Crispy on the outside, fluffy and tender inside, these air fryer roasted potatoes are an easy side dish that goes with almost anything!
🥔 Ingredients
- 1½ lbs baby potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, optional
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prepare the potatoes: Wash and dry the potatoes well. Cut them into roughly 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly.
- Optional soaking: For extra-crispy potatoes, soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 15–20 minutes. Drain and pat completely dry.
- Season: Add potatoes to a bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes.
- Air fry: Place potatoes in the basket in a single layer. Cook for 18–24 minutes, shaking the basket every 7–8 minutes.
- Check: Potatoes are ready when golden and crispy outside and fork-tender inside. Add another 2–4 minutes if you want them extra crispy.
- Finish: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot.
🔥 For Extra-Crispy Potatoes
- Dry the potatoes thoroughly after washing or soaking.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket—cook in batches if necessary.
- Shake the basket several times during cooking.
- Smaller pieces will cook faster and become crispier.
🌿 Easy Variations
- Garlic Parmesan: Add grated Parmesan during the final 2 minutes.
- Rosemary: Add 1 tsp dried rosemary or fresh chopped rosemary.
- Spicy: Add ¼–½ tsp chili flakes or cayenne.
- Lemon Herb: Finish with fresh lemon juice and parsley.
- Smoky: Replace regular paprika with smoked paprika.
⏱️ Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 10 minutes
Optional soak: 15–20 minutes
Cook: 18–24 minutes
Temperature: 400°F (200°C)
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Tip: Air fryers vary, so start checking the potatoes around 18 minutes—the exact cooking time depends on the potato size and your air fryer.
🥔 Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes — More Tips & Variations
Here are even more ways to make your roasted potatoes extra crispy, flavorful, and perfectly tender.
🧂 Crispy Potato Seasoning Ideas
Classic Garlic & Herb
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Cajun Style
- 1–1½ tsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Garlic Parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2–3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
Ranch Potatoes
- 1 tbsp ranch seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Black pepper
Smoky BBQ
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp BBQ seasoning
🥔 Best Potatoes to Use
Baby potatoes: Great for crispy roasted potatoes. Cut them in half or quarters.
Yukon Gold: Creamy inside with beautifully crisp edges.
Russet: Excellent for a very crispy exterior and fluffy center.
Red potatoes: Hold their shape well and have a slightly waxy, creamy texture.
🔥 The Secret to Really Crispy Potatoes
Try this method:
- Cut potatoes into ¾–1-inch pieces.
- Soak in cold water for 20–30 minutes.
- Drain and dry extremely well.
- Toss with oil and seasonings.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook for 20–25 minutes, shaking every 7–8 minutes.
- For extra crunch, increase to 410°F (210°C) for the final 2–3 minutes if your air fryer allows it.
The most important step is getting the potatoes dry before adding the oil.
🧄 Add Garlic Without Burning It
Fresh minced garlic can burn during a long air-fryer cook. For a stronger fresh-garlic flavor, toss the potatoes with fresh minced garlic during the final 3–5 minutes instead of adding it at the beginning.
🧀 Cheesy Finish
During the final 1–2 minutes, sprinkle with:
- Parmesan
- Cheddar
- Mozzarella
- Gruyère
Don’t add cheese too early—it can burn before the potatoes are finished.
🌿 Fresh Herb Finish
After cooking, toss the potatoes with:
- Fresh parsley
- Chives
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- A little lemon zest
🍋 Lemon Garlic Potatoes
After cooking, toss the hot potatoes with:
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- A small drizzle of olive oil
The lemon added after cooking keeps the potatoes crisp.
❄️ Can You Air Fry Them From Frozen?
Yes! Frozen roasted potatoes or frozen diced potatoes can usually be cooked at:
400°F (200°C) for 15–22 minutes
Shake several times during cooking. They generally don’t need to be thawed first.
♨️ Reheating Leftover Potatoes
For the best texture:
Air fryer: 375°F (190°C) for 5–8 minutes.
Shake once halfway through. This brings the crispiness back much better than microwaving.
🍳 Breakfast Potato Idea
Turn leftover roasted potatoes into breakfast potatoes by adding:
- Diced bell pepper
- Sliced onion
- Cooked sausage or bacon
- Paprika
- Black pepper
Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5–8 minutes, shaking once.
🍽️ What to Serve With Them
These potatoes are delicious alongside:
- 🍗 Air fryer chicken
- 🥩 Steak
- 🍔 Burgers
- 🌭 Sausage
- 🐟 Fish
- 🍤 Shrimp
- 🍳 Eggs
- 🥪 Sandwiches
⭐ Pro Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate around every potato.
- Cut potatoes as evenly as possible.
- Use just enough oil to lightly coat them.
- Shake rather than constantly opening the basket.
- If they’re browning before becoming tender, reduce the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and cook a little longer.
- For maximum crispiness, serve immediately rather than letting them sit covered.
