Loaded Sweet Potato Skins with BBQ, Bacon, and Cheese

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Loaded Sweet Potato Skins feature a mouthwatering fusion of BBQ, Bacon, and Cheese in this crowd-pleasing, hearty appetizer! This versatile recipe is perfect for game nights, feeding the whole family, or enhancing your holiday meals!

The next time you have the chance to bring a sharable dish or host family and friends, put this easy and delicious recipe at the top of your list!

These BBQ and bacon sweet potato skins are inspired by a restaurant I once visited in Nashville. See the Behind the Recipe section above the recipe card for the full story!

I have plenty more recipes inspired by delicious restaurant dishes, like Copycat Cracker Barrel Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie, Better-than-Red-Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and fan-favorite Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe!

Ingredient notes

BBQ Sauce

• Ketchup | Add your favorite ketchup to the mix as a classic staple to BBQ sauce.
• Brown sugar | Sweeten the tangy barbecue sauce with rich brown sugar — light or dark will do.
• Vinegar | Give the BBQ sauce that signature tanginess with white wine vinegar.
• Worcestershire sauce | Bring savory notes with delicious Worcestershire sauce.
• Seasoning | Sprinkle in paprika and cayenne pepper to complete the homemade BBQ sauce.

Sweet Potato Skins

• Sweet potatoes | Use medium sweet potatoes for this recipe. Larger or smaller ones will also work but may increase or reduce the cooking time, depending on their size.
• Syrup | A drizzle of sweet maple syrup on these potato skins puts the recipe over the top — it’s absolutely delicious with BBQ meat and bacon bits!
• Turkey or chicken | Use shredded or chopped smoked turkey or chicken. They can be filled with BBQ meat, but I chose smoked turkey inspired by a local restaurant. 

• BBQ sauce | Toss the meat with BBQ sauce, either homemade or bottled, and save a bit extra for drizzling at the end.
• Cheese | I like shredded white cheddar cheese, but regular cheddar cheese or another pick will do the trick!
• Bacon | Crumble fried crisp bacon for a delicious addition to the sweet potato skins. 
• Sour cream | Sour cream or any other dipping sauce is optional for serving.

How to make The Best Loaded Sweet Potato Skins

Make delicious and easy BBQ sweet potato skins with smoked chicken or turkey in no time at all! Just be sure to have a napkin in hand!

STEP 1 |  Preheat and prep

First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees, measure, and whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.

STEP 2 | Cook the sweet potatoes

Then, wash, gently scrub the sweet potatoes, and trim the ends to allow steam to escape. Do not prick the potatoes. Cook the potatoes in the microwave for 7 to 8 minutes or until tender. 

Place the potato skins on a foil-lined baking sheet and gently prick or fluff the pulp in each sweet potato peel with a fork. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on each, then drizzle with 1/4 teaspoon of maple syrup.

STEP 3 | Chop the meat

Now, take the turkey or chicken and chop it into small pieces. Set that aside until ready to assemble. Combine the turkey or chicken with the barbecue sauce.

STEP 4 | Assemble the sweet potatoes

Evenly divide the meat on top of each potato skin. Top the meat layer by sprinkling with cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon all over.

STEP 5 | Bake and serve!

Slip the rimmed baking sheet onto the top oven rack and bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Remove the baking tray and serve the loaded potatoes right away! Don’t forget to dip them into sour cream! 

Variations and substitutions

• Russet Potatoes. This roasted side dish or entre is just as tasty when made with russet potatoes instead.
• Loaded Baked Sweet Potato. If preferred, try baking the sweet potatoes whole, slicing the middle, and stuffing the inside with the BBQ meat and other tasty toppings.
• Load ‘em Up! Add more of your favorite toppings, like black beans, bell pepper, sweet corn, kidney beans, garlic powder, sliced green onions, or a sprinkle of black pepper. If you’re serving a crowd, consider putting all the optional toppings in small bowls to make a fun toppings bar!
• If desired, make this recipe with purple sweet potatoes instead of standard ones.
• Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for dipping if preferred.

Storage and reheating tips

• Leftover potato skins may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about four days.
• I don’t suggest reheating them in the microwave, if avoidable, but they warm nicely in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

This potato skins recipe is a fantastic appetizer for sports fans or as a side dish for a weeknight dinner. I especially love to make this recipe the star of the show!

As a main dish, serve the recipe with Crunchy Oven-Fried Okra, Fried Green Tomatoes and Mustard Dipping Sauce, or a light and refreshing Wedge Salad with Crispy Fried Shallots.

Behind the recipe: Crispy Sweet Potato Skins Recipe

A while back, we were visiting our girls in Nashville and enjoyed Saturday brunch at The Row, a 30-year-old establishment in the heart of Vanderbilt.

For some reason, I really wasn’t in the mood for typical breakfast food, so their Sweet Potato Skins caught my eye. They were delicious! I enjoyed them so much that I decided to recreate them at home.

There are so many cool places in Nashville, and The Row is definitely one of them. Full of history, The Row is adorned with murals featuring some of Nashville’s country music legends on the walls behind the cushy booths.

At brunch, we were surrounded by the story of songwriter Curly Putman, who is famous for writing Green, Green Grass of Home, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, and He Stopped Loving Her Today.

The Row also boasts that within their walls, the famous Brooks & Dunn met, and Earl Bud Lee sold the rights to Garth Brook’s Friends in Low Places for a bar tab. How cool is that?!