15 Minute Air Fryer Potato Skins

Don’t have an air fryer to call your own? That’s okay! You can still get your fix with our Baked Potato Skins.

I fell in love with potato skins back in the early days of dating Tim. We were on a budget, and one of our favorite restaurants had a special—potato skins and a side salad. It was simple, but I absolutely loved the combo. Even though it was a budget meal, it felt like such a treat. That’s why every time I make this recipe, it brings back the sweetest memories.

To make potato skins for this recipe, you need to bake whole potatoes and scoop out the flesh. To get more bang for your buck and kill two birds with one stone, make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes and save the skins for this recipe and use the flesh for Creamy Potato Soup.

How to Make Air Fryer Potato Skins

Air Fryer Potato Skins just need a little prep and TLC before you pop them in and let the magic happen. Follow the simple steps below to nail this recipe each and every time:

• Place potato skins in one single layer skin side down in the air fryer basket. Spray them with oil. Air fry for 5 minutes at 360°F.
• Add cheese into each potato skin.
• Top with bacon bits. Air fry for 5 more minutes or until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Sprinkle with green onions and add a dollop of sour cream if you like.

Tips For The Best Air Fryer Potato Skins

These tips will really help you make the best potato skins—not because the recipe is complicated, but because I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

• Pre-boil the potatoes to soften the insides and make scooping easier—it also helps them cook faster in the air fryer.
• Use cooked bacon. Raw bacon won’t crisp in time. You can cook it ahead or even air fry bacon separately.
• Scoop carefully. Leave about ½ inch of potato so the skins stay sturdy and don’t fall apart.
• Brush the skins with oil before air frying to help them get extra crispy.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. Give each skin some space so they cook evenly and crisp up nicely.
• Top right before serving. Add green onions, sour cream, or any fresh toppings after air frying to keep them fresh and vibrant.

Serving Air Fryer Potato Skins

Cheese and bacon are great toppings, but you can serve your potato skins in so many different ways. Perfect Cast Iron Ribeyes or Cheeseburger Sliders make for the perfect meal. See below for a handful of topping variations…

• Easy Instant Pot Chili – This makes for the perfect stuffing. Top with cheese and have yourself a fun spin on classic chili cheese fries.
• Sauce – Sour cream, tzatziki sauce, or avocado spread add a nice pop or creamy coolness.
• Salad – Remember how I mentioned the salad? We usually went with a Caesar, but a garden salad works just as well!

Making Air Fryer Potato Skins in Advance

When you’re prepping for a party, any bit of early prep helps. These potato skins can be assembled ahead of time and stored in an airtight container until you’re ready to air fry. And here’s a little tip: if you’re making potato soup, don’t toss those skins—save them and turn them into this delicious appetizer. Talk about a win-win!

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp – The sweet and salty coating on these shrimps is just too good.
• Air Fryer Potato Chips – Top with homemade beer cheese and bacon bits for the perfect game day snack.
• Air Fryer French Fries – Pair with a burger or smother in chili and cheese.
• Air Fryer Pork Chops – These juicy pork chops taste like they have been marinating for days.

Recipe

Air Fryer Potato Skins

Print Pin

Servings

5 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

Air Fryer Potato Skins are a healthy spin on Loaded Potatoes. They are packed full of cheddar cheese and topped with crispy bacon and green onions. Serve them as an appetizer or as dinner all on their own.

Ingredients

• 10 potato skins
• 1 cups cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup bacon bits
• 1/2 cup green onions chopped
• 1/2 tbsp oil avocado or olive oil spray

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Place potato skins in one row in an air fryer basket. Spray them with oil. Air fry for 5 minutes at 360°F.
  
• Top each potato skin with a generous handful of cheddar cheese.
  
• Sprinkle with bacon bits. Air fry for 5 more minutes or until they are golden brown and the cheese is gooey and melted.
  
• Top with green onions, sour cream and/or salsa.
  

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Potato Skins

Amount Per Serving

Calories 319 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 18mg6%

Sodium 659mg27%

Potassium 636mg18%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 5g20%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 332IU7%

Vitamin C 28mg34%

Calcium 246mg25%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.