Potato Skins with Cheddar, Bacon and Shallots

Potato Skins

These potato skins were so much fun to make, and such a yummy party snack for yesterday’s Superbowl. While I may not have been too focused on the game, I was pretty preoccupied with enjoying our scrumptious spread, which included baked buffalo wings, sweet ‘n sticky chicken drumsticks, and these potato skins with gooey cheddar, crisp bacon and sweet caramelized shallots.

This recipe serves 8 and the ingredients are basic – any kind of potatoes (I used red),  bacon, shallots, cheddar, milk and butter. For garnishes, top with more cheddar, parsley and scallions, if you’d like. Or, get creative with your own fixings!

First, I just pricked the potatoes with a fork and baked them for an hour. Once they were out, the top third was sliced off, the flesh scooped out and mashed with the good stuff mentioned above. Then, back into the hollowed-out skins the mashed potatoes went, which were baked to a crisp and sprinkled with tasty toppings.

I only made a few for just myself and Mark, but the next time we have a casual party with plenty of hungry guests, I really look forward to making these potato skins again. I know you will enjoy them, too, for any big or small celebration with friends and family. They’re super simple, scrumptious and will have your guests begging for more!

Potato Skins with Cheddar, Bacon and Shallots

Potato Skins with Cheddar, Bacon and Shallots

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 medium baking potatoes, scrubbed
  • 8 strips bacon
  • 3 shallots, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cups milk
  • 3 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped parsley, optional
  • 2 scallions, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prick the potato skins all over with a fork. Bake in the oven for about 45–50 minutes, until tender.
  2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a frying pan over medium-high heat about 4 minutes, until golden. Remove from pan, chop into small pieces and set aside. Add the shallots and cook until they soften, about 1 minute more.
  3. Slice off the top third of each potato, horizontally. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh into a large bowl. Reserve the hollowed-out skins and place in a lightly oiled baking dish.
  4. Mash the potato with a potato masher. Add the milk and butter, and beat until smooth. Stir in the cheddar, bacon and shallots and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the filling is heated through and golden on top. Serve hot with extra chopped parsley, cheddar or scallions sprinkled on top, if desired.
  6. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. I freaking love potato skins!! They’re too good.

  2. These look awesome! Would have been a great superbowl app! :)

  3. Ok, Georgia.. I have seen (and eaten) my share of potato skins and they have NEVER looked this lovely! Goodness, I don’t know whether to devour them or admire them!!

  4. Georgia,
    What a great looking dish.. this belong to the art gallery! The picture is worth a thousand words but yours worth a million! I love it.

    Have a great week ahead.

  5. Yum, these look so good and professional. Did you actually pipe the potato back into the skins? If so, awesome. I hope they were for the superbowl yesterday!

  6. Roxan – Thank you very much! Yes, I piped the potato back in but there’s no need to do that. I just thought it gave a nice texture to the top.

  7. Georgia, those baked filled potato skins look freaking good!

  8. Georgia-

    These look incredible. So classy. I wish I could take a nose dive into my monitor!

  9. Wow, Georgia, these look great!
    I want to pass on a Stylish Blogger Award to you.
    Come over to my blog to pick it up. Don’t feel obligated to accept it. I just want you to know how much I enjoy reading your blog.

  10. Georgia….I have never seen such potato perfection!

  11. I could eat way too many of these beauties… I am loving these.

  12. These look so good and are frankly the prettiest potato skins I’ve ever seen! Who needs sports events as an excuse, I might just have a girls night this weekend just to try these out…

    http://allmylifeivebeengoodbutnow.blogspot.com/

  13. These look so much better than the potato skins I used to eat at Bennigans back in the day ;)! Seriously? These look addictively good…can’t wait to try tem! Football season may be over, but basketball is just warming up!!!

  14. Georgia these look AMAZING! I’ve GOT to try them. YUM.

  15. I loooove potato skins. These look SO GOOD! :)

  16. Oh my gosh, what I wouldn’t give for a plate of these right now. They look a-ma-zing!

  17. Georgia, I’m so happy I found your blog. What beautiful recipes and photo’s…including these potato skins. YUM! I am now going to run over and become a fan on Facebook. Thanks for stopping by my blog too. :)

  18. Georgia, these look fantastic! Def going to try them next chance I get! And your picture makes them look sooo good! Keep up the good work.

  19. I do believe that these will become part of our menu at least every other week. Yummy.
    :-) Mandy

  20. What an awesome addition for a super bowl party! These look absolutely irresistible!

  21. I was so lazy to cook for the Super Bowl, I can’t believe I haven’t thought of something such as potato skins and we had a lot of them. Love the choices of topping.

  22. Hi Georgia-Gorgeous looking taters! Yummy filling. I would love just that for dinner tonight;)

  23. um…wow. These look incredible. I am so hungry right now and I want to eat them off the screen!

  24. As my first time at your culinary place…I’m truly pleased with your fabulous blog. Very inviting photos along with appetizing dishes…what more could I ask for ;o)

    Georgia…your pleasant visit at my place didn’t go unnoticed.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

  25. this looks amazing! never seen a potato looking this good ever:) thanks for sharing your talent.

  26. Georgia, these look delicious! What a gorgeous photo.

  27. These are just gorgeous potato skins, and I am sure equally tasty :)

  28. I just adore potato skins. I wish I had a plate in front of me right now! We ended up skipping football festivities this year, but I would love to make these for a fun dinner party. Thank you for sharing, sweet woman!

  29. Oh my…these look scrumptious! Almost makes me long for more football! Almost… These would make a great Friday nite snack-dinner!

  30. 5 stars
    Gosh Georgia – your food photography is absolutely pristine. I love these skins. I can eat potatoes in any way, shape or form and I could live on these.

  31. This looks absolutely divine. Simple – but so complex. They photo is beautiful.
    Thanks for the recipe.
    YUMMERS!
    :)
    Valerie

  32. I really really really need to stop reading your blog this close to dinnertime when I don’t have all the ingredients necessary to make whatever deliciousness you’ve posted!!!! Stop making such mouth watering looking food :)!!!!

  33. 5 stars
    These are fabulous. Thanks for sharing!

  34. 5 stars
    These loaded potatoes are fantastic! Now I’m going to try and veganize them. One question though: Do the potatoes need to be boiled prior to baking?

  35. 5 stars
    These potato skins looks so yummy!!

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