Creamy cheesy fluffy potatoes with crispy bacon - all baked in a crunchy potato skin. These Stuffed Potato Skins are serious comfort food. Plus I've got TEN more ideas for fillings below.
Tell me, do you eat stuffed potato skins with your hands or a knife and fork?
I mean, obviously if you're serving them up with baked beans or something, then forks are the go-to option, but when they're on their own? I wonder if I should just let the kids have their wish of digging straight in there with their hands.
13 years after kid number one was born, and I feel like I'm still having to teach them table manners every time we're eating dinner!
I sometimes wonder if I didn't remind them as often as I do, whether they'd just act like a bunch of apes at a make-as-much-mess-as-you-can tea party.
Anyway, coming back to the stuffed potato skins, these are so easy to make for a weekday dinner.
We start by baking the potatoes in the oven until crisp on the outside and tender in the middle.
Then, carefully slice the potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh into a bowl (I usually hold the potato with a kitchen towel, so as not to burn my hands).
Add butter, cream, salt and pepper and mash together, then stir in crispy bacon bits and grated cheese.
Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins and place on a baking tray.
Sprinkle over more cheese, then place back in the oven for another 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
Serve topped with a little soured cream and a sprinkling of spring onions (scallions).
10 more ideas for stuffed potato skin fillings:
- Thai Sweet Potato Skins - a spicy sweet potato version with peanut butter, coconut milk and spices. It's accidentally vegan too!
- Lasagne-Stuffed Potato Skins - oh yes I've done this one. Whilst making a 4-person lasagne to freeze, I increased the amount of ingredients and stuffed potato skins with the meat and cheese sauce + fresh lasagne sheets. The kids were OVERJOYED!
- Egg and Bacon stuffed Potato Skins - a legitimate way to have jacket spuds for breakfast (with a slightly runny egg too)
- Philly Cheese steak Potato Skins - with ribeye steak and Gouda (I made a version for CenterCutCook a few years ago here)
- Chicken Fajita Potato Skins - use sweet potato again, and mash up with fajita seasoning and garlic, then add cooked chicken pieces, red onion and fresh coriander (cilantro)
- Cheesy Tuna Sweetcorn Potato Skins - with cheddar cheese, tuna and tinned sweetcorn - easy peasy.
- Cottage Pie stuffed Potato Skins - make the minced beef and gravy part of my cottage pie recipe, then spoon it into the scooped out potato and top with cream mash. Grill until crisp on top.
- Cheesy Veg -stuffed Potato Skins with panko topping - boil up small chopped up pieces of carrot, broccoli and green beans for 5 minutes, then stir into the mashed potato with cheese, butter and cream. Top with panko breadcrumbs and bake for 10 minutes until the panko is golden.
- Spinach, Sausage, Lancashire cheese Potato Skins - add chopped up cook and drained spinach, and pieces of cooked sausage. Replace the cheddar cheese with Lancashire cheese.
- Creamy Garlic Mushroom Potato Skins - fry up sliced mushrooms in butter, add garlic, salt and pepper and cook for a further minute, then stir into the creamy mashed potato. Top with cheese and place back in the oven to melt for 5-10 minutes.
The Stuffed Potato Skins Video:
Love all things potato? Try one of these recipes:
- Creamy Potato Salad
- The best Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Greek Potato Hash
- Kale and Bacon Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Chicken and Potato Bake
- Smashed Roast Potatoes with Garlic, Bacon and Cheddar
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Cheesy Potato Croquettes
- Pizza Fries
- Poutine with Rich Gravy
Note - I previously worked with Elmlea to create a video of this recipe for an Instagram post. That video has been re-edited especially for this post. This post has not been sponsored.
The Stuffed Potato Skins Recipe:
Stuffed Potato Skins
Ingredients
- 8 small floury potatoes - such a Maris Pipers
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 7 oz (200g) pancetta cubes (or bacon lardons)
- 2 tbsp double/heavy cream
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 1 pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 ¾ cups (175g) of your favourite cheese - I used a mix of 75% mature chedder and 25% red Leicester, grated
- 4 tbsp soured cream
- 4 spring onions (scallions) - chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 190c. Prick your potatoes with a fork and start them off in the microwave. Put all the potatoes in the microwave and microwave on high for 10 minutes (alternatively you can add 20 minutes to the cooking time in the oven).
- Put your potatoes in the oven, directly on the shelf and cook for 35-45 minutes until they're crisp on the outside and soft on the inside (you can check this by stabbing a knife into one of the potatoes to see if it slides in easily).
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small frying pan/skillet over a medium-high heat. Cook the pancetta cubes for 5-6 minutes, until crispy. Remove from the pan.
- When your potatoes are ready, take out of the oven and chop each of the potatoes in half. Pick up a potato half (using a tea towel to protect your hands) and using a spoon, scoop out the insides into a large bowl. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes.
- Add the cream, butter and salt & pepper to the bowl and mash using a potato masher or a fork until the potato is fluffy.
- Add in the pancetta and cheese (reserving a small handful for sprinkling on top). Mix together.
- Take one of the potato skins and put a spoonful of the potato mix inside. Put the potato in a baking dish and sprinkle with a little of the reserved cheese. Repeat with the remaining potatoes.
- When all of the potatoes are stuffed, put them back in the oven for 10-15 minutes (same temperature).
- Take out of the oven and serve with soured cream and a sprinkling of spring onions (scallions).
Video
✎ Notes
Make Ahead:
If you want to prepare these baking potatoes ahead, then follow the instructions up to the end of stage 7. Let the potatoes cool completely, cover and refrigerate for up to two days. When you're ready to cook, uncover and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until piping hot all the way through.The Pancetta:
Swap out the pancetta cubes for chopped up pieces of crispy bacon. You can use smoked or unsmoked.The Potatoes:
I like to use Rooster potatoes - which are red-skinned floury potatoes. Any floury potato - such as Russet, Desiree, Maris Piper or Kind Edward will also work great. Nutritional Information is per Potato Skin.Nutrition
This post was first published in August 2014. Updated in 2019 with new photos, video and tips.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
Julia says
What a delicious appetizer! I think I would eat these instead of a dinner 🙂
Kathryn says
Potatoes are my real carb weakness, especially jacket potatoes. So these stuffed skins had my mouth watering and so had to make them, absolutely yummy.
Amy says
I haven't had potato skins in years. I think Mum made them once a long time ago. These will be a hit with my bacon, cheese, potato loving man! As for me, I think I'll sub the bacon for some salty black olives. Yum yum!!
Nicky Corbishley says
Ooh now that's an idea. I haven't managed to make myself like black olives yet, but I'm working on it. Green nocerella olives are the only ones I can truly say I like so far. I bet they'd taste great with their buttery salty flavour.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I am obsessed with potato skins! These potato skins look delicious...definitely craving some of their cheesy goodness right now. I have to recreate the recipe!
Nicky Corbishley says
You'll love them Thalia, they're always a hit!
thespicetrain says
Taking photos in 10 minutes while anxiously being watched would be impossible for me! You're doing an impressive job, these look absolutely delicious. Now I'm hungry. 🙂
Nicky Corbishley says
It's certainly not easy! Kids are back at school tomorrow though, so I'm definitely looking forward to spending a bit more time on the photographs!!
apuginthekitchen says
Those look delicious Nicky, totally drool worthy.
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Suzanna,. I love them, far too moreish though!!
Christine says
First off, the pictures. Second off, ---> "Crispy bacon and melty cheese mixed with creamy, buttery potato".... I'm honestly DROOLING! Your description is amazing and makes me want to stuff 5 of these in my face, pronto. Great recipe!
Nicky Corbishley says
Ha ha thanks Christine. Only 5? 😉