You can turn baked potatoes into cheesy, delicious Air Fryer Potato Skins. Nobody can resist this air fryer recipe for a favorite bar appetizer, topped with shredded cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream, and chives.
recipe overview
Air Fryer Potato Skins are such a treat for me! I always love ordering these at bars or family restaurants. They are crispy, salty, cheesy, and so satisfying topped with bacon and sour cream.
Making potato skins in your air fryer is so easy, and the final dish is out of this world delicious. I make these for every tailgate, and our friends gobble them up.
You’ll just need some already Air Fried Baked Potatoes to get started with this recipe for loaded potato skins. The rest of the ingredients you might already have in your fridge. We are talking about cheese, sour cream, bacon and more!
Don’t want to go through all the steps? We have a recipe showing you how to make Frozen Potato Skins too! If you are in a hurry, frozen potato skins in air fryer is the way to go!
list of ingredients
- Baked Potatoes: I recommend making a batch of our Air Fryer Baked Potatoes to start this side dish recipe. You can even make them the day before for a quick make-ahead appetizer.
- Cheddar Jack Cheese: Shredded cheddar jack melts beautifully on top of the potato skins, but you can use any cheese you want. Get it pre-shredded, or shred it yourself for the best melt.
- Bacon: You’ll need about a half pound of bacon. Cook it (you can make bacon in the air fryer too!) and then chop it into small pieces. Be sure to drain any excess grease, too.
- Sour Cream: I love the texture of cool sour cream on top of a hot potato skin! Just like the famous commercial says, a dollop will do ya.
- Fresh Chives: Chopped fresh chives give a mild onion flavor and are so pretty as a garnish.
- Salt and Pepper: Add to your taste. Often the cheese and bacon are salty enough, but potatoes notoriously need more salt than you think.
what type of potatoes works best?
We liked using starchy potatoes, like russet potatoes when we make our air fryer potato skins! (even for our air fryer baked potatoes too!)
You can also use more of what we call “all-purpose” potatoes, such as Yukon, Blue or Purple Potatoes. Those types of potatoes are great for anything from baking to mashing!
how to make air fryer potato skins
- Preheat the Air Fryer for a few minutes as directed in the recipe card below.
- Cut the cooled baked potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to carefully remove the potato from the inside, leaving a 1/4 inch rim attached to the shell. Be cautious not to scoop too much out.
- Brush or spray potatoes with cooking oil. Generously season with salt and pepper.
- Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket, skin side up. Cook as directed in the recipe card below, flipping halfway through cooking time.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly inside each of the potato skins. Continue cooking as directed until potato skin is golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Remove to a plate and repeat cooking with any remaining skins. Load up with sour cream, bacon, more cheese and chives. Serve warm and enjoy!
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions to make the best air fryer potato skins, please see the recipe below.
how to serve these potato skins
To me, air fryer potato skins are a finger food and something that would be amazing for a football game party or an appetizer platter.
Try serving these with Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks for a really fun time. Don’t forget the dipping sauces!
If you’d rather have a meal with a little more balance, use these potato skins as a side dish with a nice salad and some Air Fryer Chicken Breasts or an Air Fryer Steak dinner.
If you are still looking for more air fryer appetizer recipes, be sure to check out our extensive list of easy air fryer recipes that are perfect for a late-night snack or game day!
Freezing for later
If you’re interested in making air fryer potato skins ahead of time and freezing them, I suggest doing it like this:
- Prepare the potato shells and freeze them scooped empty.
- When ready to enjoy your potato skins, fill with cheese and air fry as directed until melty and warmed through. Add a couple of extra minutes to the cook time if you’re cooking them frozen.
This is a great idea if you’re cooking for one or two. You can do a batch of potatoes but only cook a few at a time. Keep them warm in the oven before serving at your big dinner party.
reheat instructions
Yes, you can reheat your potato skins in the air fryer. It is simple to do. If your air fryer potato skin is not frozen, simply pop it into the air fryer and heat at 350F/176C for 3-5 minutes.
If you made a large batch of these air fryer potato skins and froze them, preheat your air fryer to 375F/190C and heat the potato skins in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes or until warm throughout.
Other topping suggestions
Try adding taco meat underneath the cheese and then topping it with sour cream and tomatoes for a taco or nacho-themed potato skin.
Use mozzarella and pepperoni for a pizza potato skin. Dip them in marinara sauce and add a little Parmesan cheese on top!
Love chili cheese fries? Try chili cheese potato skins! Add your favorite chili recipe and some sliced green onions, too.
What else can you come up with? The possibilities are endless! Let me know your favorite air fryer potato skin toppings in the comments.
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Ingredients
- 1 batch Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- 1 cup Cheddar Jack Cheese shredded, divided
- 8 slices Bacon cooked, and chopped
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- Fresh Chives chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 385F/196C.
- Cut the cooled baked potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to carefully remove the potato from the inside, leaving a ¼-inch “rim” attached to the shell.
- Brush or spray potatoes with cooking oil. Generously season with salt and pepper.
- Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket, skin side up. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly inside each of the potato skins. Cook for 5 more minutes, or until potato skin is golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Remove to a plate and repeat with any remaining skins. Load up with sour cream, bacon, more cheese, and chives, and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
WHAT TYPE OF POTATO IS BEST FOR BAKED POTATOES?
There are several different types of potatoes, but there is one that stands out to us as the best option for air fryer potato skins and baked potatoes in the air fryer. We liked using starchy potatoes, like russet potatoes, when we make our air fryer potato skins! (even for our air fryer baked potatoes too!) You can also use more of what we call “all purpose” potatoes, such as Yukon, Blue or Purple Potatoes. Those types of potatoes are great for anything from baking to mashing!
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
I made these for lunch because why not!? ha! I loved them!! SOOOO GOOOD!
With covid and all, it’s been a long time since I went to a restaurant and ordered these. Super excited to realize I can make them at home!
Made these tonight and they were delicious.