Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s Copycat) are crispy, golden potato halves packed with melted cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions. This easy recipe brings all the classic flavors you love from the restaurant right to your kitchen. Perfect as a snack or appetizer for any occasion!
Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s Copycat) are the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s crispy on the outside and packed with gooey cheese, savory bacon, and fresh green onions on the inside.
This easy recipe captures the classic flavors you love from TGI Friday’s and brings them right to your kitchen with simple ingredients and straightforward steps. Whether you’re hosting a game day party or just craving a delicious snack, these loaded potato skins are sure to satisfy every time.
With the big game coming up, serve these along with traditional game-day air fryer appetizers, such as Air Fryer Buffalo Wings, Air Fryer Pigs In A Blanket, or Even Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, all favorites at any SuperBowl party.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Crispy potato skins with a perfectly golden crunch 🥔✨
- Loaded with melted cheese and savory bacon for rich flavor 🧀🥓
- Easy to make with simple ingredients you likely have on hand 🥄👍
- Perfect for parties, game days, or casual snacking 🎉🏈
- Customizable toppings to suit your taste—add sour cream, chives, or jalapeños! 🌶️🍃
TGI Fridays Potato Skins Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes: Starchy potatoes perfect for crispy skins and fluffy insides.
- Olive Oil: Helps crisp up the skin.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Enhances all the flavors and balances the dish.
- Bacon Strips: Adds smoky, savory crunch that complements the potatoes.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Sharp, creamy cheese that melts beautifully and adds rich flavor.
- Sour Cream: Creamy, tangy topping that complements the savory potato skins perfectly.
- Chives: Adds just a touch of warmth and depth.
- Optional Toppings: Additional toppings like chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, or even a drizzle of hot sauce for extra flavor and heat.
How To Make Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s CopyCat)
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Start by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F (200°C) while you prepare the potatoes.
- Prepare the Potatoes: Scrub the russet potatoes clean, and dry them with a paper towel. Using a fork, pierce the potatoes a few times to allow steam to escape while cooking.
- Coat with Olive Oil and Season: Lightly brush the potato skins with olive oil, ensuring they are well-coated. Season the skins with a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
- Air Fry the Potatoes: Place the potatoes in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry at a cook time of 30-40 minutes, turning them halfway through, or until the potato skins are crispy and the insides are tender.
- Cook Bacon: While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon until crispy in a separate pan or microwave. Once cooked, crumble or chop it into small pieces.
- Scoop Out Potato Flesh: Let the cooked potatoes cool slightly, then slice them in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out most of the potato flesh, leaving about ¼ inch attached to the skins. Save the scooped-out potato for another use (e.g., mashed potatoes).
- Load with Cheese and Bacon: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese inside each potato skin. Top with the crumbled bacon pieces.
- Air Fry Again: Return the loaded potato skins to the air fryer basket. Air fry for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serving: Carefully remove the hot potato skins from the air fryer. Garnish each potato skin with a dollop of sour cream and chopped chives. Customize your loaded potato skins by adding optional toppings like diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s CopyCat) Recipe Tips
- Choose the Right Potatoes: Select large russet potatoes for making potato skins.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Crispy Skins: To achieve extra crispy potato skins, dry the potatoes thoroughly after washing them and before brushing with olive oil.
- Use Seasoned Oil: Consider mixing your olive oil with your favorite seasonings, such as garlic powder, paprika, or dried herbs.
- Save the Scooped Potato: Don’t waste the potato flesh you scoop out. You can use it to make mashed potatoes or add it to soups and stews for extra creaminess.
- Customize Toppings: While bacon and cheddar cheese are classic choices, feel free to get creative with your toppings.
- Preheat for Crispiness: Preheating the air fryer is essential for achieving a crispy texture.
- Check for Doneness: Keep a close eye on the potato skins during the final air frying stage after adding cheese and bacon.
- Garnish Right Before Serving: Add fresh garnishes like sour cream and chopped chives just before serving to maintain their freshness and vibrant flavors.
- Serve Hot: Loaded Potato Skins are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer when they are piping hot and the cheese is gooey.
Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s CopyCat) Recipe Faqs
Can I make these potato skins in advance and reheat them in the air fryer? Yes, you can prepare the potato skins in advance and refrigerate them. When ready to serve, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes or until they are heated through and crispy.
Can I use different types of cheese for the topping? Absolutely! While cheddar cheese is a classic choice, you can use any cheese you prefer. Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or mozzarella are all great options.
Can I make these potato skins with sweet potatoes instead of russet potatoes? Yes, you can use sweet potatoes for a slightly different flavor profile. Keep in mind that sweet potatoes may require a slightly shorter cooking time in the air fryer due to their natural sweetness.
What dipping sauces go well with loaded potato skins? Sour cream is a classic dip for potato skins, but you can also serve them with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, or a spicy aioli for added flavor.
Can I make these potato skins vegetarian or vegan? Certainly! To make them vegetarian, skip the bacon, and load them with your favorite vegetarian toppings like sautéed vegetables and vegetarian cheese. For a vegan version, use vegan cheese and bacon alternatives, and opt for vegan sour cream.
What can I do with the scooped-out potato flesh that I remove from the skins? The scooped-out potato flesh can be used to make mashed potatoes, potato soup, or added to other dishes for extra creaminess. It’s a versatile ingredient, so get creative!
More Air Fryer Recipes
- AIR FRYER BOSTON BROWN BREAD
- AIR FRYER HOMEMADE PIZZA ROLLS
- EASY AIR FRYER LATKES
- AIR FRYER FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
- AIR FRYER TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES
- EASY AIR FRYER LOADED POTATO CHIPS
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Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday’s CopyCat)
Description
Ingredients
- 6 large russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) while you prepare the potatoes.
- Scrub the russet potatoes clean and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Using a fork, pierce each potato a few times to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Lightly brush the potato skins with olive oil, ensuring they are well-coated.
- Season the skins with a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
- Place the prepared potatoes in the preheated air fryer basket.
- Air fry for about 30-40 minutes, turning them halfway through, or until the potato skins are crispy and the insides are tender.
- While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon until crispy in a separate pan or microwave. Once cooked, crumble or chop it into small pieces.
- Allow the cooked potatoes to cool slightly, then slice them in half lengthwise.
- Carefully scoop out most of the potato flesh, leaving about ¼ inch attached to the skins. Save the scooped-out potato for another use (e.g., mashed potatoes).
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese inside each potato skin.
- Top with the crumbled bacon pieces.
- Return the loaded potato skins to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Carefully remove the hot potato skins from the air fryer.
- Garnish each potato skin with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of chopped fresh chives.
- Customize your loaded potato skins by adding optional toppings like diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Enjoy: Serve your Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins immediately while they are hot and gooey. They make a fantastic appetizer or snack for any occasion.
Equipment
- Parchment Paper, optional
- Cooking Spray
Notes
- These loaded potato skins can be prepared in advance and reheated in the air fryer just before serving.
- Feel free to customize the toppings to suit your taste preferences.
Nutrition
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