These Air Fryer Potato Skins are even better than restaurant skins. Start in the microwave, brush with bacon fat, then air fried.
If you like this recipe, check out my Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potato next!
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I admit to buying frozen TGI Fridays loaded potato skins. They’re a favorite at-home treat. But these homemade air fryer potato skins are better. They start in the microwave to get tender. Then brushed with bacon fat for flavor and crispy skin. And finally air fried to perfection. Sure they take a little more time than opening a box. But the end result is worth it.
More air fryer recipes
Why this recipe works
Some recipes make the skins start to finish in the air fryer. I think that makes the outsides of the potato halves too tough. Starting raw potatoes in the microwave is the quickest way to make the best potato skins. Tender in the middle with crispy skins. Once the cooked potato flesh is scooped out, then the air fryer can finish them. And my other secret to really flavorful potato skins is brushing the insides with a little bacon fat. Oh my gosh, you have got to try these for yourself!
Ingredients for crispy air fryer potato skin bites
- Potatoes – I like the waxy texture, thinner skin and beautiful yellow hue of Yukon Gold Potatoes for this recipe. But you can choose to use red potatoes or russet potatoes instead. Just make sure you are choosing smaller potatoes.
- Bacon – You need to use real bacon, not bacon bits for this recipe as you need the bacon fat for flavoring the crispy skins. You can use olive oil or avocado oil as a substitute if you are a vegetarian.
- Cheddar Cheese – Choose your favorite variety of cheddar, but I strongly recommend grating it yourself for the best melty cheese filling experience in your potato skins. Or recently, I’ve heard that if you rinse your pre-shredded cheese, it will make it melt better.
- Green Onions – I love the pop of green color the sliced green onion (scallions) add, plus the flavor.
- Sour Cream – Personally I like extra sour cream on my crispy potato skins. But you could use your favorite Ranch dressing instead as a topping.
- Salt and Pepper
- Variations – I’ve pictured my potatoes with personal favorite (and traditional) fillings of cheddar, bacon and sour cream. However, feel free to use your own favorite toppings – like pulled pork, Buffalo chicken or chili.
Instructions for air fryer potato skins recipe
Wash the potatoes and microwave until tender. After the potatoes have cooled a bit, use a paring knife to slice them in half and scoop out the insides. I like to save the cooked inside of the potato for mashed potatoes. Brush the insides of the potato skins with bacon fat. Place potatoes in a single layer skin side down in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
Then fill them with cheese and air fry again to melt the cheese. Garnish with cooked bacon, scallions and sour cream. These crispy skins are a perfect appetizer for football season. But honestly they’ve become one of my favorite foods for any time of year.
For full instructions, keep scrolling to the bottom of this article to find my free printable recipe card.
Pro tips
Use a spoon or melon baller to help remove the cooked potato from the skins. You want the potatoes to be cool to the touch when you are handling them.
You can double or triple this recipe for a game day crowd. Just air fry the skins in several batches.
Storage directions
Store leftover potato skins in airtight container in your refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F until warm, about 5 – 7 minutes. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Serving suggestions
Serve these potato skins with a big salad for a main meal. Or serve them as part of a delicious appetizer spread for movie nights or big game party. Here’s some more recipe suggestions –
Kitchen tools
- I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all my recipes for Foodtastic Mom
- Use a silicone pastry brush for coating the skins with bacon fat
- Melon baller for helping to prepare the potato skins
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 6 Yukon Gold potatoes
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, fat reserved
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup green onions finely sliced
- 1 cup sour cream
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes and pierce each one with a pairing knife. Place the potatoes in a single layer on a large, microwave-safe plate.
- Cover the potatoes with a wet paper towel. Heat on high for 5 minutes. Flip the potatoes. Microwave the potatoes again, for 5 - 7 minutes, or until they are tender.
- Place the potatoes in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to cool. Slice the potatoes in half. Scoop out the insides, reserving the cooked potato for mashed potatoes later. Leave about a 1/4-inch border of potato inside in the skins.
- Brush the inside of the potato skins with the reserved bacon fat.
- Place six of the skins inside the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin side down.
- Cook for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Open the basket and fill the insides of the skins with the shredded cheddar cheese. Heat again at 400 degrees F for 3 - 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Repeat the process with the remaining potato skins.
- Top the cooked potato skins with bacon crumbles, sliced green onions and sour cream to serve. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
Nutrition
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cheesy potato skins, cooked potatoes, air fry potato skins, sides of the potato skins
Irina says
As potato lovers, we love your recipe! I made it for our lunch today: it was so yummy and delicious. Many years ago, I would never imagine that one day I could eat potato unpeeled!
foodtasticmom says
Love this. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Biana says
These air fried potato skins look just like the ones I had at a restaurant! Will be definitely making them soon.
foodtasticmom says
The air fryer really does bring ‘going out’ home.
Jennifer says
Yes, using the bacon fat on the skins makes it taste so nice. And they crisped up really well. These were delicious!
foodtasticmom says
Glad to hear this. Thanks Jennifer!
Gabby says
Air fryers are a game changer, aren’t they? Like this recipe! Which was absolutely delicious. It will be on high rotation at our place.
foodtasticmom says
Definitely a game changer. Thanks for the comment and rating.
Bhawana says
Air fryer recipes are perfect to make. I totally love air fryer and keep searching easy recipes. I am glad that I found it today. These air fried potato skins looking absolutely amazing.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you.
Frank says
Besides brushing the inside with bacon grease which will be available from the bacon, good work there Mom, you are the first I blogger I have seen recommend microwaving the potatoes instead of baking or otherwise. That’s how I do it. Works great. So much faster. And, like you said, provides a tender crisp skin instead of a tough to chew crisp skin.
The bacon fat idea…. that’s a keeper. I have some shells ready to go, waiting for my wife to get home and thot I’d peruse some ideas. Well done on the bacon fat and the microwave Mom !!
foodtasticmom says
I am so happy to hear that you like my bacon fat idea. I was pretty impressed with myself to be honest when that popped into my head. My recipe for breakfast potatoes also instructs to microwave the potatoes first. Seems logical to me! I love potatoes in all ways, so I’m always thinking about how to prepare them in the best possible way. Thanks for taking the time to write this review!
Cathleen says
I love making things in the air fryer, and this recipe looks like something I would be making over and over. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I will definitely be making it tomorrow!
foodtasticmom says
Enjoy!!
Suja md says
This was delicious! We really enjoyed both making and eating it!
foodtasticmom says
Yay, so glad you enjoyed them!
Anjali says
These were such crispy, delicious little bites!! And they were so easy to make thanks to the air fryer! Will definitely be making this again!
foodtasticmom says
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the potato skins.
Helen says
Great idea to start in the microwave and just use the air fryer for crisping! Super efficient 🙂
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Helen, I appreciate your thoughts!
Lizet Bowen says
Anything with bacon fat is good!
I need to start cooking my potatoes in the microwave. That saves so much time!
foodtasticmom says
So true. Bacon fat for the win! 🙂
Ieva says
Yummy! Served these for the family and friends who came round to watch the F1 race, and everyone loved them! Great recipe for novice air-fryer users, like me, too! Thanks 🙂
foodtasticmom says
Yay! So happy to hear these were a success and that you found them easy to make! 🙂
Kechi says
This is one of my current favorite appetizers! Last time I made this I sprinkled with sausage (instead of bacon) and cheese and it was so good! Yum!
foodtasticmom says
Sausage is a great idea. I’ll have to try that next time. So happy you enjoyed the potato skins!
Dina and Bruce says
These were perfect for watching the game! So crispy!!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you, so happy you enjoyed these potato skins!
Ann says
I love making these just for me. Air fryer is perfect for small batch cooking.
foodtasticmom says
Yes definitely. These are such a treat when I’m home by myself or just one of my kids.
Kim says
My kids would love these! I also buy the TGI Friday’s kind, but it’s gotten so expensive and you get so few in the box! I’d much rather make them myself and then I can make as many as I need.
foodtasticmom says
Yes exactly! Grocery prices are so high. Making them yourself is definitely a better deal – and they taste better too!
Dannii says
These were delicious and so easy to do. I will definitely be making them again soon.
foodtasticmom says
Glad to hear it. These are on repeat in our house too.
Beth says
All you really had to say was potato skins, but then you went ahead and busted out the cheese and bacon. YUMMO!
foodtasticmom says
I’m glad you are as enthusiastic about these potato skins as I am! 🙂
Traci says
This is my favorite way to make potato skins! Love how easy and scrumptious they are right out of the air fryer. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
foodtasticmom says
You’re welcome!
Nikki says
These easy to make and fabulous air fryer potato skins are perfect for lunch, an appetizer or an afternoon snack.
translator says
LOVING these air fryer potato skins! So easy and delicious 😍 Perfect for a quick snack or game day treat 🏈 Thanks for the recipe, Foodtastic Mom!
foodtasticmom says
You’re welcome!
MUSIC DOWNLOADER says
I absolutely love your Air Fryer Potato Skins recipe! The crispy texture looks amazing, and I can’t wait to try adding my favorite toppings. Thanks for sharing such a delicious and easy option for game day snacks!
vimeo Video Downloader says
I just tried your Air Fryer Potato Skins recipe, and they turned out amazing! The perfect balance of crispy and cheesy. Thank you for sharing such a delicious and easy recipe! I can’t wait to make them again for my friends!