Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
Regular baked potatoes are great, but Parmesan Hasselback potatoes are next level! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and basted with melted butter, garlic powder, herbs de Provence, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. This is roast potato perfection!
So, if all that sounds good to you, read on!
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Everyone loves sharing tips on how to avoid slicing all the way through your Hasselback potatoes (hint: place chopsticks or a wooden spoon handle on either side!). But no one seems to talk about the real secrets to Hasselback greatness.
Fanning is everything.
The magic of Hasselback potatoes lies in those beautifully fanned slices. As they bake, you want the layers to gently separate so you can brush melted butter, garlic seasoning, and herbs deep into every little crevice. If the slices stay stuck together, you’re just making roast potatoes in disguise!
To get perfect fanning, aim for thin slices – about 2 mm thick, and cut deep, stopping just short of the base (leave around 1 cm uncut). Oval-shaped potatoes work much better than round ones. If your slices are too thick or too shallow, they won’t open up properly, and your potatoes won’t crisp evenly.
Basting is your best friend.
Keep that brush moving! Brushing melted butter across the top helps loosen the slices and delivers flavor right between the layers. Every pass with that buttery garlic-herb mix encourages more fanning and better browning. And don’t forget the Parmesan, it adds that perfect salty crunch on top.
Now that you know the secrets to Hasselback success, let’s dive into how to make these crispy, cheesy, golden beauties in your air fryer!
More Air Fryer Favorites You’ll Love
If you enjoyed these crispy Parmesan Hasselback potatoes, you’ll love these other air fryer recipes from the blog. They’re easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for quick meals or satisfying snacks:
Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes– Golden baby potatoes with garlic, herbs, and parmesan. A foolproof side dish!
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Air Fryer Orange Chicken Wings – Sweet, sticky, and full of bold flavor. These wings are a must-try for any game day or casual dinner.
Looking for your next easy air fryer idea? These recipes are great go-tos to keep on hand. Happy cooking!
Ingredients in Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
Here’s what you need to make Air Fryer Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes:
You really only need potatoes, melted butter, and salt to make delicious Hasselback potatoes. But adding garlic powder, herbs de Provence, and Parmesan takes them to the next level. The butter gets infused with the savory seasoning and herbs, then brushed between the thin slices to create layers of rich, herby flavor. And that final sprinkle of Parmesan? It crisps up beautifully in the air fryer for a golden, cheesy finish you won’t want to skip.
Potatoes: Use medium-sized starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for the best Hasselback texture. Their firm flesh and low moisture content help achieve that crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside result. Choose evenly sized ones so they cook uniformly in the air fryer.
Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a rich, nutty flavor and helps form a golden, crispy topping as the potatoes roast. Avoid pre-shredded varieties if possible, since they often contain anti-caking agents that affect melting and texture.
Melted Butter: Butter adds richness and helps crisp up the thin layers of the Hasselback slices. It also carries the seasoning deeper into the crevices, enhancing both flavor and aroma.
Salt and Garlic Powder: A simple seasoning mix of salt and garlic powder elevates the natural flavor of the potatoes. Garlic powder spreads evenly and toasts beautifully in the air fryer, adding a savory depth without burning.
Herbs de Provence: This fragrant blend of dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, and marjoram brings a subtle Mediterranean touch. It pairs perfectly with the Parmesan and butter for a more elevated side dish.
How to make Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
Here’s a simple step-by-step for cutting Hasselback potatoes the easy way: place a spatula or 2 sticks on either side of the potato while you slice. This prevents the knife from cutting all the way through, so the potato stays intact. But just as important, make sure you’re cutting deep enough so the slices can fan out while baking. That means your spatula or sticks should be no thicker than 1 cm (0.4″), otherwise, the cuts won’t go far enough, and you’ll lose that beautiful Hasselback effect!
Step 1: Cut and prepare the potatoes
Place a spatula or two sticks on either side of each potato and slice thinly across the top, stopping just before the bottom so the potato stays intact. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with salt, garlic powder, and herbs de Provence. Brush this flavorful mixture generously over and between the potato slices. Once coated, place the potatoes into the air fryer basket, ready for crisping up!
Step 2: Air fry the potatoes
Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Once heated, place the prepared potatoes into the basket, making sure they’re not overlapping. Air fry for 30–35 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes. About halfway through, brush them again with the butter and seasoning mixture to help the slices fan out and get beautifully crispy.
Once the potatoes are golden and tender inside, sprinkle grated Parmesan generously over the top. Air fry for an additional 2–3 minutes until the cheese melts and turns lightly golden. Serve hot and enjoy that crispy, cheesy finish!
Ready to Serve
And there you have it – all my best tips for making perfect Hasselback potatoes at home!
Serve them hot and crispy, topped with a pinch of flaky salt and a few sprigs of fresh herbs if you like. They’ll keep for a couple of days, but honestly, nothing beats a Hasselback straight from the air fryer, golden, cheesy, and irresistible!
