Baked Potato Skins Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

by Mindi Cherry

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We love potato skins, but most restaurants fry them first, which isn't very healthy. This baked potato skins recipe rivals any you can find in a restaurant

Baked Potato Skins Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (1)

If there is one snack or appetizer that I always like to order at a restaurant or see on a table at a football party, it's potato skins. There is just something about the combination of potato, bacon and cheese that just tastes so good! Add a dollop of sour cream and I am in heaven! Put them out on a buffet next to some baked mozzarella sticks and bacon-wrapped smokies and you have the ULTIMATE football spread (although it won't be the best for your thighs!)

I have tried to make them at home so many times and they just never turned out right. The skin of the potato was never crispy enough and they just were never as good as the ones at the restaurants. Of course, I later figured out that it was because most restaurants, if they don't buy them pre-made, will deep fry to potato skin before filling it with bacon and cheese.

I am not a fan of deep-fat frying for 2 reasons:

  1. The added fat and calories that it adds to the food
  2. The lingering smell of the grease in my house for days after we use the deep fat fryer.

Of course, we get around the "smell issue" in the warmer months by doing any frying (my husband would deep fry a chocolate bar if he could) out on the back patio...but that isn't going to help you for the 2nd half of football season when it is 10 degrees outside....and then you still have the issue of all those extra calories!

So how do you get the crispy skin without frying them? The answer is simple: aluminum foil and olive oil...and butter! instead of baking the potatoes plain in the oven on the rack, rub them with some olive oil and salt and then bake them on a foil-lined sheet. This will start the crisping process. Then, before you fill them, you want to brush them with butter and stick them back in the oven for a little bit. Doing that will crisp up the skin and give you almost the exact same results as the potato skins restaurants!

My favorite potato skins are the ones from TGI Fridays and considering that they sell them at the supermarket, I must not be alone in the preference! The problem with buying them frozen? Aside from all the extra preservatives and chemicals in them, you end up paying WAY too much for them. Even if you can get them on sale, it ends up being about $2.50 for the equivalent of 2 or 3 potatoes and about ¼ cup of cheese and a few tablespoons of bacon!

I really do think that this baked potato skins recipe is just as good and WAY cheaper!

Baked Potato Skins Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2)

Baked Potato Skins Recipe

We love potato skins, but most restaurants fry them first, which isn't very healthy. This baked potato skins recipe rivals any you can find in a restaurant

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Mindi

Ingredients

  • 4 Russet Potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon melted Butter
  • ¾ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • ½ cup Chopped Crispy Fried Bacon you can also use bacon bits, but they won't be as good

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425.

  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  • Wash, scrub and dry potatoes.

  • Pierce each potato multiple times with a fork.

  • Rub with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

  • Bake for 1 hour.

  • Allow to cool.

  • Preheat oven to 375.

  • Cut each potato lengthwise into thirds (if your potatoes aren't that large or you don't mind having a "deep well" in your potato skins, you can skip this step)

  • Use a spoon to scoop out white potato of each remaining slice, leaving about ¼" thickness of potato in each.

  • Brush potato skins with melted butter and bake for 25 minutes until crisp.

  • Sprinkle with cheese and bacon and return to oven until the cheese is melted.

  • Serve with sour cream and sliced green onions.

Baked Potato Skins Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (3)

Baked Potato Skins Recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle

    These sound great, I will have to give your recipe a try! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. Lindsay

    These look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us at #merrymonday!

  3. angie

    thanks so much for sharing this recipe my family loves thema s well love that we can make them at home now
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

Baked Potato Skins Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

FAQs

Why don t restaurants serve potato skins anymore? ›

They're sturdy and dependable, but too often overlooked, taking a backseat to high-profile options like wings and burgers. At least, that may have been the case at one time. Perhaps due to their inherent lack of sex appeal, potato skins have all but disappeared from menus.

Why is my baked potato skin not crispy? ›

Skip rubbing your potatoes in oil and salt until the end of the cooking time. That's when they'll deliver the most texture and flavor benefit for the spuds. If you oil them up early, the skins may not turn crispy. The salt, too, can run off the potatoes in the heat.

Do you eat the skin on potato skins? ›

Eat the skin to capture all the russet potatoes nutrition. The potato skin has more nutrients than the interior of the potato. It has lots of fiber, about half of a medium potato's fiber is from the skin. Baked Idaho® Potato with salsa makes for a low calorie healthy lunch, try it!

Is it better to bake potatoes covered or uncovered? ›

Just scrub the skin well, poke few holes in the skin, and place the potatoes on the oven rack. Bake them at 400F until a fork inserted into the potato goes all the way in without resistance. Baking them without foil gives you a nice, crisp skin, which is the best part.

How unhealthy are potato skins? ›

Potato skins are generally safe to eat and actually contain beneficial nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, they can also contain trace amounts of natural compounds like solanine and glycoalkaloids, especially in green or sprouted areas, which might be harmful in large quantities.

Are potato skins healthier than french fries? ›

Potatoes are naturally high in fiber, which is great for digestive health. However, most of the fiber in potatoes is located in the skin. By leaving the skin on, you are consuming more of this beneficial nutrient. Additionally, the skin contains other important nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

What is the best temperature to bake potatoes? ›

Potato baking temperatures range from 350˚ to 450˚F. The sweet spot seems to be at 400˚F, a temperature that cooks the potato all the way through and crisps the skin without singeing it. That said, you don't need to strictly adhere to a certain temperature every time you bake a potato.

Should you soak potatoes in salt water before baking? ›

Fill a large bowl with cold water and stir in 2 tablespoons of salt. Place the sliced potatoes in the salt water and let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes. This will help them bake up crispier. When the potatoes are done soaking, drain them, and dry very well with a towel.

Why does vinegar make potatoes crispy? ›

The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying. Additionally, the vinegar can contribute to a golden-brown color on the exterior of the fries.

What potato skin can you not eat? ›

While few people will eat enough of the bitter-tasting green potato to make themselves sick, Michigan State University Extension still recommends throwing green-skinned and sprouted potatoes away to prevent possible gastrointestinal upset caused by solanine and chaconine.

Are baked potato skins healthy? ›

Baked potato skin is a great source of potassium and magnesium. When you don't have enough potassium in your diet, your body retains extra sodium, and too much sodium raises your blood pressure. A potassium-rich diet can help decrease blood pressure, protecting the heart and reducing the risk of stroke.

Can dogs eat potatoes? ›

Dogs can eat potatoes as long as they are plainly cooked and offered in moderation. Roasted potatoes, prepared without spices or butter are the best way to let your pet have a taste of a delicious spud. But avoid giving your dog raw or boiled potatoes as they're not safe for dogs to eat as they contain solanine.

Why are restaurant baked potatoes so good? ›

The olive oil helps the seasonings adhere to the surface of the potato. To save time, restaurants often apply the oil with a spray bottle. Thanks to their naturally high starch content, which creates a plush texture under heat, Russet potatoes make a good fit for baking.

How do most restaurants bake potatoes? ›

How to cook How to Make Restaurant Style Baked Potatoes
  1. Preheat the oven to 425.
  2. Wash the potatoes.
  3. Drizzle with oil and rub until fully coated.
  4. Season with the salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
  5. Place on baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes.
  6. Cut a slit into the top of the potato.
Jun 3, 2019

Why do restaurants bake potatoes in foil? ›

Some say wrapping baked potatoes in aluminum foil helps them cook faster (aluminum conducts heat, then traps it), and it does keep them hot for longer once they come out of the oven, which is why we think restaurants use this method. Wrapping potatoes will also give you a softer, steamed skin, if that's what you like.

Why doesn t the 99 have potato skins anymore? ›

back in March, the nine's potato supplier. lost their facility in a fire. so rather than find a new source, they decided to change up the menu.

What happened to Tato Skins? ›

Discontinued Foods! Tato Skins (1985-2000): A potato snack from Keebler, meant to replicate the--at the time--wildly popular appetizer, potato skins. Flavors included bacon/cheddar, sour cream/onion, and bbq. Sold to Poore Foods in 2000, who reformulated the recipe and added a TGIFriday branding.

Why did the 99 get rid of potato skins? ›

The cause of the disappearance was later discovered. In May 2022, the Ninety Nine lost their potato supplier after an industrial fire left the potato plant up in flames. Instead of finding a new potato place in Maine, the New England restaurant decided to take it off the menu and replace it with loaded tater tots.

Did the 99 get rid of potato skins? ›

(WBZ NewsRadio) — Our long regional nightmare is over. After months of being missing from the menu at the 99 Restaurant, potato skins are making a triumphant return.

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