Des

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Homemade Potato Skins

Homemade Baked Potato Skins are classic game day fare. These crisp skins are topped with colby jack cheese, horseradish sour cream and green onions. 

When it comes to game day snacks, whether you are watching at your favorite sports bar or the comfort of your own couch, there are a few things that are a must have. Things like dips, chicken wings and, one of our personal favorites, potato skins.

Overhead photo of potato skins on a cooling rack.

Potato skins are great because you can customize them to suit whatever you and your guests like. You can literally put anything in them! Common toppings are cheese, bacon and green onions.

For this recipe, I made a vegetarian version and loaded the skins with colby jack cheese, horseradish sour cream and green onions. Oh my goodness guys, they are pub food PER.FEC.TION.

Close up photo of potato skin with sour cream and green onions.

Now sure, you can grab a box from the frozen food section but they are SO easy to make at home. Using the recipe I am sharing with you today, you can skip the frozen food aisle and make your own Baked Potato Skins right at home.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Ingredients needed to make homemade baked potato skins.

YUKON GOLD POTATOES: I prefer to use Yukon gold potatoes for my potato skins. They get a bit crispier because they are thinner than russet potatoes. That being said, if you prefer the bite of russets more you can certainly substitute small russet potatoes.

OLIVE OIL/SALT : For brushing and sprinkling on the skin of the potato before baking.

COLBY JACK CHEESE: As always, I suggest shredding your own. I find that freshly shredded cheese melts better.

GREEN ONIONS: A must when you have potato skins IMHO.

SOUR CREAM, HORSERADISH, WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE: Sure sour cream is good but the mixture of these three ingredients make the sauce on top of these out of this world!

How to make Homemade Potato Skins:

Step by step photos showing how to make baked potato skins.

STEP #1: Poke potatoes with a fork and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and bake for 45 minutes – 1 hour or until a fork can be inserted to the potatoes easily.

STEP #2: Once potatoes are cool enough to touch, cut in half and carefully remove the flesh. Try not to break the skins.

DES’ TIP: Instead of tossing the flesh of the baked potatoes, I’d recommend saving the flesh for baked potato soup.

STEP #3: Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Spray a cooling rack with cooking spray. Place the potato skins on the cooling rack. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until skins are crispy.

STEP #4: Remove potato skins from oven. Divide shredded cheese evenly between the potato skins. Bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted. You can also place them under the broiler for 2 – 3 minutes to get the cheese hot and bubbly.

STEP #5: In a bowl mix the sour cream, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Place a dollop on top of each potato skin. Sprinkle with green onions. Serve immediately.

These are best served when hot so the cheese is nice and melted. And because you have the delectable horseradish cream on top, no need to worry about serving these with a dipping sauce!

Close up photo of a potato skin with a bite taken out of it.

Looking for more game day snacks? I have got everything you need right here on my blog! Here are some reader favorites:

Dill Pickle Chicken Wings

Crispy Jalapeno Bites 

Deep Fried Pickles

Creamy Ranch Dip 

Deep Fried Chicken Wings

Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2011. It was updated with new photos, step by step instructions and nutrition facts in 2021.

Homemade Potato Skins

Homemade Baked Potato Skins are classic game day fare. These crisp skins are topped with colby jack cheese, horseradish sour cream and green onions. 
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
Course Easy Appetizer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 246 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
  • 1 green onion diced
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon horseradish
  • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Poke potatoes with a fork and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and bake for 45 minutes - 1 hour or until a fork can be inserted to the potatoes easily.
  • Once potatoes are cool enough to touch, cut in half and carefully remove the flesh. Try not to break the skins. I'd recommend saving the flesh for baked potato soup.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Spray a cooling rack with cooking spray. Place the potato skins on the cooling rack. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until skins are crispy.
  • Remove potato skins from oven. Divide shredded cheese evenly between the potato skins. Bake for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted. You can also place them under the broiler for 2 - 3 minutes to get the cheese hot and bubbly.
  • In a bowl mix the sour cream, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Place a dollop on top of each potato skin. Serve immediately.

Notes

Nutrition facts for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 27.2gProtein: 8.9gFat: 13.3gSaturated Fat: 6.9gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 439mgFiber: 3.3gSugar: 3.4g
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: appetizer, potato skins, snack

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    tallor
    February 7, 2022 at 3:28 am

    Nice article. Thank you for sharing it.

  • Reply
    imsen
    January 31, 2022 at 12:34 am

    4 stars
    This potato skins looks so yummy! definitely gonna try it!

  • Reply
    katie
    October 3, 2011 at 8:00 am

    love this recipe- kids and husband did too.

  • Reply
    ChocolateCoveredEverything
    January 9, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    GO HAWKS! What a great game! My husband also “encourages” me to watch all weekend and I also enjoy making game day fare! I made homemade guacamole and enchiladas yesterday which I believe…helped the seahawks win! haha. I think I will try these potato skins for the Super Bowl! Thanks for the great stuff!

  • Reply
    Jenn's Food Journey
    January 4, 2011 at 4:59 am

    We are big football fans here… we love football Saturday…and Sunday…snacks! Potato skins always being a big hit! Yours look so delicious!!

  • Reply
    Michelle
    January 3, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Makes me hungry just looking at your photo!

  • Reply
    StephenC
    January 3, 2011 at 7:54 am

    As a Broncos fan I will obviously not be watching any more Denver games this year. Peter is not a sports fan and so football food is not really an option for us. On the other hand, I really want some of these potato skins!

  • Reply
    Fun and Fearless in Beantown
    January 3, 2011 at 7:47 am

    I made a huge bowl of white bean truffle dip for the Pats game yesterday :-)

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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