Just a simple recipe today: loaded potato skins with crispy grilled bacon and cheese + butter and a touch of Franks Red Hot sauce. π
I havenβt really baked any fancy desserts worth sharing lately. Instead this 3rd lockdown seems to revolve heavily around simple savoury comfort foods. And these are so good, so easy and as a bonus theyβre fairly nutritious too (people need to stop being mean to potatoes, theyβre the best and packed with nutrients besides all the carbs π π ).
Bacon & Cheese Potato Skins
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Kimi
Recipe type: Mains / Appetisers
Cuisine: American
Serves: 16 potato skins
Ingredients
For the potatoes:
- 8 potatoes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
For the spicy butter:
- 3 tsp salted butter (add a pinch of salt if using unsalted)
- Cayenne pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Hot sauce (I used Frank's red hot sauce)
For the filling:
- Extra mature cheddar
- 5 bacon slices (grilled and finely chopped)
To garnish:
- Soured cream (or plain Greek-style yoghurt works too)
- Fresh coriander (or parsley)
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Spring onions
Notes
BAKING TEMPERATURE: 220C (428F)
COOKING TIME: 50 mins (to bake the potatoes) + 5 mins (under the grill with toppings)
COOKING TIME: 50 mins (to bake the potatoes) + 5 mins (under the grill with toppings)
Directions
BAKE THE POTATOES:
- Pre-heat the oven to 220C (428F).
- Wash your potatoes and place them on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper.
- Add salt, black pepper and a good drizzle of olive oil and rub it all over the potatoes so they are evenly covered.
- Bake for about 50 minutes (flipping them midway through) or until the skin is wrinkled and the potatoes are soft.
- Set aside and let them cool down.
Β
PREPARE THE FILLINGS:
- GRILL THE BACON: place your slices of bacon on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper and cook them under the grill until fully cooked and a little crispy. Or you can also pan fry them, of course. Then finely chop them into bits.
- PREPARE THE BUTTER: soften the butter in the microwave and add the seasonings and hot sauce (just a bit of everything / to taste).
- Grate the cheese (as much as you’d like.
Β
PREPARE YOUR LOADED POTATO SKINS:
- Once your baked potatoes have cooled down a bit, cut them in half.
- With a spoon, scoop out some of the potato to make room for the fillings. Note: keep the discarded potato in a bowl for another meal. π
- Spread a bit of spicy butter into each potato skin.
- Add the bacon bits and grated cheese.
- Cook under the grill for another 5 minutes, until the cheese has fully melted.
- Serve with garnish and sauces of your choice. I opted for fresh coriander, soured cream, guacamole and salsa. π
Kimi x
