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5.0 from 36 votes

Smoked Cheddar and Caramelized Onion Potato Skins

These potato skins are incredible! Topped with caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, bacon, scallions and homemade ranch.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 people
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 6 Russet potatoes
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • olive oil for spraying/brushing
  • 4 lices bacon, diced
  • 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces smoked cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
homemade ranch
  • 1 cup plain greek yogurt
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chives or 1 tablespoon dried chives
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Poke a few holes in the potatoes with a fork and place them on a baking sheet. Spray or brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake the potatoes for 50 to 60 minutes.
  4. While the potatoes are baking, heat the bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until crispy and all the fat is rendered, then remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel to remove excess grease.
  5. In the same skillet with the bacon grease, add the sliced onion with a pinch of salt. Stir to coat - if there isn’t enough bacon grease left, you can add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil. Cook the onions, stirring often, until the become caramely and golden - about 30 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on them and keep stirring! Lower the heat as needed so they don’t burn.
  6. Once the potatoes are done, increase the heat in the oven to 450 degrees F. Slice the potatoes lengthwise. Scoop out most of the center, leaving a bit around the edges to stuff. You can discard this or save it to use in soup, salads, etc - whatever you want!
  7. Brush or spray the insides of the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them in the oven to 10 minutes - this really helps them get crispy and delicious!
  8. Remove the potatoes and top with the smoked cheddar and caramelized onions. Place the sheet back in the oven for 5 minutes, just so the cheese melts.
  9. Top with the scallions, bacon and a drizzle of homemade ranch. Enjoy!
homemade ranch
  1. Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until pureed and combined. This will make more than you need. Store in the fridge in a sealed container and use for salads or dipping. This lasts for about a week!