Loaded Sweet Potato Skins With Candied Bacon and a Spicy Basil Cream Sauce
Sweet, savory, salty, and spicy, these loaded sweet potato skins with candied bacon and creamy basil sauce are a flavor explosion in every bite.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: potatoes
Ingredients
Loaded Sweet Potato Skins
4medium sweet potatoes
1tbspolive oil
pinchKosher salt
1cupshredded sharp cheddar cheese
5stripscandied bacon, cooked and diced
drizzlecreamy basil sauce
chives, chopped for garnish
Candied Bacon
1/2poundthick-cut bacon
1/4cupbrown sugar
freshly cracked black pepper
Spicy Creamy Basil Sauce
1handfulbasil leaves
1jalapeno pepper, chopped
1/2cupplain Greek yogurt
2tsphoney
2tspwhite wine vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Loaded Sweet Potato Skins
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Wash and dry each sweet potato and set aside.
4 medium sweet potatoes
Drizzle olive oil over each sweet potato. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Pierce each sweet potato a few times with a fork. Place the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet and bake for 40-50 minutes. Once finished cooking, allow to cool before handling.
1 tbsp olive oil, pinch Kosher salt
Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, scoop out the sweet potato flesh, leaving a layer of sweet potato inside. TIP: save the scooped-out sweet potatoes to make sweet potato mashed potatoes for another day.
Place the potato skins back on the baking sheet face up and sprinkle the potatoes with cheddar cheese and candied bacon. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve with the spicy basil cream sauce and chopped chives.
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 5 strips candied bacon, cooked and diced, chives, chopped for garnish, drizzle creamy basil sauce
Easy Candied Bacon
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with foil or add a wire rack to the baking sheet.
Arrange the bacon slices on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the bacon with brown sugar and freshly cracked black pepper. Pat the brown sugar into the bacon so it sticks. Bake for 25 minutes
1/2 pound thick-cut bacon, 1/4 cup brown sugar, freshly cracked black pepper
Remove from the oven and serve.
Spicy Basil Cream Sauce
Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.
1 handful basil leaves, 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 tsp honey, 2 tsp white wine vinegar, salt and pepper, to taste
Notes
Note: you can store the candied bacon in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.Note: leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.