This is not your everyday potato skins recipe! These loaded potato skins are twice baked. then filled with a rich, creamy cheese sauce, and topped with crispy bacon and green onions.
Make them for a tasty party appetizer or a delicious side dish to burgers, steaks, and pork chops!
"These are so delicious- i make them often on the weekends for game nights. I make them in my air fryer so it's a little quicker. Great recipe!"
★★★★★ -Maddy
TGI Fridays is a famous American chain restaurant and cocktail bar that has been around for years.
One of their most popular appetizers are their loaded potato skins. So much so, that they began mass producing and selling them in the freezer section in grocery stores. However, the frozen version are not as as good as the homemade potato skins.
This recipe is a copycat version of the original restaurant baked TGI Fridays potato skin appetizer. They are very similar in taste only WAY better!
These are the perfect party appetizer or serve them on game day during football season. They will disappear fast! Enjoy! Xoxo ~Katie.
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make this loaded potato skins recipe.
- red potatoes-You can substitute with 6 medium russet potatoes.
- olive oil
- cream cheese
- cheddar cheese- You can substitute with pepper jack cheese for a spicier filling.
- butter
- whole milk-Do not substitute with low fat or skim milk.
- crispy bacon-You can substitute with real bacon bits.
- green onions-You can substitute with chives.
How to make loaded potato skins
Follow these simple steps to make loaded potato skins.
- Rinse potatoes off. Poke each potato with a fork several times. Coat with olive oil and place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
- Bake potatoes for 50 minutes or until they are tender at 375 degrees. Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool.
- Cut the potatoes in half. Scoop out the insides of the potatoes, leaving enough to maintain the structure of the potatoes.
- Place butter in a sauce pan and melt on medium heat. Add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and milk, stirring until the cheese is melted. Remove from heat.
- Add cheese mixture to the center of the potatoes. Top with bacon.
- Place potato skins on a baking tray. Bake at 400 degrees on a greased baking dish for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with green onions, and serve.
Heat leftover loaded potato skins in the oven or Air Fryer.
Watch how to make
Serving Tip
You can cut the halved potatoes in half to make quartered, bite sized loaded potato skins for more servings.
Can you freeze stuffed potato skins?
These stuffed potato skins are freezer friendly and are perfect for making in advance to cook for later!
Follow these steps to freeze oven baked potato skins:
- To freeze, bake potatoes and fill with cheese according to directions. Top with bacon.
- Place loaded potato skins on a tray and place in the freezer. Freeze for one to two hours.
- Once the loaded potatoes are frozen, place potatoes in a freezer bag. Remove any extra air out of the bag when sealing. Freeze until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, defrost potato skins and bake on a baking tray at 400 degrees 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
What dip do you serve with potato skins?
Honestly these baked potato skins are fantastic by themselves.
However, you can dip your potato skins in sour cream, creamy horseradish sauce, ranch, and sweet or smokey barbecue sauce.
About the recipe
This recipe is from my sweet friend, Kim Pryzgoda's mother, Aura Lee Davis.
Aura Lee Davis is an AMAZING cook. Anything that comes from her kitchen is Fantastic. She made these loaded potato skins as an appetizer when we visited her for a girls weekend and everyone loved them.
She also shared her Eggplant Lasagna Recipe that was so delicious, I had to add the blog also!
Please leave me a comment below if you make these loaded potato skins and tell me what you think. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your potatoes on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Loaded Potato Skins (TGI Friday's CopyCat)
Equipment
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 3 pounds small red potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 8 slices cooked bacon
- 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse potatoes off. Poke each potato with a fork several times. Coat with olive oil and place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt.3 pounds small red potatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt to taste
- Bake potatoes for 50 minutes or until they are tender at 375 degrees. Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool.
- Cut the potatoes in half. Scoop out the insides of the potatoes, leaving enough to maintain the structure of the potatoes.
- Place butter in a sauce pan and melt on medium/low heat. Add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and milk, stirring until the cheese is melted. Remove from heat.2 tablespoons butter, 4 ounces cream cheese
- Add cheese mixture to the center of the potatoes. Top with bacon.¼ cup whole milk, 8 slices cooked bacon, 8 ounces cheddar cheese
- Bake at 400 degrees on a greased baking dish for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, top with green onions, and serve.2 tablespoons green onions
Bethany says
They actually got crispy very good
Savita says
These loaded potato skins are an absolute game-changer! I stumbled upon this recipe while looking for a fun appetizer to serve at my game night gathering, and they were a total hit.
Amy Liu Dong says
I love everything about this recipe, it is so easy to make, so quick, and delicious! Definitely prepare this on Valentine's Day!
jamie says
Love it, I used to eat fries often but after i knew this it changed it. love this recipe!!!!!
DK Park says
Anything with potatoes are my thing and i wont let it pass. This one, is not an exception to me, it looks awesome and flavorful!
Jamie says
These turned out so good! I would recommend this one!
Ann says
I made these potato skins for an appetizer for family and friends. Everyone asked where I ordered them from, they were so good!
Amy Liu Dong says
Such an easy and delicious appetizer to make. This is perfect for any type of occasion. Yum!
Maddy says
These are so delicious- i make them often on the weekends for game nights. I make them in my air fryer so it's a little quicker. Great recipe!