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Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato

March 8, 2024
Shanika | Orchids + Sweet Tea

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This Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato is a mouthwatering delight that combines crispy bacon with fluffy potato goodness. With endless customization options, it's a crowd-pleaser everyone will love!

Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato

Get ready to up your potato game with our Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe—where perfectly roasted potatoes meet crispy bacon, butter, and creamy sour cream. Whether it's enjoyed as a hearty side dish or a satisfying main meal, it offers the perfect blend of crispy exteriors + fluffy interiors. Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious! Dairy-free, Vegan + Oven Option.

Baked potatoes with bacon on a white plate with a fork.

Alright, listen up! I'm a die-hard potato lover—I mean, mashed, fried, or baked, you name it, I'm there. Lately, I've been living that air-fryer life, and let me tell you, it's a total game-changer. So, I decided to whip up a Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe, and oh boy, it was a hit! The air fryer not only slashes cooking time in half but also gives that irresistible crispy crunch we all crave + bacon makes everything better. Trust me, it's a potato lover's dream.

They're SO fluffy on the inside + crispy on the outside—a total win-win! I love topping them with melted butter, crispy bacon, and sour cream. But here's the best part: you can totally mix it up! Add some melty cheese or a tasty parmesan sauce for a twist. It's such a fun dish for sides or even as the main event, especially because everyone can customize it at the table. The kids absolutely love it too! And if you don't have an air fryer, no sweat—you can easily use an oven.

If you're all about potatoes like I am and love busting out the air fryer, then y'all have to try Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan French Fries, Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Jamaican Jerk Potato Wedges next! They're seriously game-changers and perfect for satisfying those cravings. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you later!

Jump to:

What Is An Air-Fryer?

An air fryer is like having a magical kitchen sidekick! Picture this: it cooks your favorite foods by swirling hot air around them, creating that crispy goodness you love without all the excess oil. From crispy fries to juicy chicken wings and more, it's a game-changer in the kitchen. My favorite is the Instant Vortex Plus, but feel free to use whatever you have. And if you don't have an air fryer, don't worry—I'll share below how to achieve delicious baked potatoes with an oven too!

Ingredients on a white marble table.

What Do Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potatoes Taste Like?

  • Crunchy outside, soft inside—a perfect combo.
  • Bursting with savory goodness
  • Crispy bacon meets fluffy potatoes.
  • Each bite is a burst of buttery flavor.
  • Seriously addictive—watch out! They'll leave you craving more!
Potatoes on a baking sheet with foil paper and olive oil.

How To Make Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potatoes

We oil our whole potatoes, give them a prick or slash to help them cook, and pop them into the air fryer. As for the bacon, you can check out my Candied Bacon recipe for the Air Fryer option. You can always candy the bacon or skip the topping ingredients and cook them plain. Then, add butter, sour cream, and any other toppings you fancy. Check out more ideas below.

Ingredients

POTATOES:

  • Russet potatoes. Russets have a high starch content and a thick skin, which helps them bake evenly and develop that fluffy interior texture that we love in baked potatoes!
  • Extra virgin olive oil. This helps to get a crispy outer and make sure it doesn't dry out.
  • Sea salt + black pepper.

OPTIONAL GARNISH:

  • Chopped bacon. See below for how to air-fry bacon.
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt.
  • Shredded cheese
  • Chopped green onions (aka scallions)
  • Butter

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS BAKED POTATO!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe. Everything from my air fryer, knives, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Chopped bacon on a cutting board with a knife.

How To Air-Fry Bacon

Air-frying bacon is simple! Here's how:

  • Place the bacon strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overlapping to ensure even cooking.
  • Cook the bacon in the air fryer for about 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon and your desired level of crispiness. Check it after 8 minutes and adjust the cooking time as needed. Keep an eye on the bacon to prevent burning. It should be extra crispy once cooled.

For this recipe, you can totally use pork or turkey bacon. Thick-cut slices are always best!

Tips For The Best Air-Fryer Potatoes

Scrub those taters - The skin is delicious when salted, so give your potatoes a good rinse before cooking to ensure they're clean and tasty.

Give 'em a poke - While it takes a few extra seconds, poking your potatoes helps prevent any messy bursts in the air fryer. Trust me, it's worth it!

Avoid overcrowding - Make sure there's plenty of room for the air to circulate around your potatoes.

Check for doneness - Stick a knife into the center of your potato—if it slides in easily, your spud is ready to go. If not, just pop it back in the air fryer for a bit longer.

Cooked potatoes on a baking sheet with foil paper.

Ideas For Air-Fryer Baked Potato Toppings

I'm a huge fan of fully loaded-baked or in this case air-fried potatoes—they're perfect as a side dish or even for dinner/lunch! Setting up a baked potato bar is always a hit, with endless topping options. Here are some of my favorites:

What Sauces Go Well With Air-Fryer Baked Potato

This easy Air-Fryer Baked Potato recipe is full of flavor all on its own. But who doesn’t love to drizzle and dip?

Serve your potato with any (or all) of these tasty condiments:

Slit baked potatoes with butter.

What To Serve With Air-Fryer Baked Potato

Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potatoes are delicious solo, but if you're pairing them with a main dish, here are some of my family's favorites:

And let's not forget about garlic bread! Having some roasted garlic bread alongside is always a hit! Haha

Baked potato on a white plate with a fork topped with bacon and sour cream.

Can I Make Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato In The Oven?

Of course, both methods of making these 'baked potatoes' are effective. However, if you’re wondering whether you’d be able to also make these potatoes in the oven—-then yes!

To make your baked potatoes in the air-frier, it's very similar to doing it in the oven. The only difference would be the cooking time and adding them to a basket versus a baking sheet. The oven will take slightly longer so keep an eye on them and poke a hole if you're unsure if they are cooked.

What The Best Type Of Potato For Baked Potato

The best type of potato for a classic baked potato is typically a russet potato. Its high starch content and thick skin help create that fluffy interior and crispy exterior that we love in baked potatoes.

However, you can use sweet potatoes for a different twist! Sweet potatoes have a sweeter flavor and a softer texture when baked, but they work wonderfully as baked potatoes too. Just keep in mind that the cooking time might vary compared to russet potatoes, so you may need to adjust accordingly. Check out my Spiced Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe!

Opened baked potato on a plate with bacon and sour cream with a fork.

Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato Q + A's

How to store leftovers?

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat, feel free to line the baked potatoes on a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat in the oven or Air Fryer at 350 degrees until warmed through. Also, reheating in the microwave is an option.

How do I know when the Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato is done?


The potato should be tender when pierced with a fork, and the bacon should be crispy. It's best to check for doneness periodically to avoid overcooking.

Can I cook multiple potatoes at once in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook multiple potatoes at once in the air fryer, but be sure not to overcrowd them. Leave enough space for the air to circulate around each potato for even cooking.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes! Just use vegan butter, and opt for vegan toppings! Instead of bacon you can use a vegan bacon, or try another plant-based option like chickpeas!

More Mouthwateringly Good Potato Recipes

If you’re a true lover of this Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe like I am (and my readers), then these other potato dishes will surely be a new staple in your house:

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

Baked potato on a white plate with a fork topped with bacon and sour cream.

Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato

March 8, 2024
5 from 2 votes
Get ready to up your potato game with our Air Fryer Bacon Baked Potato recipe—where perfectly roasted potatoes meet crispy bacon, butter, and creamy sour cream. Whether it's enjoyed as a hearty side dish or a satisfying main meal, it offers the perfect blend of crispy exteriors + fluffy interiors. Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious! Dairy-free Option.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients

POTATOES:

  • 2 medium russet potatoes, organic
  • 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

OPTIONAL GARNISH:

  • 1 cup Chopped bacon (See the Air Fryer option within the recipe)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Shredded cheese
  • Chopped green onions (aka scallions)
  • Butter

Instructions

PREP THE POTATOES:

  • Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees and lightly spray the basket with cooking spray to keep the potatoes from sticking or line a small baking sheet with parchment or foil paper.
  • Rinse and pat dry each potato and carefully poke holes all round using a fork or knife. Add each potato to the basket or baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt + black pepper.
  • Transfer the potatoes to your Air Fryer cook for 30 minutes and then flip them onto their opposite sides and cook for another 10 minutes. NOTE: Test the doneness of potatoes by seeing how soft they are. If they are tender when tested with a fork or knife then they are done.

TO MAKE THE CRISPY BACON:

  • To make the crispy bacon, you can see the Air Fryer option in my Candied Bacon recipe. You can always make the bacon candied or omit the 'topping ingredients' and just cook them without anything.

ASSEMBLY:

  • To serve, in a plate, add the cooked baked potato, slicing it halfway down lengthwise and adding your favorite toppings as desired: butter (best if added while potatoes are warm for a nice melt), sour cream or Greek yogurt, chopped bacon, chopped scallions, shredded cheese, etc .
  • Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat, feel free to line the baked potatoes on a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat in the oven or Air Fryer at 350 degrees until warmed through. Also, reheating in the microwave is an option. 

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 7mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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Xx, Shanika in script writing

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