Air Fryer Potato Skins

Learn how to make crispy and flavorful potato skins right in your air fryer. These easy and delicious potato skins are crispy, flavorful, and perfect for your next party or game day snack. Top them with cheese, bacon and sour cream for the perfect appetizer.

There’s nothing quite like a crispy potato skin loaded with cheese, bacon and sour cream. It’s the most classic and delicious flavor combo and you’re going to love these easy air fryer potato skins. Whether it’s game day and you need a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or you’ve just got a hankering for loaded potato skins, you’ve gotta try out this recipe.

Now, if you don’t have an air fryer not to worry — you can make my recipe for potato skins that uses the oven. But WOW, I love how the air fryer makes the skin of the potato extra extra crispy. The air fryer is now my bestie in the kitchen. I mean, who doesn’t love an appliance that make extra crispy food without all the oil. Such a win, and with these homemade loaded potato skins, it’s a game changer!

Why You’ll Love these Air Fryer Potato Skins

• Potato skins are a really affordable appetizer since russet potatoes are very budget-friendly. If you need to make a load of appetizers on a budget, then give this recipe a shot!
• The air fryer is a much healthier alternative to the deep fryer. Make crispy food, without the extra calories and fat content.
• There are so many different variations you can make with toppings. If you have a picky crowd, then just make cheesy potato skins and provide bowls of separate toppings for them to load it up!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Potato Skins

• Russet potatoes – Russets are the most commonly used potatoes for loaded potato skins. However, you can use Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes if you prefer.
• Sour cream – Don’t have sour cream? Some plain Greek yogurt is a great substitute.
• Bacon bits – I love to make bacon in the oven and then crumble it up for my own homemade bacon bits.
• Garlic powder – Add a bit of garlicky flavor with some garlic powder! It’s my secret ingredient to the best homemade loaded potato skins.
• Green onions – Some chopped green onions are the best little garnish to finish off this recipe.
• Olive oil – To help crisp up the outside of the potato, you’ll need to coat the skin in extra virgin olive oil.
• Shredded cheddar cheese – Air fry these potato skins with shredded cheese to make an ooey gooey filling.
• Sea salt and black pepper – Season these potatoes with some sea salt and black pepper to help bring out the flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Potato Skins

1. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, just turn it on to warm up for a few minutes before cooking.
2. Before making the air fryer potato skins, scrub the potatoes well and pat dry.
3. Then coat the potatoes in a bowl with half of the olive oil and sprinkle with the kosher salt.
4. Arrange each of the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 35-45 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Be sure to flip the potatoes over about halfway through cooking. Let cool for 10 minutes.
5. Cut the cooked potatoes in half lengthwise and then scoop out the inside with a spoon, leaving about ⅛ to ¼ of an inch of potato along the skin. Reserve the potato flesh in a small bowl for another use.
6. Brush the hollowed out potatoes with the remaining olive oil and return to the air fryer, skin side up, in a single layer. You may need to work in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
7. Flip the potatoes over and fill the hollowed out portion with cheddar and crumbled bacon.
8. Cook again at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
9. Once cooked, serve with a dollop of sour cream or drizzle of ranch on top and sprinkle with green onions. Enjoy!

How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Potato Skins

Allow the leftover potato skins to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container.

FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

FREEZER: Lay each potato skin on a lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to reheat potato skins

You can reheat your leftovers in the air fryer or the oven. Just preheat to 350 degrees and cook until the skins are crispy and heated thoroughly. You can reheat leftovers from frozen too, no need to thaw!

Why is my air fryer not making my food crispy?

If you end up with soggy food, there’s a few different things that could be contributing factors. Make sure you’re not overcrowding the air fryer basket. The hot air needs to be able to circulate around all of the food.

You also may need to use less oil. The air fryer doesn’t need much oil to make food crispy and if you overload it then your food will actually be soggy. So just use the amount called for and you’ll be good to go!

Toppings for Air Fryer Potato Skins

Use whatever toppings you want! Some fun ideas are:

• ranch dressing
• salsa
• guacamole
• sour cream
• bacon
• chipotle mayo
• butter
• caramelized onions
• pulled pork
• taco meat
• sliced jalapeño

What to Serve with Air Fryer Potato Skins

These potato skins in the air fryer are on of the best appetizers for game day. Serve them with tasty dishes like mozzarella sticks and crispy air fryer chicken wings. I love to pair them with buffalo chicken sliders.

Other tasty appetizers that go well with potato skins are jalapeño poppers, chips and queso, and pulled pork sliders. Pair them with anything and everything you want!

If you’re looking for a show stopping appetizer, then this is definitely the recipe for you!

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love!

• These Air Fryer French Fries are much healthier than deep frying and are so tasty!
• Need a side dish for pasta night? Then check out this Air Fryer Garlic Bread.
• The air fryer can also make the best veggies! This Air Fryer Asparagus is so yummy.
• If you’re looking for a quick lunch then check out these Air Fryer Corn Dogs.