Game-Day-Ready Spicy Potato Skins Recipe

In 1974, T.G.I. Friday's gave birth to the potato skin. That timeworn combination of potato, Cheddar, and bacon has since made its rounds across the menus of America, infiltrating nearly every pocket of this country with hypercaloric, frighteningly fatty facsimiles. Now, it's become a classic for game-day treats and happy hours alike, and like many classic American food favorites, it's filled with high calories. We'll take our lower-calorie version—true to the original, but with a few delicious twists—any day.

Nutrition: 310 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 490 mg sodium

Serves 4

You'll Need

4 small russet potatoes
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup 2% milk
2 Tbsp butter
1⁄2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish
4 scallions, chopped, plus more for garnish
1⁄2 Tbsp minced chipotle pepper
1⁄4 cup sour cream
6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pickled jalapeños, optional6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

How to Make It

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Rub the potatoes with a bit of olive oil and lightly salt the skins.
3. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until tender.
4. Cut the potatoes in half, and when cool enough to handle, carefully scoop out the warm flesh into a bowl (leave a thin layer of potato intact around the skin to help prevent it from tearing).
5. Add the milk, butter, cheese, and scallions, and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Preheat the broiler.
7. Carefully scoop the mashed potatoes into the hollowed-out potato halves.
8. Top with a bit of extra cheese, and place under the broiler until the tops are brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.
9. Mix the chipotle with the sour cream, and place a dollop on top of each cooked potato.
10. Finish each with a bit of crumbled bacon and jalapeños.

Eat This Tip

Truth be told, while these potato skins are a vast improvement on the kind offered by Friday's and their ilk, you could make some improvements by folding any of dozens of different vegetables and healthy flavor additions into the formula outlined here. Simply replace the bacon, Cheddar, and sour cream with the following, and let your cooking creativity come to life.

• Steamed broccoli and Parmesan
• Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped olives, artichoke hearts, and pesto
• Caramelized onions and goat cheese
• Chicken, asparagus, and roasted red peppers