Air Fryer Potato Skins Step-By-Step
Check out these step-by-step instructions with images. Just so you know, you'll find all the details and exact ingredients of this recipe on the printable recipe card below!
Step 1: Prep the Potatoes:
Wash the potatoes, dry them with paper towels, and then poke the potatoes with a fork. Brush them with olive oil.
Step 2: Air Fry Potatoes:
Place the whole potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry them at 400°F (200°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until the raw potatoes become soft when pierced with a fork.
Step 3: Cut and Scoop:
Cut the air fryer baked potatoes in half and scoop out the inside, leaving about ¼-inches of potato flesh. (Be sure to save the potato flesh for other recipes to reduce food waste.)
Step 4: Season and Add Toppings:
Season the potato skins with onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add cheddar cheese as well as bacon bits.
Step 5: Air Fry Again:
Air fry the potato skins at 400°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes, until cheese melts and skins are crispy.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve:
Top the loaded potato skins with sour cream and green onions and let them rest for 3-5 minutes. Be sure to serve them warm as an easy appetizer during football season or a party snack.
Recipe Tips
Preheat the air fryer for consistent cooking temperatures.
Allow potatoes to cool slightly before handling to prevent burns..
For extra-crispy skins, air fry empty skins for 2-3 minutes before adding toppings.
Use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop for easy and consistent potato flesh removal.
Storage and Reheating
Store cooled leftover potato skins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2 months.
To reheat refrigerated skins, air fry them at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes.
For frozen skins, air fry them at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy. Avoid microwaving them because it can make the skins soggy.
Additions and Substitutions
Use vegan cheese and bacon bits for a plant-based version of this potato skins air fryer recipe.
Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream for a tangier, protein-rich option.
Use coconut oil or avocado oil instead of olive oil.
Chives or scallions can be used instead of green onions on your air fryer potatoe skins.
Use turkey bacon or Canadian bacon instead of regular bacon bits for this loaded potato skins air fryer recipe.
Use different cheese varieties like pepper jack or gouda for flavor variation in your potato skins in air fryer dish.
Your Questions Answered
Yes, you can prepare the potato skins up to the point of the second air frying. I recommend storing them in the refrigerator and complete the final air frying just before serving.
Make sure you're not overloading the inside of the potato with toppings and also be sure to air fry them until their skins are crispy. Use a cooling rack after cooking to prevent condensation.
Omit the bacon and use plant-based cheese and sour cream alternatives. I sometimes use the Violife dairy free Cheese.
Yes, I recommend baking them at 425°F (220°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until they become crispy and the cheese is melted.
Absolutely! Use it for mashed potatoes, potato soup, or potato croquettes.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Ingredients
Method
- Wash the potatoes, dry them with paper towels, and then poke the potatoes with a fork. Brush them with olive oil.
- Place the whole potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry them at 400°F (200°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until the raw potatoes become soft when pierced with a fork.
- Cut the air fryer baked potatoes in half and scoop out the inside, leaving about ¼-inches of potato flesh. (Be sure to save the potato flesh for other recipes to reduce food waste.)
- Season the potato skins with onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add cheddar cheese as well as bacon bits.
- Air fry the potato skins at 400°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes, until cheese melts and skins are crispy.
- Top the loaded potato skins with sour cream and green onions and let them rest for 3-5 minutes. Be sure to serve them warm as an easy appetizer during football season or a party snack.
Eva Filer says
These look so easy to make with the air fryer - I can't wait to try this recipe.