Now that I’ve learned how to make fresh homemade air fryer potato skins, I don’t think I’d have them any other way. It’s more convenient than oven cooking, heats up my house less in the summer, and still delivers delicious snacks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Making potato skins in the air fryer is a game-changer because it delivers a crispy skin and soft, fluffy centers without the need for deep frying!
The air fryer reduces cooking time and uses little to no oil, making the process cleaner and more convenient. It’s perfect for achieving restaurant-style results at home with minimal effort!
katie’s tip
If you want to skip the steps of making your own homemade potato skins, shortcut things using pre-made ones. Check out how to cook frozen potato skins in the air fryer for a helpful guide plus tips and tricks!
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Ingredients List
- 2 baked potatoes, cooled and sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup (or more) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
- Sour cream (optional garnish)
- 1 green onion, sliced (optional garnish)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- I find that smaller potatoes work best for this recipe (yellow or gold). However, you can use Russet or other varieties as desired. Check out how to microwave a baked potato or my air fryer baked potato recipes if you need help cooking them!
- Feel free to swap in turkey bacon for a lower calorie option (or if you don’t eat pork bacon). Check out how to make air fryer turkey bacon for an easy option. You could also do fun variations with sausage, ham, or other meats!
- Don’t like cheddar cheese? Try Pepperjack, Colby Jack, or Havarti instead!
- Seasonings and toppings are all adjustable to taste, so feel free to customize to your liking! Paprika and onion powder are other great options
How to Make Homemade Potato Skins in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, following manufacturer instructions
- Cut two baked and cooled potatoes in half lengthwise
- With a spoon, carefully scoop the potato flesh out of each half, leaving about ¼” border
- Season each potato skin with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasoning, to taste
- Add cooked and crumbled bacon to the inside of the potato halves (1 pc bacon per 1 potato used) and top each potato skin with shredded cheese (minimum ¼ cup per 1 potato used)
- Place filled potato skins in your air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing space between them for even heating. Cook in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding
- Air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Potatoes are done when cheese is completely melted
- Transfer to a plate, add a dollop of sour cream and green onions (optional) and enjoy!
For Extra Crispy Potato Skins
- Cut and hollow your cooked potatoes
- Spray the skin of each potato half while empty with oil
- Cook upside down in a 400°F degree air fryer for 4-5 minutes
- Carefully remove potatoes from air fryer using tongs (they will be hot)
- Fill with toppings, then cook the additional 3-5 minutes at 350°F in the air fryer to melt the cheese
Recipe FAQs
How Long Do Potato Skins Take in the Air Fryer?
It takes approximately 5 minutes to make potato skins in the air fryer. This is largely because the potatoes are cooked ahead of time, so you’re really just heating them up and melting the cheese.
If you’d like to pre-cook the shells for a crispier texture, plan to add an extra 5 minutes of cooking time.
What Temperature Do I Cook Potato Skins in the Air Fryer?
Fresh, homemade potato skins should cook at a temperature of 350°F (177C) in the air fryer. You don’t need to cook the potato, and you don’t want to burn your toppings. This is the perfect sweet spot temperature wise!
What Type of Potatoes are Best for Air Fryer Potato Skins?
Small Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are the best variety for air fryer potato skins. My second choice is sweet potatoes, though the tender flesh makes them a little trickier to transfer in and out of the air fryer.
These potato types are large enough to hold an ample amount of toppings. Additionally, the skins are strong and thick enough that you can scoop out the center without breaking. This also makes them much easier to eat!
That said, you can make potato skins with other varieties of potato (like red potatoes). Just plan for them to be smaller and fall apart more easily. Consider leaving a little extra flesh (about ½”) when scooping for the additional support.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
- Bake your potatoes (make sure they’re fork tender) the day before and refrigerate until ready to use to save time! You can also store leftover potato skins in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days
- I like to use the leftover potato filling for mashed potatoes or potato dumplings
- The skins of the potatoes tend to turn out a bit dry using this method I’ve found. Feel free to brush them with olive oil or butter prior to filling and cooking if you’d like to add a bit of moisture! If you use salted butter, cut back on the salt you top the skins with
How to Reheat Potato Skins in the Air Fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Add leftover potato skins to air fryer basket (try to remove excess sour cream from the top for best results)
- Cook at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Add fresh garnish and enjoy!
I don’t recommend reheating more than one time, as the potatoes will begin to get very dry. Only heat what you’ll eat in a sitting for best results.
If you need to store them for longer, freeze your potato skins for up to 3 months. You can reheat directly from frozen – just add 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time to account for the colder temperature.
Katie’s tip
Reheating other potato products? Check out how to reheat your baked potato in the microwave for an easy dinner side dish.
Final Thoughts
Homemade potato skins are so easy to make in the air fryer. While they take a little longer to prep than the frozen ones, I appreciate being able to play with different seasonings and toppings. Plus, I love sweet potato skins and you won’t find those in the freezer aisle.
Whether you want to experiment with new flavor combos or just make a delicious appetizer or game day snack, these homemade potato skins in the air fryer are sure to be a hit!
Katie’s tip
If you need a drink to help cheer your team on to victory, then enjoy a sip of my Touchdown Punch!
Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins (Homemade)
Ingredients
- 2 baked potatoes (cooled and sliced lengthwise)
- 2 strips of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder (or to taste)
- sour cream (optional garnish)
- 1 sliced green onion (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (177°C)
- With a spoon, carefully scoop the flesh of the potato out of each half, leaving about ¼” rim around each potato skin (including the bottom)2 baked potatoes
- Sprinkle each hollowed potato skin with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste¼ tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Add crumbled bacon into scooped out area of the potato skins2 strips of bacon
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese, making sure to mound it up (the cheese will melt and reduce in size during cooking)½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Carefully place each potato skin upright into your air fryer basket, leaving space between them
- Cook for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until cheese is completely melted
- Remove carefully using tongs or spatula
- Top with sour cream and green onions before serving (optional)sour cream, 1 sliced green onion
Notes
- I like to bake my potatoes the day before and refrigerate until I’m ready to use them
- You may substitute turkey or veggie bacon for regular if preferred
- Feel free to use other types of cheese besides cheddar. Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, and Havarti are great choices (or use your favorite)
- Additional seasonings may be added to the potato if desired. I also enjoy powdered ranch dressing and Franks Red Hot seasoning blend!
- The skins of the potatoes will be a bit dry using this method. Feel free to brush them with butter prior to filling and cooking if you’d like to add a bit of moisture. If you use salted butter, cut back on the salt you top the skins with
- Add extra cheese and/or bacon on top before serving if you like them extra loaded!
- Nutrition facts will vary based on brand and size of ingredients, as well as additions and modifications, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
