Loaded air fryer potato skins are the best appetizer or fun dinner idea your family will love. Make for your next Super Bowl party in your Ninja Foodi, Cosori or other brand.
I mean who doesn’t love all different types of potatoes in the air fryer? We’ve done it all but potato skins in air fryer were probably my husband’s favorite easy air fryer recipe to date. (affiliate links present)
Crispy Potato Skins in Air Fryer
We started this journey with making air fryer baked potatoes in our Ninja Foodi. Stuffed with cheese and chili those make a great meal. BUT when you’re looking for air fryer appetizers this is over the top YUM.
You can really use up what you have on hand. Made too much bacon for breakfast? After the holidays and need to use up some ham? Throw that in with the cheeses you love and some chives and you have a meal in the making y’all!
You kinda’ get two for the price of one with this one. Meaning it is the best way to make baked potatoes and you can stop right there. OR slice them in half, scoop out the middles and you can make twice baked potatoes.
We will start with cooking whole potatoes. Then you’ll want to give it a bit of time just so you can handle them without burning yourself. It is easiest if you can hold each half and scoop out the soft centers.
Ingredient Notes
- 4 potatoes, medium size, russets are best but just make sure they are all the same size
- Olive oil and sea salt will make the outsides crisp and full of flavor
- Shredded cheddar cheese is our favorite but any shredded variety
- Bacon bits, precooked or out of a bag already crisped are fine
- We like sour cream on top when served
Variations
- Anything goes really. I like to use leftover chicken or Ninja Foodi pulled pork inside if it needs to be used. Seriously I hate wasting food so that is where I start with first.
- Then always mix in cheese, I like the pre-shredded Mexican blend out there.
- Bacon bits are usually a go to unless I used another meat as mentioned above.
- You could stuff it with 5 ingredient chili and cheddar cheese.
- I’ve even seen twice stuffed Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese potatoes.
- These were just kept simple with cheese and bacon + sour cream and salt and pepper on top. Guacamole and/or salsa on top is great too.
You can make them in batches if you have people coming over. Prepare them, stuff, and set them aside until you’re ready to serve. Then throw them in to melt and re-warm the inside so they’re fresh when it’s time to enjoy.
The kids love it as you could imagine. Just make as is with bowls in the middle with tons of toppings including above options, green onions, hot sauces, you can go on and on.
Russet potatoes are best for this. I would choose medium sizes and they are all equal so they cook evenly. You want the center to be tender and get skins but not too well done.
You can use any brand you have at home. So long as you have an air fryer basket they will work. Some have a smaller air fry basket and others will fit more. Ours is a 5 qt. and is great for the 4 of us.
How to Make Homemade Potato Skins in Air Fryer
- Clean and dry potatoes to remove all the moisture on skins.
- Then liberally rub outsides with olive oil which will help get them crispy.
- Sprinkle with salt all over and place inside preheated air fryer basket.
- Then air fry whole potatoes, flip them over and then test with a knife at the end to feel if they are tender all the way into the very center of each.
- Remove, allow to cool enough to handle them but still warm.
Slice each potato in half lengthwise. - Hold one half in your hand and use a tbsp to scoop out insides.
- Once all middles are scooped out add fillings
- Stir so this is well combined. Lay skins on cutting board.
- Scoop potato cheese filling back into empty skins to fill them up again.
- Place into basket to air fry again. Top with cheese and more bacon bits if desired.
When serving, remove, top with more sour cream + pico de gallo salsa and enjoy! These are great served with homemade mozzarella sticks air fryer style too.
Remove once baked potato skins are warmed and cheese is melted like you see here below. A third thing you can make after the first step is to make air fryer mashed potatoes!!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have leftovers let them cool completely. Then place into foil and wrap tightly. Store in your fridge and warm again within 3 days for best results. You could microwave or air fry again to rewarm.
It’s quite the opposite actually. The outside is the best part since it’s rich in fiber, Vitamin B, calcium and stand alone are very healthy. They contain no fat, no cholesterol or sodium as is.
Of course stuffing the middle will alter the healthy nature but the skins themselves are awesome. How to cook them will alter vitamins too. Hot air as you see here will maintain the nutrients vs. frying which will add fat.
If you have them ready made you can preheat at 370 F for 5 minutes. Set as many as you want into your basket and cook for 5-7 minutes until insides are warm and fillings are melted. NOW let’s jump to recipe below!
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- 1 1/4 c cheese, shredded
- 1 c sour cream
- 1/2 c bacon bits, precooked
Instructions
- Rub outsides of cleaned and dried potatoes liberally with olive oil, sprinkle with salt all over and place inside air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes total, flip them over after 20 minutes. Test with a knife at the end to feel if they are tender all the way into the very center of each.
- Remove baked potatoes, allow to cool enough to handle them but still warm.
- Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Hold one half in your hands and use a tbsp to scoop out tender insides. Keep a bit of insides in tact with skins so they don't fall apart. Put insides into a bowl.
- Once all middles are scooped out add 3/4 c cheese, 1/2 c sour cream and 1/4 c bacon bits. Stir so this is well combined.
- Lay potato skins on cutting board. Scoop potato cheese filling back into empty skins to fill them up again.
- 4 at a time place filled potato skins into air fryer basket again. Top with cheese and more bacon bits if desired.
- Cook at 300 degrees F for 3-4 minutes or just until cheese melts. Remove, top with more sour cream and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
