Air Fryer Potato Skins

Potatoes can get a bad rep sometimes but they are full of nutrients such as potassium, vitamin c, protein, and fiber; they are also naturally low in calories. They’re a blank slate when it comes to flavor so you can really load them up with whatever toppings you like.

Why I Love This Recipe

The most crispy, flavorful, and healthy potato skins you’ll ever try. Make these at home for your next party or gathering!

Easy to make
Always a hit at parties
Perfect for picky eaters
Fills the house with a delicious aroma

If you love easy air fryer appetizer recipes you may also enjoy this air fryer fried pickles recipe.

overhead view of Air Fryer Potato Skins on a plate with a halved potato and ranch dressing on the side

Ingredients

All you need to make this game day food is a few simple ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery. If you are like me, then you most likely already have most of these ingredients on hand in your pantry which can help save you a trip to the grocery store.

russet potatoes
olive oil
chopped bacon
shredded cheese
salt
pepper
dry dill
onion powder
garlic powder
Chopped Green onions for garnish

Substitutions

Seasonings: If you don’t have all these seasonings on hand you can use all-purpose seasoning instead.

Green Onions: Out of green onions? Chives can be used instead.

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few kitchen tools and your air fryer to help you make this tasty recipe. You should have all of these tools on hand in your kitchen.

air fryer
spoon
knife
small bowl

How to Make Air Fryer Potato Skins

Next time that you have a craving for potato skins, skip the long wait at your local restaurant and follow the instructions below to make this family-friendly appetizer at home.

Step 1: Wash the potatoes

Using your hands, rub the potatoes under water to rinse off dirt and particles.

Step 2: Coat the potatoes in oil and add them to the air fryer

Coat the potatoes in the oil and place them in an air fryer basket.

Potatoes coated with oil in the air fryer next to more oil in a jar and jars of spices

Step 3: Air fry the potatoes until tender

Cook at 400° for 30 minutes. Make sure they are cooked by poking with a fork with no resistance.

cooked potatoes in the air fryer next to oil in a glass and spices in glass containers

Step 4: Cut the potatoes and scoop out the insides

Cut the potatoes in half long ways and scoop out the insides forming a boat. Leave about a 1/4” of potato.

potatoes cut in half long ways and some of the insides scooped out forming a boat.

Step 5: Mix the seasonings and oil the potatoes

Mix your spices, spray the potatoes with oil, and season.

Step 6: Top with bacon, cheese, and remaining spices

Sprinkle a good amount of cheese and bacon in each potato and season the top with the remaining spices.

baked potato halves Topped with bacon, cheese, and spices with more bacon and cheese in the background

Step 7: Return to the air fryer until crispy

Place back in the air fryer basket and cook at 350° for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and potato edges are crispy. Let rest in the air fryer for 5 minutes.

Step 8: Serve and enjoy

Remove and garnish. Serve with ranch dressing as a dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Potato Skins on a chopping board

Variations / Options / Add-Ins

This recipe is delicious as-is but there are a few ways you can change it up to fit your taste.

Vegan: If you want to make this dish vegan, eliminate the bacon and cheese and top with avocado or guacamole.

Sauce: For a little extra flavor, try adding some BBQ sauce, or buffalo sauce.

Vegetables: If you want to add some veggies, diced tomatoes, onions, or peppers would be a great addition.

Toppings: Chives, fresh parsley, and sour cream also taste great on top of these potatoes.

Air Fryer Potato Skins on a plate with potato and ranch dressing on the side

Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make these crispy potatoes.

Be sure to coat the potatoes well with oil. The oil helps them crisp up nicely.
Russet potatoes really work best when making these as they have a higher starch content.
Be sure to leave about 1/4 of the potato still in the potato peel.
You can make the middles that you scoop out into mashed potatoes to avoid waste.
Be sure to place your potato skins in a single layer in your air fryer basket so that they cook evenly.
I used cheddar cheese but you can use Mexican blend or your favorite shredded cheese.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

How to store

These are best served fresh but leftover potato skins can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to reheat

To reheat, place in the air fryer at 350° for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Can I freeze these potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze these potatoes wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil in a freezer bag for up to three months.

Air Fryer Potato Skins on a plate with potato, oil and ranch dressing on the side

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you like air fryer recipes, give these recipes a try:

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📋 Recipe

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Air Fryer Potato Skins