The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
If you are looking for a crispy potato appetizer or snack, then air fryer potato skins are always a good idea!
These potato skins are very easy to make with pre-cooked potatoes and your favorite toppings.
We like to fill our potato skins with the classic mix of cheddar cheese and bacon bits, but you can also customize them with fillings of your choice, such as mushroom and cheese or chili.
The air fryer makes the potato skins perfectly crispy and cheesy in no time!
Ingredients
To make potato skins in the air fryer as shown in this recipe, you will need the following ingredients.
You can customize the toppings, but we recommend these ones because they work really well together – and you can’t really go wrong with the classics!
- Potatoes – Cooked; medium russet potatoes are best, but other varieties will also work.
- Oil (spray) – Optional; to help the potato skins get crispy.
- Cheddar cheese – Or other cheese of your choice, such as Monterey Jack or Mozzarella
- Bacon pieces – Preferably homemade, but store-bought bacon bits will also work.
- Salt – To season the potato skins.
- Black pepper – To season the potato skins.
- Sour cream – A topping for the potato skins.
- Green onion – Optional garnish. You can also use chopped chives.
Recipe Tips
Before you make these air-fried potato skins, read through these recipe tips so that you get delicious potato skins on the first try!
- You can use boiled potatoes or potatoes that have been cooked in the microwave, oven, or air fryer. The potatoes should be about the same size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t scoop out all of the potato flesh – this would make them lose their shape and they also wouldn’t taste as good.
- Brushing or spraying the potato skins with oil (outside and inside) will help them get crispy. This step is not required but recommended.
- You can season the potato skins with other spices of your choice, such as garlic powder or paprika.
- Don’t overlap or stack the potato skins in the air fryer. If necessary, make fewer or cook in batches.
- This is a recipe for homemade potato skins. You can also make frozen potato skins in the air fryer. We did it and it worked really well!
Step by Step Instructions
In this section, you will see exactly how to make potato skins in the air fryer.
We’ve included all of the recipe process photos so that you can follow along as you air fry at home.
You can also find the printable recipe card with detailed instructions at the bottom of the post!
First, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes or until it indicates that it is preheated.
Meanwhile, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the flesh from the center of each potato, leaving some potato attached to the skin.
If you scoop out too much, they won’t hold their shape, so be mindful of that!
Then spray or brush the potato skins all over with a little oil (optional) and season with salt and pepper.
Arrange the potato halves in the air fryer basket in one layer. They shouldn’t overlap or be stacked – air fry in batches if necessary.
Air fry the potatoes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until they are lightly golden and crisp.
Sprinkle grated cheddar and bacon bits evenly over each potato half.
Then air fry for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve the potato skin hot garnished with sour cream and green onions or chives (optional). Enjoy!
How long to cook potato skins in the air fryer?
The exact cooking time depends on the size of the potatoes. For medium potatoes, air fry the potato skins at a temperature of 380 degrees Fahrenheit for a total of about 15 minutes.
The first 10 minutes are for crisping and browning the potatoes and the last 5 minutes are for melting the cheese.
Storage Tips
If you have leftover potato skins, let them cool and then store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Ideally, they should not be topped with sour cream.
Keep in mind that the potato skins will lose some of their crispness in the fridge.
To bring some of that back, we recommend reheating the potato skins in the air fryer at a temperature between 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes.
Related Recipes
For more tasty spud ideas, here are some other air fryer potato recipes that you might want to try out next!
- Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
- Hasselback Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Classic Homemade Potato Wedges
- Garlic Parm Fries in the Air Fryer
- Homemade Potato Pancakes Air Fried
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Ingredients
- 3 medium potatoes, cooked; preferably russet potatoes
- oil (spray), optional
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 4 tablespoons bacon pieces, cooked bacon cut into pieces (recommended) or store-bought bacon bits
- 1/3 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon green onions or chives, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes or until it indicates that it is preheated.
- In the meantime, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the flesh from the center of each potato, leaving some potato flesh attached to the skin.3 medium potatoes
- Spray or brush the potato skins all over with a bit of oil (optional) and season with salt and pepper.oil (spray), 1/3 teaspoon salt, 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
- Arrange the potato halves in the air fryer basket in one layer and air fry at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until they are golden and crisp.
- Sprinkle grated cheddar and bacon bits evenly over each potato half. Then air fry for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 4 tablespoons bacon pieces
- Serve the potato skins hot, garnished with sour cream and green onions (optional).2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 tablespoon green onions or chives
Notes
- You can use boiled potatoes or potatoes that have been cooked in the microwave, oven, or air fryer. The potatoes should be about the same size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t scoop out all of the potato flesh – this would make them lose their shape and they also wouldn’t taste as good.
- Brushing or spraying the potato skins with oil helps them get crispy. This step is not required but recommended.
- You can season the potato skins with other spices of your choice, such as garlic powder or paprika.
- Don’t overlap or stack the potato skins in the air fryer. Make fewer or cook in batches if necessary.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
