Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes

Golden and crispy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, these easy air fryer potatoes are the perfect side dish for just about anything.

A handful of simple seasonings and a little olive oil give you all the comfort of old-fashioned fried potatoes without standing over a skillet.

They’re especially delicious alongside grilled chicken, burgers, steak, or a simple garden salad.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 16–22 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2–3 medium Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes

• 1–1½ tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, optional

• ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

• Chopped fresh parsley, optional

• Freshly grated Parmesan, optional

  
  

Instructions

1. Prep the potatoes. Wash the potatoes and cut them into approximately ½-inch cubes. There’s no need to peel them unless you prefer them that way.

2. Give them a quick soak. Place the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water and allow them to soak for 10–20 minutes. This helps remove some of the surface starch and encourages those delicious crispy edges.

3. Dry them well. Drain the potatoes and pat them thoroughly dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. The drier the potatoes are, the better they’ll crisp.

4. Season. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne if using.

5. Preheat the air fryer. Preheat to 400°F for approximately 3 minutes.

6. Air fry. Arrange the potatoes in the air fryer basket in as even a layer as possible. Cook at 400°F for 16–22 minutes, shaking the basket every 5–7 minutes so the potatoes brown evenly.

7. Serve. Once the potatoes are golden brown with crispy edges and tender centers, remove them from the air fryer. Taste and add a little extra salt if needed. Finish with fresh parsley or Parmesan if you’d like.

   
   

   Vine & Dandy Tip 🌿

   
   

For an air-fryer version of old-fashioned fried potatoes and onions, cut your potatoes into thin rounds instead of cubes. Air fry until they begin to brown, then toss in some thinly sliced onion for the final 7–8 minutes of cooking.

The onions caramelize around the crispy potatoes and give you that skillet-fried flavor without all the oil—or the skillet cleanup.

Make Them Your Own

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, it’s easy to change the seasonings. Try rosemary and garlic for an herby version, Cajun seasoning for a little kick, or Parmesan and Italian seasoning for a savory twist.

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