Super Bowl PigSkins - Mexican Style Baked Potato Skins

I went back and forth trying to decide what I wanted to share on the blog for the upcoming Super Bowl and before I knew it, it was already Saturday. Oops! So if you are just like me and slacked a little in prepping for the big game, I decided to change it up and go with a fast and easy savory appetizer that will please your Super Bowl guest of 2 (like me and my husband) or the whole neighborhood.

Let's be honest, Super Bowl Sunday is kind of a day to indulge in not the most healthiest of foods so of course I was inspired by one of my guilty pleasures. Something you can find in almost every taco shop in San Diego is carne asada fries. For around $6-$7, you can get a huge styrofoam platter of french fries covered in guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese, beans, and carne asada which could easily feed 2 people, making you instantly guilty but in the back of your mind, it was so worth every bite. In honor of the Super Bowl, I decided to tweak this favorite and subbed potato skins for fries and carnitas (shredded pork) for the carne asada for what I dubbed: "Pig Skins!"

Mexican-style Potato Skins aka Pig Skins

6 large Russet baking potatoes

16 oz (1lb) of pre-cooked pork carnitas

1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

1/2 cup guacamole

1/2 cup fresh salsa

olive oil
salt & black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425*F.

Wash potatoes thoroughly and pat dry. Rub olive oil on the outside of the potatoes and place on a baking sheet or sheet of foil. Baking in oven for approximately 45 minutes or until soft.

Remove potatoes from the oven and allow to cool before handling. Once cooled, cut the potatoes in half length wise. Carefully hollow out the potatoes with a spoon, leaving a thin layer inside. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the inside and outside of the potatoes then sprinkle with salt and black pepper, also on both sides. Add a pinch of shredded cheese inside the potato. Place back in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the skins are slightly crispy.

Remove from oven. Add the carnitas inside of the potato skin then add more cheese. Place in the oven until the cheese melts. Serve with your favorite toppings such as guacamole, fresh salsa, sour cream, or onion and cilantro.

Carnitas from Fresh and Easy

Sueshine Note: If you do not have access to carnitas, most stores have a precooked BBQ pulled pork package available. Change it up and add the BBQ pulled pork instead and top it with some cole slaw! Yum....yes please! Or of course, you make your own BBQ or carnitas.

So if you are in a rush to come up with an appetizer for the game tomorrow, please don't wander into your freezer aisle and grab those lame frozen potato skins. Make my super easy recipe and I'm sure everyone will coming back for more.