Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Air fryer smashed potatoes are crispy, crunchy and perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce, Fluffy on the inside and so crispy on the outside, these are the potatoes to make when you are craving something different for dinner.
Although these may take a few more steps than just chopping up a potato and roasting it in the air fryer, trust me when I say it’s worth the effort! Since the potatoes are boiled first, they retain a super moist, fluffy interior while getting incredibly crunchy on the outside. Perfect as a side dish, snack or super fun appetizer.
If you love making potatoes in the air fryer, you have to try these Air Fryer Baby Potatoes or Air Fryer Potato Cubes next!
Smashed potatoes just hit differently. If you have been in a dinner rut, I highly recommend trying these out! There are just 4 simple ingredients you likely have on hand and they are easy to make. Just boil, smash and “fry” in the air fryer!
Don’t just serve these for dinner, they go great with eggs in the morning for breakfast or brunch or as a side dish for that sandwich at lunch time! You can even change the spices on the potatoes, making them super versatile and flavorful!
These healthy smashed air fryer potatoes are vegan, gluten free, and Whole30 and are better for you than pan fried since you use less oil in the air fryer. Once you make these once, you are going to want to have them at every meal!
Ingredients
- Baby potatoes – baby potatoes are best. They have thin skin and are easy to cook whole.
- Olive oil – the olive oil helps to coat the potatoes to make them crispy and also helps the spices to stick to the potatoes. You can also use avocado oil, melted coconut oil, melted ghee or butter.
- Spices: Salt, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes (optional) – these simple spices just help to elevate the flavors of the air fryer smashed potatoes. If you want to add more flavor, check out the other options below.
How to make air fryer smashed potatoes
Cook the potatoes in water: Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with water. Once boiling, cook 10-12 minutes until fork tender.
Drain the water and smash the potatoes: Once potatoes are fork tender, move them to a cutting board or baking sheet and smash with a flat bottomed glass or bowl.
Coat in oil and spices: Combine the olive oil, salt and garlic powder in a bowl. Drizzle over the potatoes until they are well coated.
Air fry the potatoes: Place the potatoes in an air fryer basket. Try not to let the potatoes overlap. Cook at 400F for 13 minutes. Pause after 9 minutes to flip the potatoes. Continue cooking 3-4 minutes.
Repeat with the rest of the potatoes. Note that the second batch may not take as long as the first since the air fryer is preheated.
Top tips
- Cook the potatoes in the instant pot, on stove or in the air fryer until they are fork tender before smashing them.
- I recommend brushing the oil and spices on the potatoes instead of stirring them in a bowl. If you try to stir the potatoes in a mixing bowl to coat them with oil and spices, they will start to fall apart.
- For the best presentation, put them in a single layer where they don’t overlap much and turn them with silicone tipped tongs. If you overcrowd the basket, shake the basket regularly and prepare for the potatoes to break.
- Every air fryer is different, so you may want to start checking your potatoes at around 10 minutes cooking time.
- When cooking in batches, the second batch will take less time because the air fryer is preheated. The second batch will likely need 1-2 minutes less when baking.
- Wait to add any fresh herbs until after cooking in the air fryer. You run the risk of burning the herbs due to the high heat.
Other flavor ideas
- Ranch – add 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley and 1/2 teaspoon dried dill to the salt, garlic powder and olive oil
- Smoky – add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika along with the salt and garlic powder
- Spicy – add up to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. You can also add 1 tablespoon sriracha to the olive oil.
- Cajun – add 1/2 tablespoon cajun seasoning along with the salt and garlic powder to the olive oil
- Greek – add 1 teaspoon italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano to the other spices
What is the best dipping sauce
The best part of these crispy air fryer smashed potatoes is dipping them in sauce and enjoying the contrast between the crispy crunchy potatoes and the creamy sauce. Here are some of my favorite sauces to use:
What to serve with smashed potatoes
- Serve with Ranch Chicken Bites, Italian Chicken Cubes or Oven Roasted Chicken Drumsticks and your favorite veggie
- Make it a meatless meal by serving with Vegan Lentil Loaf or Mushroom Lentil Loaf and your favorite veggies
Common questions
What are the best potatoes to make smashed potatoes
Baby potatoes are best for making smashed potatoes because they have thin skin and are the perfect size for smashed potatoes. Baby gold potatoes, baby red potatoes or a mixture of red, yellow and purple baby potatoes work well.
Note: If you only have larger potatoes on hand, cut them in half or quarters so they will be closer to that baby potato size.
Can you make smashed potatoes in the air fryer from start to finish?
Yes, instead of boiling the potatoes, cook the baby potatoes whole in the air fryer at 390F for 20 minutes or until fork tender (you can start checking at 15 minutes).
Once fork tender, remove the potatoes from the air fryer basket and smash them then follow the rest of the instructions as stated from this point.
How to cook baby potatoes in the instant pot
To make cook the baby potatoes in the instant pot before smashing them:
- Add a trivet to the bottom of the instant pot insert. Add 1 cup of water (2 cups for a 8qt).
- Put the potatoes on the trivet and close the lid.
- Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Manually release pressure.
- Remove potatoes from the instant pot and smash. Follow the rest of the instructions as written for the recipe.
Do you have to peel potatoes before smashing them?
No need to peel the potatoes before cooking them. Smashed potatoes are great because you literally smash the entire potatoes, with the skin and all. The skin on baby potatoes is incredibly thin and soft.
Since you are not peeling your potatoes, it’s important to wash the outside before cooking. Also, because you will be eating the skin, this can be a time where if you can afford organic potatoes, it would be preferred.
Can you boil the potatoes in advance?
Yes! Air fryer smashed potatoes are a great use for potatoes that have been boiled then cooled (up to 3 days in advance).
How to make smashed potatoes in the oven
- Start by cooking the potatoes on the stove or in the instant pot to soften them to fork tender.
- Smash the potatoes, coat them with spices and oil and place them on a baking sheet.
- Roast the potatoes at 425F for 20 minutes. Take them out of the oven, flip the potatoes and cook 10-15 more minutes until both sides are crispy.
Storing leftovers
- Fridge: Store leftover air fryer smashed potatoes in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: You can freeze leftovers in the freezer for up to 6 months. Be sure to defrost in the fridge then reheat in the air fryer for best texture.
How to reheat leftover smashed potatoes
- Air Fryer – reheat in 350F oven for 4-5 minutes until warmed through and crispy.
- Oven – reheat in 400F oven for 7-10 minutes until warmed through and crispy.
- Stovetop – preheat skillet over medium to medium high heat. Add some oil (avocado oil, olive oil) and the potatoes. Cook until crispy on the outside.
- Microwave – microwave 1-1:30 until warmed through. The potatoes won’t be crispy.
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds baby potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes. Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with water.
- Cover the pot and bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, cook for 12-15 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the water from the potatoes.
- Add potatoes to a baking sheet or cutting board. smash the potatoes with a flat-bottomed glass or bowl.
- Combine the olive oil, salt, garlic powder and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the potatoes.
- Add the smashed potatoes to the air fryer basket. Cook at 400F in air fryer for 14 minutes. After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and flip the potatoes (use tongs).
- Repeat with the rest of the potatoes (note that the next batch will likely be done 1-2 minutes quicker since the air fryer will be preheated).
Equipment
Notes
- You can also cook the potatoes in the instant pot or air fryer instead of the stove. See post for details.
- I recommend brushing the oil and spices on the potatoes instead of stirring them in a bowl. If you try to stir the potatoes in a mixing bowl to coat them with oil and spices, they will start to fall apart.
- For the best presentation, put them in a single layer where they don’t overlap much and turn them with silicone tipped tongs. If you overcrowd the basket, shake the basket regularly and prepare for the potatoes to break.
- Every air fryer is different, so you may want to start checking your potatoes at around 10 minutes cooking time.
- The second batch will need less time in the air fryer because it’s preheated. Cook 1-2 minutes less.
- Wait to add any fresh herbs to the potatoes until after cooking in the air fryer. You run the risk of burning the herbs due to the high heat.
- Ranch – add 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley and 1/2 teaspoon dried dill to the salt, garlic powder and olive oil
- Smoky – add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika along with the salt and garlic powder
- Spicy – add up to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. You can also add 1 tablespoon sriracha to the olive oil.
- Cajun – add 1/2 tablespoon cajun seasoning along with the salt and garlic powder to the olive oil
- Greek – add 1 teaspoon italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano to the other spices
