Taco Tater Skins

T is for Taco and Taters!

This year I'm participating in a bi-weekly challenge with some blogging friends to post recipes using all of the letters in the alphabet. It can feature a food that begins with the letter of the week or the recipe name can contain the week's letter.

I love potatoes in all its forms but whenever we go out and I see potato skins on the menu I have to order them. I've made them a few time at home too and when I came across these Taco Tater Skins on the Taste of Home site I knew it had to be my T recipe for the Alphabet Challenge.

First up, bake up some potatoes in the oven. Do not shortcut and do them in the microwave! After they're cooked through and cooled slightly, split them into quarters.

You can use a knife or a tomato corer to remove most of the pulp. The recipe says to leave 1/4" but I left a bit more than that.

Melt some butter in the microwave and then stir in your favorite taco seasoning mix. I live with wimps so we buy the mild. Of course, you can use homemade if you like.

Use a silicon pastry brush and spread the butter mixture onto the potato skins.

I actually liked using the corer because it made some nice grooves for that seasoned butter to sink down into. Reserve the potato pulp that you removed for another dish (I made Speedy Shepherd's Pie).

Sprinkle the skins with cheese. I used Fiesta blend, the recipe calls for cheddar. Pepper jack, Colby Jack or Montery Jack would all be awesome too.

The Taste of Home recipe uses bacon and I had planned on using that as well but I ended up having a substantial amount of taco meat left over from the previous night's dinner so I used that instead.

Bake until the cheese is melty. If you want some more color on the skins you can throw the broiler on for a bit but make sure that the cheese covers the bacon or ground beef so that it doesn't burn.

Top as desired. I used diced jalapenos and more cheese and then dipped them into some sour cream mixed with salsa. My guys just piled on more cheese because again, not fans of spicy.

Thank you again to Wendy for hosting the 2024 Alphabet Challenge and to the other bloggers for sharing their recipes this week! Check them out using the links down below! You can see all of the recipes I've made for the challenge here- Alphabet Challenge 2024

Taco Tater Skins

Author: Jolene's Recipe Journal

Ingredients

6 large baking potatoes (about 13 ounces each)
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup shredded Fiesta blend cheese
1/2 cup leftover taco meat
Diced jalapeno pepper, salsa, Fiesta blend cheese and sour cream (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°. Scrub potatoes; pierce several times with a fork. Place on a baking sheet; bake until tender, 60-70 minutes. Cool slightly. Reduce oven setting to 350°.
Cut potatoes lengthwise into quarters; remove pulp, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (save pulp for another use). Mix melted butter and seasoning; brush over both sides of potato skins.
Place on greased baking sheets, skin side down. Sprinkle with cheese and taco meat.
Bake until cheese is melted, 5-10 minutes. If desired, serve with jalapenos, salsa, Fiesta blend cheese and sour cream.