Name: Pizza Potato Skins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4 Baking Potatoes; 2 TBSP Olive Oil; ½ tsp Italian Seasoning (plus more for topping); ½ C Shredded Cheddar Cheese; 1 ½ C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese; 24 Pepperoni Slices (3 per potato skin); Pizza Sauce (optional, for dipping); Fresh Parsley (optional, chopped for garnish)

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I love when a recipe can be both a party appetizer and a comfort food dinner side. These Pizza Potato Skins hit both marks perfectly. They’re crispy on the outside, cheesy in the middle, and loaded with pepperoni so you get that pizza flavor in every single bite.

A large baked potato sliced in half on a wooden surface, with a red-handled knife lying nearby. The inside of the potato looks soft and flaky.

Why You’ll Love These Pizza Potato Skins

There’s something about baked potatoes and pizza toppings that just works. The pizza potato skins get nice and crisp while the centers stay tender, and then you load them up with a little cheddar for that sharp flavor and a heavy pinch of mozzarella for that gooey pull. Add pepperoni and a touch of Italian seasoning, and you’ve basically turned your favorite slice into the ultimate handheld snack.

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I like that they’re simple too. You don’t need a bunch of fancy tools or ingredients, just some potatoes, cheese, and a steady heat source. They’re perfect for game day, movie night, or any backyard hangout when you want something fun and easy to serve.

Ingredients and Tools

You’ll need baking potatoes, olive oil, Italian seasoning, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni slices. Fresh parsley is optional, but it adds a little pop of color when you serve. Pizza sauce or ranch both make great dipping options.

A bottle of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed Pizza Everything Seasoning lies on its side in front of a baking tray with halved potatoes topped with shredded cheese and seasoning. — Get the Seasoning on Amazon

For tools, all you really need is a sharp knife, a spoon for scooping, and either your oven or grill set up for steady heat around 425°F. If you have a wire rack, that helps crisp the skins evenly, but a baking sheet works fine too.

How to Make Pizza Potato Skins

Start by preheating your oven or grill to 425°F. Wash and dry your potatoes, then poke each one a few times with a fork. Bake them for about an hour, or until tender enough to pierce easily.

Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a little bit behind so the skins hold their shape. Brush each skin with olive oil and season with Italian seasoning.

Pizza Potato skins on a baking tray topped with shredded mozzarella cheese and slices of pepperoni, with some cheese scattered on the tray.

Flip them cut-side down and bake again for about 10 minutes to get that first layer of crispiness. Then flip them back over and sprinkle a little shredded cheddar into each one. Grab a heavy three-finger pinch of mozzarella and pile it on top until each potato boat is full.

Top each one with three pepperoni slices and another light sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Return to the oven or grill and bake another 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and just starting to brown at the edges.

Serving Tips and Variations

Let them cool for a few minutes before serving so the cheese sets slightly. I like to serve these pizza potato skins with a side of warm pizza sauce for dipping, but ranch dressing works surprisingly well too. The combination of crispy skin and creamy cheese makes them perfect for dunking.

If you want to mix it up, try adding a few slices of jalapeño, crumbled sausage, or even diced bell peppers before the final bake. You can turn this same method into mini loaded potato pizzas with whatever toppings you love.

Halved potatoes on a baking tray, topped with shredded cheese and pepperoni slices, being cooked on a grill.

Recipe Notes and Pro Tips

For best results, choose medium-sized potatoes so they crisp evenly and stay sturdy enough to hold the toppings. Don’t skip the second bake step before adding the cheese - it’s what makes the skins perfectly crispy.

If you’re cooking these on a grill, keep the heat steady and cook them indirectly so the bottoms don’t burn. A cast iron pan or baking tray works great for holding them while they cook.

Wrap-Up

Pizza Potato Skins are one of those recipes that everyone ends up loving. They’ve got that classic pizza flavor in a crispy, salty potato shell that’s just plain fun to eat. Whether you’re serving them up for a big game, a family dinner, or a backyard hangout, these will disappear fast.

Once you make them, you’ll probably start thinking of all the different ways to top them - BBQ chicken, bacon and jalapeño, or even a veggie version. But honestly, the simple pepperoni version is hard to beat. It’s everything you want in comfort food, all in one crispy bite.

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