What if you could make a loaded baked potato at home, in the air fryer, that tastes just like it came from a steakhouse restaurant? Well, you can! And I’ll show you how easy it is.

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I am always on the lookout for ways to quicken my time in the kitchen, and so one of my very favorite gadgets over the past few years has been my air fryer. I would be lost without it. I use it on a regular basis. It’s probably fair to say it gets used daily.

I love discovering recipes I have been making for years, I actually enjoy much more being made in the air fryer. This is one of those recipes.

What are the Best Potatoes for Baking?

Baked potatoes, sometimes referred to as jacket potatoes, can be dressed up with many different variations. Butter, cheese, sour cream, and gravy come to mind, but my very favorite way to enjoy a baked potato is to stuff it with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream, and chives.

Russett potatoes are perfect for baking since they have a thick skin that crisps nicely when cooked, while the inside will remain fluffy.

How to Make Loaded Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Ingredients:

4 large baking potatoes
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
6 strips of bacon, cooked, crumbled
3 tbsp fresh scallions or chives, finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
½ cup sour cream, optional

Tools Needed:
Air fryer

You’ll want to begin by giving the potatoes a good scrubbing. The skin on the potatoes is full of fiber – but it’s also full of dirt. Yuck.

Pre-heat your air fryer to 400°. While that’s warming up, drizzle each potato with a little olive oil. Spread the oil with your hands until potatoes are well coated and pierce each potato with a fork several times to vent, then sprinkle with sea salt.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer. Make sure to leave space between potatoes for the air to circulate. Cook for 40 minutes or until they become fork-tender. The exact time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes.

Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let cool for several minutes.

In a small bowl, combine cheese with the cooked and crumbled bacon. If you don’t have leftover bacon to use, you can grab a quick box of pre-cooked bacon.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut an oval-shaped opening into the top of potatoes. Fluff the inside and mix a pat of butter into each potato.

Divide the cheese and bacon and stuff inside the potatoes. Place them back into the air fryer for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Sprinkle with fresh chives and serve with sour cream, if desired. 

What goes better with a loaded steakhouse potato than a steak? Be sure to check out my recipe for an Air Fryer Sirloin Steak.

Other air fryer recipes you may enjoy:

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Pork Chops
Air Fryer Meatballs
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

You’re going to love these baked potatoes that are perfectly made in the air fryer and stuffed with cheese and bacon, then topped with sour cream and chives. A satisfying side dish that could easily be a meal by itself.

Have you tried these loaded baked potatoes? Let me know in the comments below.