Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and ready in just 20 minutes. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting them perfectly crispy every time. The golden, crispy edges and soft, creamy insides will make your family beg for more. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Cheddar Jalapeño Burgers and Easy Honey Mustard BLT Chicken Sliders.
Why This Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy edges
- Soft, fluffy insides
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Better than takeout
What You'll Need for Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 lbs baby potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder (optional)
- Parsley (for garnish)
- Optional: Shredded cheese
- Optional: Chives or green onions
- Optional: Sour cream or Greek yogurt
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Baby potatoes: Red or Yukon Gold potatoes work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Air Fryer — Crispy texture without oil → See on Amazon
- Potato Masher — Effortless mashing → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
- Prepare potatoes: Wash and cut potatoes in half. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Air fry: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Air fry potatoes for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Smash: Carefully remove potatoes from the air fryer. Use a potato masher to gently smash each potato, leaving some chunks.
- Season: Sprinkle with additional salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if using).
- Air fry again: Return potatoes to the air fryer. Air fry for another 5-10 minutes, until crispy and golden.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook potatoes in batches if needed to ensure even crisping.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, toss potatoes with minced garlic and a drizzle of olive oil before the final air frying.
- Pro tip: For a dairy-free option, skip the cheese topping and serve with a dollop of vegan sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Potatoes can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 day before air frying.
Freezing Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, use small new potatoes instead of baby potatoes.
- Best substitution: No substitutions for baby potatoes.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes above.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If potatoes are not crisping, try increasing the air frying time or adding a bit more oil before the final air frying.
Want to level up this recipe?
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Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs baby potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder (optional)
- Parsley (for garnish)
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Chives or green onions
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Prepare potatoes: Wash and cut potatoes in half. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Air fry: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Air fry potatoes for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Smash: Carefully remove potatoes from the air fryer. Use a potato masher to gently smash each potato, leaving some chunks.
- Season: Sprinkle with additional salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if using).
- Air fry again: Return potatoes to the air fryer. Air fry for another 5-10 minutes, until crispy and golden.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb option, use small new potatoes instead of baby potatoes.
- Best substitution: No substitutions for baby potatoes.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes above.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If potatoes are not crisping, try increasing the air frying time or adding a bit more oil before the final air frying.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Potatoes can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 day before air frying.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 200
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy FAQs
Yes, see storage notes above for make-ahead instructions.
Ensure you're not overcrowding the air fryer basket and that you're using enough oil. Also, try increasing the air frying time.
Yes, follow the same instructions but bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results.
No, it's best to use fresh potatoes for this recipe.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes – Quick & Easy and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
