Air fryer potatoes are the perfect side dish when craving convenience and flavor. These crispy, golden-brown potatoes are seasoned with Italian spices and fragrant garlic powder and then sprinkled with shredded parmesan for a crunchy finish. The recipe uses simple ingredients and requires minimal hands-on prep– the air fryer takes care of the rest!
Whip up these easy air-fried potatoes when you need a last-minute side dish or to save time preparing weeknight dinners. The air fryer’s ability to create a crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and fluffy makes this no-fuss recipe a go-to for busy days! Plus, this recipe take less time than oven-roasted potatoes. For more air fryer recipes, try my air fryer baked potato, air fryer chicken thighs, or air fryer steak.
Ingredients
Baby Gold Yukon Potatoes — these small, creamy yellow potatoes are ideal for air frying due to their naturally buttery flavor and smooth texture. You can also substitute them with baby red potatoes, chopped russet potatoes, new potatoes, or another variety if desired.
Olive Oil — helps crisp up the outside of the potatoes and adds a rich flavor. You can also use avocado oil or vegetable oil.
Seasoning — a simple mix of Italian seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt provides a delicious flavor to the potatoes.
Parmesan Cheese — freshly grated parmesan cheese melts beautifully and turns golden on the outside of the potatoes, making them extra crispy.
Fresh Parsley — adds a burst of color and a hint of freshness to the finished dish. Chop it finely and garnish the potatoes right before serving.
How To Make Air Fryer Potatoes
1. Cut the baby potatoes in half or quarters to make even pieces, about 1 inch in size.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the potato pieces with the olive oil and toss to combine.
3. Add the salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese to the potatoes.
4. Toss the potatoes until they are evenly covered in the dried spice mixture.
5. Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry the potatoes at 400°F for 10 minutes.
6. Open the air fryer and shake the basket to move the potatoes around. Gently return them to a single layer. Cook for 8 more minutes, until golden and crispy on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside. Sprinkle with parsley to garnish. Serve immediately.
Seasoning Variations
These air-fried potatoes are so versatile! A simple blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder can be perfect, but you can also spice them up however you like to go with your meal.
- Simple: Skip the Italian seasoning and garlic, and just use olive oil, salt, and pepper for a classic flavor.
- Extra Cheesy: For extra cheesy goodness, increase the amount of parmesan cheese or add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese during the last few minutes of air frying.
- Smoky: Add ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika, chili powder, or chipotle powder.
- Herbaceous: Swap the Italian seasoning with dried oregano or rosemary for an earthier, herbal flavor. Or top the finished potatoes with a mix of chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, chives, or tarragon, for a fragrant garnish.
- Zesty: To add a bright, citrusy flavor, garnish the air-fried potatoes with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest before serving.
What to Serve with Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes
These crispy parmesan potatoes are a delicious side dish that pairs well with various savory dishes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Serve alongside eggs Benedict, eggs in purgatory, or a breakfast casserole for brunch, or enjoy them with air-fried salmon or roasted chicken for dinner. You can even toss the potatoes in the drippings after cooking air fryer whole chicken (in place of olive oil) and make a delicious meal all in the air fryer!
How to Store and Reheat Air Fried Potatoes
Allow leftover potatoes to cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350ºF for 4-7 minutes until warmed through and re-crisped.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Potatoes
- Leave the skins on. Keeping the skins on the potatoes adds the necessary texture to create the perfect outer crispiness.
- Cut the potatoes evenly. For the best results, cut the potatoes into even, 1-inch pieces to ensure they cook at the same rate. This makes tender, crispy potatoes every time.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the potatoes in an even layer in the air fryer basket so they can crisp evenly. If needed, cook them in several batches.
- Preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer model recommends it, preheat the air fryer before starting the recipe. Doing so will bring it to peak temperature when you add the potatoes, helping them to cook evenly and achieve a perfect golden brown crispiness.
- Shake the basket halfway through. To ensure all sides of the potatoes get crispy, shake the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time. This moves them around and also prevents them from sticking or cooking unevenly.
- Serve immediately. For the best flavor and texture, serve the air-fried potatoes while they’re still hot and crispy. If they sit too long, they can lose their crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Soaking isn’t necessary but can help make the potatoes extra crispy by removing excess starch. If you have the time, soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 15-30 minutes, then dry them thoroughly before seasoning and air frying.
The potatoes are done when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and give easily when pierced with a fork.
Yes, you can air fry frozen potatoes in a pinch, though fresh is best for texture. Start cooking the potatoes from frozen and simply increase the cooking time for frozen potatoes by a few minutes at the beginning, then shake the basket and continue cooking until golden and crispy.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Potato recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby Yukon gold potatoes (450g)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (14g)
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cut each potato in half or quarters to make even pieces, about 1-inch in size.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir to combine the potatoes with the olive oil.
- To the bowl with the potatoes, add the salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Toss well to coat the potatoes evenly with the dried spice mixture.
- In the basket of an air fryer, place the potatoes in a single layer. Air fry the potatoes at 400°F for 10 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and shake the basket to move the potatoes around, then return them to a single layer. Cook for 8 more minutes, until golden and crispy on the outside, and tender and fluffy on the inside.
- Sprinkle with parsley to garnish. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Leave the skins on. Keeping the skins on the potatoes adds the necessary texture to create the perfect outer crispiness.
- Cut the potatoes evenly. For the best results, cut the potatoes into even, 1-inch pieces to ensure they cook at the same rate. This makes tender, crispy potatoes every time.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the potatoes in an even layer in the air fryer basket so they can crisp evenly. If needed, cook them in several batches.
- Preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer model recommends it, preheat the air fryer before starting the recipe. Doing so will bring it to peak temperature when you add the potatoes, helping them to cook evenly and achieve a perfect golden brown crispiness.
- Shake the basket halfway through. To ensure all sides of the potatoes get crispy, shake the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time. This moves them around and also prevents them from sticking or cooking unevenly.
- Serve immediately. For the best flavor and texture, serve the air-fried potatoes while they’re still hot and crispy. If they sit too long, they can lose their crunch.
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