Crispy edges, fluffy insides – these Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are the perfect little side dish. Just so good and so simple.
These smashed potatoes are pretty much potato perfection – crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and nicely seasoned with a mix garlic, onion, salt, and cracked black pepper. We finish them off with fresh herbs for a side dish that feels just a little bit fancy without any of the fuss!
I love to serve these up for dinner, but the problem with that is I find myself sneaking potatoes straight out of the air fryer basket as I’m waiting for everyone to come make their plates. Ends up looking like 7 potatoes for me and 1 potato per person for everyone else. Seems fair…
Love these with our crispy chicken drumsticks or air fryer meatloaf.
Ingredient Notes:
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Baby Yellow Potatoes – We use 24 ounces of small yellow gold potatoes. You’ll find these in a mesh bag in just about any grocery store and they come pre-washed, which is always nice.
Herbs & Seasoning – We’re adding extra flavor with some salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cracked black pepper. Plus, fresh herbs! Parsley, chives, and basil are all excellent choices that’ll bring out more fresh flavor and add a bit of color!
Oil Spray – We like to use a good spritz of olive oil here to help crisp up the edges when air frying the smashed potatoes.
Variations – Feel free to play around with the seasonings. This garlic parm seasoning is a fun way to mix it up. Ranch seasoning is always welcome too. You can also top these with some shredded cheddar and crumbled bacon.
There are lots of things to love about these smashed potatoes but a few things stand out. The extra crispy edges are loaded with flavor and totally worth it. These are pretty easy to make too. Just boil and then smash and air fry. The skin gets nice and crispy and flavorful so no need to peel them.
And best of all you can serve these smashed potatoes with just about anything making them a versatile side dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
How to Make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes:
Add the potatoes to a saucepan and cover with cold water. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and forker tender, but not falling apart. Drain the potatoes well and arrange them on a large work surface, such as a baking sheet.
Use the bottom of a glass or mason jar to smash and flatten the potatoes on the baking sheet. Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. Arrange in an even layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to work in batches. Spray with the oil spray.
Combine the remaining teaspoon of salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper and sprinkle over the potatoes to season. Air fry at 380 for 14-15 minutes or until as crisp as you’d like.
Sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs before serving for a little pop of freshness.
Make-ahead tip – You can boil and smash the potatoes earlier in the day, then just season and air fry when you’re ready to serve. I’ve done this for dinner parties and it works great.
Storage & Reheating:
Best served fresh – These are definitely at their crispiest right out of the air fryer, but I get it – sometimes you have leftovers.
Refrigerator storage – Store any leftover smashed potatoes in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container, though they’ll lose some of that amazing crispiness.
Reheating in the air fryer – Pop them back in at 370°F for 3-4 minutes to crisp them up again. Almost like they were cooked fresh!
Skip the microwave – Trust me on this one – the microwave will make them soggy and sad. The air fryer reheat is worth the extra few minutes.
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Recipe Tips!
If you want to really cram potatoes in the air fryer, you can overlap the edges just a bit. Keep in mind, they won’t get crispy where they’re overlapping, so don’t go too crazy.
For even more crisp, gently flip the potatoes halfway through air frying and give them another spritz of oil! The oil really is key here.
Work in batches if needed. Too many potatoes at once means less crispy results. It’s honestly one of the reasons I have two air fryers.
Other Air Fryer Potato Recipes
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