Name: Loaded Potato Skins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 6 medium russet potatoes; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 6 slices thick-cut bacon; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; ½ cup shredded Monterey cheese; chives, sliced green onions, and sour cream (for serving)

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These Crispy Baked Potato Skins are a great make-ahead appetizer that is perfect for a party, gameday, or potluck. Oozing with cheese and bacon, Homemade Loaded Potato Skins are better than a restaurant!

Loaded potato skins on white platter served with green onions and a dish of sour cream on the side.

There is something magical about the combination of potatoes, bacon, and cheese. From Twice Baked Potatoes as an elegant side dish to Baked Potato Soup as a hearty entree to these Potato Skins as an irresistible appetizer, this trio always satisfies.

And when I need a party appetizer, I turn to these Loaded Potato Skins time and time again to win over just about any crowd!

Reasons to Love Loaded Potato Skins

The Best Potato Skin Recipe. With a few chef secrets, you can easily make potato skins that don't just rival restaurants but beat them out when it comes to flavor.
Make-Ahead Appetizer. You can prepare these potato skins up to 2 months in advance and bake them from frozen whenever guests drop by or the craving strikes.
Party-Favorite. Bacon. Cheese. Potatoes. Need I say more? Potato skins are an irresistible appetizer with any crowd.
Affordable. Made with humble potatoes and a handful of other ingredients, potato skins are more affordable than most other popular appetizers.
Adaptable. Not feeling bacon and cheese as the toppings on your potato skins? Add your favorite toppings or create a potato skin bar and let your guests top their crispy potato skins as they desire.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for loaded potato skins labeled on counter.

Potatoes: Russet potatoes are best when it comes to making potato skins, as they hold up well to having their flesh removed and their skin gets nice and crispy.
Bacon: Use any type of bacon you like for this recipe. You can even use bacon bits if that is what you have on hand.
Cheese: A combination of cheddar cheese and Monterey cheese replicates the flavor of restaurant potato skins. For best results, shred the cheese from a block as it will melt better than pre-shredded cheese that is coated in anti-caking agents.
Seasonings: To help achieve the most flavorful potato skins, I use a combination of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Oil + Butter: For the crispiest potato skins, brush the potatoes with olive oil before baking. Then use melted butter to brush the potato skins before adding cheese and bacon for added flavor.
For Serving: Potato Skins are delicious when served without any adornment, but adding a side of sour cream and green onions or chives is recommended.

Recipe Modifications

Use Leftover Baked Potatoes. Have leftover air fryer baked potatoes or Instant Pot baked potatoes? Use them to speed up this recipe for potato skins.
Get Creative with the Toppings. Stuff your potato skins with prepared sloppy joes, pulled pork, or shredded BBQ chicken, cover in cheese, and bake to warm through. Or use the potato skins as a chili boat and top with leftover Instant Pot Chili or Crockpot Chili. Or top the potato skins with steamed broccoli and cheese.
Omit the Bacon. Keep these potato skins vegetarian-friendly by omitting the bacon or serving it on the side if you are entertaining a mixed crowd.
Use an Air Fryer: If you have leftover baked potatoes and want to quickly make potato skins without turning on the oven, try my recipe for Air Fryer Potato Skins.

How To Make The Best Potato Skins

The following steps and tips are provided to help you make restaurant-quality potato skins. You will find the full recipe in detail in the recipe card below.

Step One: Bake Potatoes. For beautifully crispy potato skins, start with russet potatoes that have been scrubbed, dried, and brushed with a bit of oil. Bake until fork tender.

Russet Potatoes on baking sheet rubbed with olive oil and salt.

Step Two: Bake Bacon. While the potatoes are baking, use that time to bake the bacon as well. Baking bacon is a hands-off easy way to make mess-free crispy bacon. Once the bacon is fully baked and cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces.

Side by side photo showing bacon on baking rack next to photo of crispy baked bacon on cutting board chopped into small pieces.

Step Three: Scoop Out Flesh. Once potatoes have been baked, allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes, or until they are cool enough to handle. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to scoop out the flesh of the potatoes, being sure to leave a ¼" border around the potato skins so that they stay intact.

Potato skins on baking sheet brushed with seasoned butter.

Step Four: Flavor the Potato Skins. To make the BEST potato skins, I highly recommend combining melted butter with garlic powder, onion powder, and a bit of salt and then brushing that mixture on each side of the potato skin. Then return them to the oven for a few more minutes, just to help crisp up the skins.

Step Five: Top and Bake Potato Skins. Add the cheese and chopped bacon to the potato skins and return to the oven just to melt the cheese through.

Side by side photo showing potato skins topped with cheddar, Monterrey Jack cheese, and bacon before and after baking.

Step Six. Serve. Serve with dollops of sour cream and sliced green onions for potato skins that are better than any restaurant!

Crispy potato skin on white plate topped with sour cream, green onions, and bacon.

Ways to Use the Flesh of the Potatoes

Don't waste the flesh of your potatoes! When warm, it is easy to mash the potato flesh to make mashed potatoes or potato cakes. Alternatively, allow the scooped-out potato flesh to cool fully. Then dice it up and use it to make a potato frittata, air fryer potatoes (cut the cooking time in half), or as a base for buffalo chicken casserole.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Whenever you are entertaining, the more recipes you can prepare ahead of time the easier it is to host guests. These potato skins, along with bacon-wrapped dates and stuffed mushrooms are crowd-pleasing appetizers that can be prepped in advance.

Prepare the potato skins up through topping the potato skins with the bacon and cheese.
Instead of baking the potato skins for the final time, allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, place the potato skins into the freezer right on the baking pan.
Once frozen solid, transfer the potato skins to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months.
When ready to enjoy, bake from frozen at 400 degrees F until warmed through, about 15-20 minutes.