Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato Skins
Who’s ready for game day? These buffalo chicken stuffed potato skins combine to popular game day foods – buffalo wings and potato skins – for a handheld appetizer that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
You can feel a little better about serving them for your game day spread too, no fried foods required.
Nutrition Tip: Potatoes have more potassium than bananas, and contrary to what you might’ve heard, there’s fiber in the skin AND the flesh. They’ve even got some protein and iron (and just 110 calories for a whole medium potato).
Why You Should Make These Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato Skins
Potato skins are often considered an excellent party food for several reasons:
- Versatility: They can be customized with various toppings to suit different tastes.
- Finger food: Easy to eat without utensils, making them ideal for mingling.
- Crowd-pleasing: Generally liked by many people, including vegetarians if prepared without meat.
- Filling: The combination of potato and toppings can be quite satisfying.
- Cost-effective: Potatoes are relatively inexpensive, especially when bought in bulk.
- Easy to prepare: They can be made ahead of time and reheated.
- Shareable: Their size makes them perfect for sharing and sampling.
- Comfort food: They have a nostalgic appeal for many people.
Russet Potatoes are Best for These Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato Skins
Russet potatoes are widely regarded as the ideal choice for potato skin recipes due to their unique characteristics. Their large, oblong shape provides ample surface area for toppings, while their fluffy, mealy interior creates a delightful contrast with the crispy skin. Russets boast a thicker, sturdier skin that withstands the rigors of cooking and handling, and their neutral, slightly earthy flavor serves as an excellent canvas for various toppings without overwhelming them. The high starch content and lower moisture level of russet potatoes contribute to achieving that desirable crispy texture when baked or fried. Additionally, their texture makes them easier to hollow out, creating a robust “boat” for fillings. From a nutritional standpoint, the skin of russet potatoes is rich in fiber and other beneficial nutrients, adding to their appeal as a party food option.
If you used a different potato variety for a potato skin recipe, you’d likely notice several differences in the outcome:
Using waxy potatoes like red potatoes or Yukon Golds would result in a less crispy skin and a denser, creamier interior. These potatoes have lower starch content and higher moisture, making it harder to achieve that classic crispy texture. The skins might become chewy rather than crisp.
The shape and size of other potato varieties could pose challenges as well. Smaller potatoes would yield tiny skins that are harder to fill and eat. Round potatoes might not create the boat-like shape that’s ideal for holding toppings.
Flavor-wise, some varieties like fingerling or purple potatoes have distinctive tastes that might compete with or alter the flavor profile of your toppings.
The skin of other varieties may be thinner and more delicate, potentially tearing or falling apart during preparation or eating.
Scooping out the interior could be more difficult with waxier potatoes, as they don’t have the fluffy texture of russets.
While the dish would still be edible and potentially tasty, it would likely lose some of the characteristics that make potato skins a popular party food – the crispy texture, sturdy shape, and neutral base for toppings.
Commonly Asked Questions About Our Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato Skins
Q: What are the main components of these Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potato Skins?
A: The main components are russet potatoes, shredded chicken mixed with buffalo sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and blue cheese dressing.
Q: How long does it take to prepare and cook Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potato Skins?
A: The total time is about 1 hr 10 minutes – 10 minutes prep and 1 hr cooking.
Q: How many Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potato Skins does this recipe make?
A: This recipe makes 12 servings.
Q: What is the recommended oven temperature for baking?
A: The oven should be preheated to 400°F.
Q: Can these be prepared ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can prepare the potato skins and filling ahead of time and bake just before serving.
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato Skins
Ingredients
- 6 small-to-medium RPE Inc. russet potatoes
- 1 ½ cups cooked shredded chicken breast
- 2-3 tablespoons buffalo sauce
- ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Litehouse® Homestyle Blue Cheese dressing
- 2 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Prick potatoes several times with a fork. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes per potato, set aside to cool. Alternatively, prick potatoes with fork and place on baking sheet. Bake 45-60 minutes in 400F oven or until tender. Let cool.
- Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out inside of potato (this can be mixed with toppings or saved for another dish, like mashed potatoes). Spray skins cooking spray and place back on baking sheet.
- Mix chicken and buffalo sauce. Add to potato skin halves and top with cheese. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until heated through and cheese melts. Top with blue cheese dressing and green onions.