Pizza Potato Skins: Fusion Appetizer Everyone Will Love

Are you having trouble choosing between pizza or potato skins? Have both.

Pizza Potato Skins start out like regular potato skins, but add pizza toppings instead for a delicious fusion of a favorite appetizer and a favorite comfort food.

Delicious as an appetizer or a side dish!

Potato Skins are like pizza, you can put almost anything you want on them.

My son has recently discovered the joy that is potato skins. He wants me to make them all the time now. I guess I had never made them for him before. But, I am grateful to have something else Sir Snubs a Lot will eat.

My guys' favorite is probably still cheddar bacon potato skins, but these are a close second.

Best Potatoes for Potato Skins

I like sturdy russet potatoes best for these. Yukon gold is okay, but I find they crumble a bit.

For appetizers, I usually pull out the smallest potatoes in the bag to use for this. Not baby potatoes, the skin will be far too soft for the process.

If all you have is larger potatoes, you can cut them in half before serving for more appetizer size pieces.

However, if you are serving them as a side dish, bigger is better.

What to do with the leftover potatoes

Once you bake the potatoes and scoop out some of the middle you will have leftover.

I usually mash up the leftover potatoes with a little butter and milk while they are still warm, then pop them in the fridge for another meal.

You could use them to top shepherd's pie, turn them into potato soup, add them to bread or make some mashed potato pancakes (farls).

Permission to choose your own toppings

Use what YOU like.

If you only have slices of pepperoni instead of a chunk, use them (the mini ones would be great for this).

If you like sausage instead of pepperoni, cook some up and add that.

Use alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce.

Add veggies or mushrooms in addition to or instead of the meat.

It's Pizza and Potato Skins. Don't overthink it.

Prepare Potato Skins Ahead of Time

Who wants to wait over an hour for potato skins? Especially if you are serving them at a party.

You can easily bake the potatoes and prep them, as well as the sauce, ahead of time. Scoop out the potatoes while still warm to prevent the potato shells from breaking.

Wait to bake the shells until before serving to keep them crisp.

More Pizza Recipes from #OurFamilyTable

Pizza is such a versatile meal that can be customized to suit every taste. Try these variations:

Pizza-licious Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Pizza from The Spiffy Cookie
• Cast Iron Deep Dish Pizza from Art of Natural Living
• Chicken Pot Pie French Bread Pizza from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• French Bread Pizza from Palatable Pastime
• Italian Stromboli Recipe from Jen Around the World

We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

Recipe

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Ingredients

 

• 6 large baking potatoes (cleaned and pierced several times with a fork)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 2 cups mozzarella (shredded)
• 4 ounces pepperoni (cut into half rounds and/or chopped)
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil (julienned (cut into thin strips))

Instructions

 

• Position the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 425°F.
• Place the potatoes in the pre-heated oven and bake until cooked through, approximately 50 minutes. (You can bake in the microwave if you prefer).
• Remove potatoes from oven and transfer to a baking rack to cool for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
• While potatoes are cooling, combine the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Once cool, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the soft interior with a spoon, leaving a one-quarter inch margin around the skins.

  (Save the cooked potato filling for another recipe).
• To prepare ahead of time, stop here then continue just before serving to keep the potato skins crispy.
• Place the potato skins cut side down on a baking rack set over a baking sheet. Brush the skins with olive oil and return to the hot oven for 10 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip over the skins with tongs.
• Spread sauce in a thin layer with the back of a spoon on each skin
• Sprinkle with cheese, pepperoni, and fresh basil.
• Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
• Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes before serving.

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Until next time, happy eating!
~Audrey