Crispy Air Fryer Red Potatoes
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Crispy and tender, Air Fryer Red Potatoes is a versatile side dish that is unbelievably easy to make. This recipe is meal prep friendly and fantastic for either breakfast or dinner.
Air frying is the best and easiest way to get all your favorite foods nice and crispy. Whether you’re making shrimp, frozen hash browns or tortilla chips, the air fryer delivers perfect results!
Why This Recipe is a Favorite
When it comes to creating crispy potatoes that are tender on the inside, there’s no method that does it better than an air fryer! From perfect homemade French fries to these air fryer red potatoes.
And the best part is, the crispy texture is achieved without using lots of oil! Not to mention, air frying is much quicker than roasting in the oven, and there’s less to clean up!
So, if you’re looking for a great side dish to pair with eggs for breakfast or chicken for dinner, this easy recipe is just the thing.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are the important mom-tested cooking tips for the crispiest air fryer red potatoes! I’ve made them countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Dice the potatoes into evenly-sized chunks so that they all finish cooking at the same time. If they’re oddly sized, then you’ll have some finish cooking before others.
- Don’t overfill the air fryer basket. The hot air needs room to circulate around the potatoes so that all sides get crispy and golden brown.
- Don’t skip rinsing the diced potatoes in water! Removing the excess starch is key to creating crispy potatoes.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Like many of my recipes, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this dish. In this case, it’s potatoes, cooking oil, and some sea salt and black pepper!
Use any kind or size of potatoes you want. I prefer red potatoes, but Yukon gold potatoes and russet will both work as well. If you’re interested, I also have a recipe for air fryer sweet potatoes.
Recipe Variations
I like to sprinkle the crispy red potatoes with fresh herbs and a drizzle of ranch, but that’s up to you! Buffalo wing sauce, fresh salsa, or everything bagel seasoning would be tasty too.
Change up the seasoning to make extra flavorful air fryer potatoes. Garlic powder and/or onion powder are simple spices that would add loads of flavor. Or, you can garnish with fresh herbs or used some dried herbs as a seasoning.
How to Make Air Fryer Red Potatoes
This is just a summary of the steps. See the recipe card for full instructions! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeBefore you start, go ahead and preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, then just turn it on for a few minutes while you prep everything.
- Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. They won’t all be the same size, but cut them as close in size as you can so they cook evenly.
- Rinse them under cold running water then dry them off. You want the red potatoes as dry as possible so they crisp up in the air fryer.
- Transfer to a bowl and season them. You can stir in the oil and seasonings, or just use your clean hands to toss everything together.
- Pour the red potatoes in air fryer basket. Avoid overfilling the basket. Depending on the size of your fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry red potatoes for 20 minutes. To ensure that they all become crispy, shake the basket or stir the taters after 10 minutes of cook time.
- Serve while warm, or let them cool so you can refrigerate or freeze them for later.
And that’s it! The seasoned potatoes come out with a super crispy exterior while still tender on the inside. It’s truly one of my favorite potato side dishes.
How to Store Leftovers
After they cool to room temperature, transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked red potatoes for up to 3 months. Just be sure store them in a freezer-safe container or storage bag.
Air Fryer Potato Recipe FAQs
Yes, it is best to pat dry your potatoes so that the oil and seasonings will stick to them. This is also a key step to ensuring that they come out perfectly crispy!
Spray the air fryer basket with some non-stick cooking spray and make sure that all potatoes have a light coating of oil. This will help prevent them from sticking to the bottom and sides of the air fryer.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Red Potatoes
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. red potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). *If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, just turn it on about 10 minutes before you add the potatoes.
- While the air fryer preheats, Set the red potatoes on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 1/2-inch.
- Add the diced potatoes to a large colander and place it in the sink under cold running water for about 2 minutes, turning them a few times.
- Lay the potatoes out on a few sheets of paper toweling and use a few more paper towels to pat them dry.
- Transfer to a large bowl. Add oil and seasonings, and stir with a spoon or toss gently with your hands to coat.
- Arrange the potatoes in the the hot air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd it. Air fry for 20 minutes, shaking the basket or using tongs to turn them over after 10 minutes. Near the end of the cook time, watch them closely to prevent them from burning.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. It’s better to cook in batches so the potatoes cook evenly and crisp up nicely.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days, per USDA.
- Reheat the cooked red potatoes in the air fryer or on a sheet pan in the oven at 350°F. until heated through.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
The red potatoes are fantastic with just about any breakfast or dinner entree. Honestly, the possibilities are endless!
For breakfast, my family likes them with hard boiled eggs. They’re also tasty in breakfast burritos and tacos. They’d make a great side with a low-calorie breakfast sandwich, too.
As a dinner side dish, the crispy red potatoes pair well with grilled chicken drumsticks, pork or beef ribs, Mexican pork chops, or even an air fryer filet mignon!
