Description
Crispy potato skins cradle creamy twice baked potato bites, a delightful appetizer that combines rich flavors and textures. Small bites pack serious comfort, perfect for gatherings where friends share delicious moments together.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 15 small baby potatoes (about 1.5 lbs / 680 g)
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (60 g) cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup (60 g) green onions or chives, finely chopped
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Binding and Topping Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Extra shredded cheese
- Crumbled bacon
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet for crisp potato cooking.
- Coat baby potatoes with olive oil, seasoning generously with salt and black pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Roast potatoes for 20-25 minutes until fork-tender, ensuring a soft interior and slightly crisp exterior.
- Allow potatoes to cool briefly, then carefully halve each one using a sharp knife.
- Delicately hollow out potato centers with a melon baller, creating small edible vessels while preserving thin potato walls.
- Transfer potato flesh to a mixing bowl, preparing for flavor transformation.
- Combine scooped potato with sour cream, cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and additional salt.
- Mash ingredients thoroughly until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency with evenly distributed flavors.
- Refill potato shells meticulously with the prepared mixture, ensuring precise and attractive presentation.
- Optional: Sprinkle extra cheese and bacon crumbles atop each potato bite for additional richness.
- Return filled potatoes to the oven, baking 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and tops turn golden brown.
- Finish with fresh green onion garnish and optional sour cream dollop for visual appeal and complementary flavor.
- Serve immediately while warm, presenting a delightful appetizer or side dish.
Notes
- Potato Selection Matters: Choose uniform-sized baby potatoes for consistent cooking and a beautiful presentation.
- Crispy Skin Technique: Ensure potatoes are completely dry before tossing with oil to achieve maximum crispiness during baking.
- Filling Flexibility: Swap out traditional ingredients for dietary needs like using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or turkey bacon for a lighter version.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare potato bites up to the second baking stage and refrigerate, then finish baking just before serving for easy entertaining.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 245 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg