Ingredients:

• 6-8 large baking potatoes, scrubbed and dried
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 (8 oz) block sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
• 8 – 10 oz bacon, cooked to crisp and crumbled
• for serving: sour cream, green onions, extra cheese, salsa, etc… as desired

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Poke unbaked potatoes with a knife or fork before baking. Bake potatoes until fork easily slides into potato usually about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on size of potatoes. Once potatoes are baked remove from oven and allow to cool.
2. To make potato skins – Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Cut potatoes in half horizontally. Carefully scoop out the flesh of the potato leaving about 1/4″ in the bottom and around the sides.
4. Dip each half of potato in melted butter and then place on a rimmed baking sheet. Once all potato halves are dipped in butter place in oven cooking about 10 minutes then turn them over so the bottoms crisp up.
5. Remove pan from oven and turn to broil.
6. Turn the potato halves cut side up and fill with cheese and bacon. Return the pan to the oven for 1-2 minutes until cheese is hot and bubbly and edges of the potatoes are browning and crispy. Remove potatoes from oven.
7. Serve hot with toppings as desired.