Air-Fried Potato Skins: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Air fryer potato skins are a quick and easy snack that can be made in under 15 minutes. They are a great way to use up leftover potato skins and reduce food waste. The skins are seasoned and cooked in the air fryer until crispy, and then loaded with toppings such as cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions.

Potato skin toppings

Classic Toppings

The classic toppings for potato skins are cheese, sour cream, and chives.

Meat Toppings

For meat toppings, you can use bacon, ground beef, chili, shredded brisket, shredded chicken, or even shrimp.

Vegetarian Toppings

Vegetarian toppings include broccoli, diced raw onion, caramelized red onion, guacamole, BBQ sauce, jalapeno ranch dressing, salsa, green onion, and chives.

Other Toppings

Other toppings you can try are:

• Blue cheese
• Fried onions
• Buffalo sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Awesome sauce
• Jalapeños
• Pesto cream dip
• Spinach-artichoke
• Roasted red pepper
• Feta
• Vegan mac and cheese
• Kale
• Reuben-style
• Mac and cheese
• Cheesesteak
• Southwest loaded
• Crab salad-stuffed
• Tuna melt
• Twice-baked
• Garlicky
• Veggie pizza
• Broccoli and cheese
• BBQ brisket
• Mozzarella
• Ricotta
• Parmesan
• Pork chorizo
• Greek seasoning
• Old Bay
• Cajun
• Sweet potato
• Ranch
• Sour cream and onion
• Shredded buffalo chicken
• Southwestern vegetable mix
• Cheesy sauce

How to cook the potatoes

To make potato skins in an air fryer, you will first need to cook your potatoes. Russet potatoes are the most popular choice, but you can also use Yukon Gold, Red potatoes, or any other variety.

First, rinse and dry your potatoes. You can either bake the potatoes in the oven or use a microwave. To bake in the oven, poke holes in the potatoes with a fork, rub them with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and cook at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-55 minutes, depending on the size of the potato. To cook the potatoes in the microwave, poke holes in them with a fork, place them on a microwave-safe dish, and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the potatoes over and cook for another 7-8 minutes, or until they are tender.

Once your potatoes are cooked, let them cool completely before cutting into them. Then, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to carefully scoop out the flesh from the inside of each potato half, leaving about a 1/4-inch "rim" of potato. Drizzle or brush the potato skins with olive oil, and then season with salt and pepper. If desired, you can also add other seasonings like ranch dressing, garlic powder, paprika, or chili powder.

Now you are ready to cook the potato skins in your air fryer! Place the potato skins in the air fryer basket, cut side up, and cook at 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes, or until golden and soft. If your air fryer requires preheating, be sure to do that first.

Once the potato skins are cooked, you can add your desired toppings. Popular choices include shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, sour cream, and green onions. Add your toppings to the potato skins and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

How to prepare the potato skins

Preparing potato skins in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

First, you need to cook your potatoes. You can bake them in the oven, microwave them, or cook them in the air fryer itself. If you are using the air fryer, wash and dry the potatoes, rub them with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for about an hour, or until they are easily pierced with a fork. If you are baking them in the oven, rub them with olive oil, poke holes in the potatoes with a fork, and place them on a baking sheet. Bake at 450°F for 45-55 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. You can also cook the potatoes in the microwave. Poke holes in the potatoes, place them on a microwave-safe dish, and cook for 5 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 7-8 minutes, or until they are fork-tender.

Once your potatoes are cooked, cut them in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to gently scoop out the flesh from the inside, leaving about a 1/4-inch rim. Be careful not to scoop out too much, as you still want to eat some of the potato.

Next, brush the potatoes with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or ranch dressing seasoning. Make sure the potatoes are well-coated with oil and seasonings.

Now, you are ready to air fry the potato skins. Place them in the air fryer basket with the cut side up. Cook at 375-400°F for 5-6 minutes, or until they are golden and soft.

After the potato skins are air-fried, it's time to add your desired toppings. First, sprinkle shredded cheese inside each potato skin. You can use cheddar, Colby Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese. Then, add your choice of cooked bacon crumbles, chopped green onions, or other toppings like peppers or onions. Close the air fryer basket and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Finally, remove the potato skins from the air fryer and add your desired garnishes. You can top them with sour cream, ranch dressing, jalapeños, buffalo sauce, or blue cheese crumbles. Enjoy your delicious and crispy potato skins!

How to cook the potato skins

Ingredients

First, you will need to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. You can also add in your own choice of seasonings and toppings.

Preparation

Start by rinsing and drying your potatoes. Then, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Next, use a spoon to carefully scoop out the flesh from the inside of the potato, leaving a 1/4-inch rim. Be careful not to scoop out too much, as you still want to eat some of the potato.

Cooking

Now, it's time to cook the potatoes. Brush the potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket with the cut side up. Cook at 375-400°F for 5-6 minutes or until golden and soft.

Adding Toppings

Once the potatoes are cooked, it's time to add your toppings. Open the basket and sprinkle cheese evenly inside each potato skin. You can use cheddar, Colby Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Serving

Remove the potato skins from the basket and add your desired toppings. Some popular options include sour cream, ranch dressing, jalapeños, buffalo sauce, awesome sauce, and blue cheese crumbles. Serve and enjoy!

Reheating and Storing

If you have any leftover potato skins, you can easily reheat them by placing them back into the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. You can also store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to store leftover potato skins

Storing leftover potato skins is easy and can be done in several ways. If you want to store them in the freezer, let them cool down completely, then place them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag, removing as much air from the bag as possible. They will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

If you plan to eat the leftover potato skins within a few days, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for 3-5 days.

To reheat your frozen potato skins, simply pop them back into the air fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes, or until they are cooked through. If your potatoes are on the larger side, you may need to add an extra 1-3 minutes.

You can also reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.

Frequently asked questions