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Potato skins are a favorite party appetizer to serve as guests arrive. They are also loved as fans gather to watch TV and cheer for their favorite sports team. The humble, vitamin-rich potato, easily baked crispy and filled with cheesy goodness, shines as a tasty star.
Bake the potatoes
Pierce each potato several times; place on rack and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes.Cook the bacon
You can fry the bacon while the potatoes are baking, or as I do, cook the bacon in the oven. Cook the bacon prior to baking the potatoes or bake at the same time as the potatoes.
Cut cooled potatoes in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the potato skins
Bake the potato skins
Lightly brush potato skins inside and out with canola oil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to heavy baking sheet that has been lightly coated with vegetable oil. 
Bake 12-15 minutes; 
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Oven-Crisped Potato Skins
INGREDIENTS
- 6 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed clean
- vegetable oil for baking pan
- canola oil for potatoes
- 1/2 lb. bacon
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper
- 4-oz cheddar cheese, grated
- green onions
DIRECTIONS
Position rack in center of oven and heat to 400 degrees. (I use my toaster oven).
Pierce each potato several times; place on rack and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes.
While potatoes are baking, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, cool and crumble.
Cut cooled potatoes in half, lengthwise. Scoop out insides, leaving 1/4 -inch thick shell, reserving insides of potato for another day.
Position oven rack in top third of oven and heat to 425 degrees.
Lightly brush potato skins inside and out with canola oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to heavy baking sheet that has been lightly coated with vegetable oil. Bake 12-15 minutes; turn over and bake 12 minutes more.
Sprinkle hot skins with shredded cheese and top with a dollop of sour cream; sprinkle with bacon and garnish with chives.
As for the scooped-out potato centers… a little butter, sour cream, heated milk, salt and pepper then mashed with a hand-masher for delicious chunky mashed potatoes for tomorrow!
More appetizers you might also like…
Hidden Valley Ranch Sausage Stars
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These definitely are going in my file. I know all my family would be thrilled if I made these. Thank you!
My mother made these but put the mashed potatoes back in and called them "potato boats." These also look delicious!
These look awesome!
Those potato skins look delicious!
I nominated you for the Sunshine Award! If you'd like to participate, see this post: https://nancycreative.com/2012/08/03/blog-awards-and-a-big-thank-you/
Your family must so appreciate the fine way in which you seem to do all things. Your decorating style, your preparing such lovely meals, and desserts, your handiness with sewing and knitting, all a tribute to using the beautiful skills that God so richly blessed you with. Each of us have our gifts and we must use them and share them thank you always~
My mouth is watering; looks so good. Now all you need is some good meatloaf with the potato.
Looks sooooooo good!
But I'm actually not surprised because everything you make looks amazing
These look amazing! And I love your idea to save the potatoes and use them for another meal! I would love for you join us at our Foodie Friend Linky party today! Enjoy the weekend!
These would make my kids very, very happy! Have a fabulous day. Tammy
Oh my…these look yummy!
Fabulous…and all the goodness is in the skin!!
What an incredible recipe and your photos are fabulous.
Those look very good. Even the day after mashed potatoes look yummy
What a great recipe. I am going to try it, but I will omit bacon since we are vegetarian. I think it still should be very good with cheese and sour cream.
Thank you for sharing.
Tasty recipe! Thank you for this. I love potatoes 🙂
They look wonderful, and I also like a "two-for-one" recipe, skins one night, mashed the next. xo
Looks better than the potato skins at "Fridays" !
Love,
Lorraine
Thanks for the reminder, Lorraine. I haven't made these in a very, very long time. YUM!!! xo Diana
I am so hungry and your photos look so good!
You are a wonderful food photographer, we eat with our eyes first. I am sure enjoying my potato.
Yes, this is perfect hockey or football party food – looks just delicious!
My very first thought was "oh yum!". Then I immediately thought of football season… which I'm looking forward to! Both dishes look great-enjoy:@)
These look amazing! I've pinned the recipe to try out soon. 🙂 Megan