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 air fryer potato skins were probably my husband’s favorite easy air fryer recipe to date. (affiliate links present, originally published 6/21)
Potato Skins 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!
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- My Favorite Air Fryer is a Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
- You can find more easy air fryer recipes here, we have Ninja Foodi recipes as well; bookmark them both!
- This is the best air fryer cookbook. It’s important to know and remember how to preheat air fryer for best results.
- Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
- It has temp. and times for making the best frozen foods for air fryer too.
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Potato Skins Recipe
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.
Are potato skins bad for you?
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.
Potato Skins in Air Fryer
We will start with making baked potatoes in air fryer. 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.
What goes well with potato skins?
Anything goes really. I like to use leftover chicken or pulled pork 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 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.
Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
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.
I’ve made this crispy potato skins recipe just for dinner too though. 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.
Dairy Free Potato Skins Recipe
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 crispy potato skins but not too well done. I have found great dairy free cheese from Daya and sour cream as well for my husband.
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.
Ninja Foodi Potato Skins
Time needed: 44 minutes.
Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Prepare
Clean and dry potatoes well so there is no moisture on skins. Then liberally rub outsides with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt all over and place inside preheated air fryer basket.
- Cook
Then cook whole potatoes 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.
- Stuff
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 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 skin side down into air fryer basket again. Top with cheese and more bacon bits if desired. - Melt
Cook at 300 degrees F for 3-4 minutes or just until cheese melts. Remove, top with more sour cream + pico de gallo salsa and enjoy!
These are great served with homemade mozzarella sticks air fryer style too.
If you’ve prepared a bunch of them and just want to melt at the end before serving you could alternatively use your oven. Lay them on a baking sheet at about 400 for just a couple of minutes.
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!!
How long will potato skins last in the fridge?
If you have leftovers let them cool. Then place into foil and wrap. Store in your fridge and warm again within 3-5 days for best results. You could microwave to rewarm.
How long do you cook frozen potato skins?
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!
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Air Fryer Potato Skins
Equipment
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
