Skinny “Overloaded” Potato Skins

Meat-and-Potatoes-Guy and I sometimes place an order for “Outrageous Potato Skins” from a nearby chain restaurant.

They’re made of crispy fried potatoes, cheese, bacon.

Completely delicious, obviously.

However.

I happened to find the nutrition listings while looking at their online menu one day.

One serving features 1,130 calories and 33 grams of saturated fat.

Oh. Ouch.

“Outrageous Potato Skins” taste slightly less delicious, knowing what I know now.

So I’ve since decided to make my own easy, tasty, healthy version.

These potato skins are most definitely “overloaded” – with cheese, bacon, seasoned ground turkey, fresh shredded cabbage, tomatoes, and sour cream.

Really, a plate, fork, and knife are needed to handle all the tastiness.

The good news: this recipe cuts way down on the saturated fat and calories, as compared to the chain restaurant variety.

These potato skins are nutritious and healthy enough to eat as an appetizer or light meal any day of the week.

The even better news: they taste so good.

Different than the greasy chain restaurant kind.

Fresher. Lighter. But equally as tasty.

This is a Meat-and-Potatoes-Guy favorite.

Here are the key ingredients for this recipe.

Quick Note: the recipe calls for shredded cabbage, and any bagged coleslaw blend will work perfectly.

Begin by preheating the oven to 550 degrees F.

Grab some large Russet potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise.

Then cut each half into four equal quarters.

Place the pieces of potato on a parchment-lined baking sheet so that the skins face upward.

Then measure a tablespoon of olive oil and brush the oil all over each of the potato skins.

Sprinkle salt and pepper over the skins too.

Then roast them in the oven until the potatoes are tender and the skins turn crisp and golden.

Set them on the counter to cool.

While the potatoes are roasting away, begin preparing the toppings…

…First, the bacon!

This is definitely not a”health food,”  but it’s possible to find a healthier bacon by reading the nutrition label:

Some types of bacon can have a ton of salt, so look for one that is low sodium.

Also, for a bacon that’s lower in fat, choose a “center cut” variety.

And obviously, eat in moderation. This recipe calls for just one strip of bacon per serving, so you can enjoy bacon without going overboard. And the potato skins also have fresh, high-nutrition veggies to balance out the dish.

There may be better ways to prepare bacon when you’re eating it plain, but for this recipe, since just a few crumbled bacon bits are sprinkled over each potato skin, I save time and work: Throw the bacon on a plate, cover with a towel, and microwave until it’s nice and crispy.

Then crumble it up. Done!

Grab a small tomato and cut it in half lengthwise. Place one half flat-side-down and cut thin strips.

Then cut in the opposite direction, dicing the tomato.

Next, prepare the sour cream mixture.

Grab a mixing bowl and add some low-fat sour cream, some low-fat plain Greek yogurt, some garlic powder, and some dried oregano.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine.

If the potatoes are cool enough to handle at this point, grab a sharp or serrated knife.

Slice off the majority of the potato, leaving just about a quarter-inch of potato, along with the skin.

Meat-and-Potatoes-Guy was in the kitchen stealing bites of roasted potatoes.

So I roped him in to demonstrate this process for the photo.

The next step is optional: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (the oven will probably already be this warm from roasting the potatoes).

Sprinkle some grated sharp cheddar cheese over the potato skins and heat in the oven for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted.

The cheese is delicious, but I actually don’t often use it.

I find the bacon, seasoned turkey, and sour cream add enough flavor, and the cheese isn’t really necessary.

Last step: Grab a sauté pan and heat a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat.

Then add some ground lean white turkey and season with a bit of salt and pepper.

Cook until the meat is browned, then add the same tasty seasonings used for the sour cream mixture: garlic powder and dried oregano.

Next, grab a big plate and load up the potato skins with toppings.

Spoon on some of the seasoned turkey.

Add some diced tomato and some shredded cabbage.

Drizzle some of the sour cream mixture over everything.

Then top with some bacon crumbles.

These potato skins are so overloaded with tasty ingredients, you’ll really need a fork and knife to eat them.

The seasoned turkey is so flavorful paired with the roasted potatoes.

The tomatoes and cabbage add freshness.

And topped off with seasoned sour cream and crispy bacon: scrumptious!

Yummy “overloaded” potato skins, guilt-free!

Here is the complete, printable recipe: