Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes: Your New Go-To Side Dish

Say goodbye to long cooking times and hello to your new favorite side dish! These Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes offer all the deliciousness of traditional oven-baked versions but come together in a fraction of the time. Imagine perfectly crispy exteriors giving way to incredibly fluffy and tender insides, all seasoned with a mouth-watering blend of spices. They’re so easy to make and undeniably addictive, you’ll want to add them to every meal. This recipe takes advantage of your air fryer’s powerful convection cooking to deliver potatoes that are superior in texture and flavor, making them an instant crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Multiple smashed potatoes, cooked in the air fryer, arranged on a sheet of parchment paper next to a small dish of salt.

Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Recipe

Effortlessly Quick & Simple: Forget the tedious two-step process of boiling then baking. Our air fryer smashed potatoes streamline the entire cooking method, letting your air fryer do all the heavy lifting. This significantly cuts down on prep and cooking time, making them an ideal choice for busy weeknights or when you need a fantastic side dish without the fuss. The air fryer ensures each potato cooks through evenly, achieving that coveted crisp exterior and soft, tender interior much faster than conventional methods. You’ll be amazed at how quickly these come together from start to finish.
Perfectly Seasoned for Maximum Flavor: While delightfully simple, the seasoning blend used in this recipe is anything but bland. A harmonious mix of savory salt, pungent garlic powder, and freshly cracked black pepper is whisked into a neutral oil. This flavorful mixture is then generously drizzled over the smashed potatoes, ensuring every crevice and cranny is infused with deliciousness. As the potatoes air fry, these flavors bake into the tender flesh, creating a taste explosion with every bite. The oil also plays a crucial role in achieving that incredible golden-brown crispness that makes these potatoes irresistible.
A Versatile Side Dish for Any Meal: One of the greatest attributes of these air fryer smashed potatoes is their incredible versatility. They pair beautifully with almost any main course, effortlessly elevating a simple weeknight dinner or complementing a more elaborate holiday spread. Serve them alongside robust meat dishes like crispy baked whole chicken wings, tender lollipop chicken legs, succulent sous vide flank steak, or flavorful chicken spiedini. Their crispy texture and savory flavor make them a fantastic companion to grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or even a hearty salad. These potatoes are destined to become your new favorite go-to side dish for any occasion!

Expert Tips for Smashed Potato Perfection

Endless Customization Possibilities: The beauty of air fryer smashed potatoes lies in their adaptability. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different seasoning blends to match your meal or personal preferences. For an Italian twist, add dried oregano, basil, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Craving some heat? A dash of red pepper flakes or smoked paprika will add a delightful kick. Fresh herbs like finely chopped rosemary or thyme can be mixed in with the oil, or sprinkled on at the end for a burst of fresh flavor. You can even try a blend of onion powder, cumin, and chili powder for a more Tex-Mex vibe. The possibilities truly are endless, allowing you to tailor these potatoes to any culinary adventure!
Prioritize Even Cooking – Avoid Overcrowding: For truly crispy smashed potatoes, proper air circulation is paramount. Your air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food, and if the basket is too full, the potatoes will steam rather than crisp. Therefore, it’s essential to arrange the potatoes in a single layer, ensuring air can reach all sides. If you have a larger batch of potatoes, work in batches rather than attempting to cram them all in. This extra step guarantees optimal crispiness and even cooking for every single potato. Keep a close eye on the potatoes as they cook, as air fryer models can vary, and remove them promptly once they reach your desired level of golden-brown doneness.
Choosing the Right Potatoes: While this recipe calls for baby gold potatoes, which are excellent for their creamy texture and thin skin, you can experiment with other varieties. Small Yukon Gold or red potatoes also work wonderfully. Their waxy texture holds up well to smashing, and their thin skins crisp up beautifully. Avoid starchy potatoes like Russets, as they tend to fall apart when smashed and might not achieve the desired crispness.
The Art of Smashing: The key to perfect smashed potatoes is to be gentle yet firm. You want to flatten each par-cooked potato into a disc about ¼-inch thick, but without completely disintegrating it. A flat-bottomed drinking glass or a sturdy mug works perfectly for this. Press down firmly enough to create those craggy edges that will get super crispy, but not so hard that the potato breaks apart. This delicate balance ensures you get both the fluffy interior and the maximum surface area for crunch.
Pre-Cooking for Tenderness: The initial air frying step before smashing is crucial. It tenderizes the potatoes from the inside out, making them easy to smash and ensuring a soft, fluffy center. Without this step, the potatoes would be too hard to smash properly and wouldn’t achieve the desirable textural contrast. Don’t skip this initial cook time; it’s the secret to their success!
Storage and Reheating: If you happen to have any leftovers (which is unlikely!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat and restore their crispness, place them back in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-8 minutes, or until thoroughly heated and crispy again. You can also reheat them in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 10-15 minutes.

Discover More Potato Perfection

If you’re a potato enthusiast like us, you’ll love exploring these other incredible potato recipes. From comforting soups to unique air fryer creations, there’s a potato dish for every craving:

Potato Asparagus Soup
Sliced Potatoes in the Air Fryer (with an Irresistible Creamy Herb Sauce)
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Seafood Baked Potato
Instant Pot Cheesy Potatoes
Pan Fried Potatoes
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Diced Potatoes
Accordion Potatoes

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Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 35 minutes

Total: 50 minutes

Much faster than traditional baked smashed potatoes, but every bit as delicious!

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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6 servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ pounds baby gold potatoes 1 24-ounce bag, ideal for their creamy texture and thin skin that crisps up beautifully.
▢ 3 tablespoons neutral oil such as avocado oil, light olive oil, or vegetable oil. Choose one with a high smoke point.
▢ 1 teaspoon salt adjust to your preference. Kosher salt or fine sea salt works best.
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper for best flavor, freshly cracked makes a difference.

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Equipment

Air Fryer (essential for achieving that desired crispiness with minimal oil)
Running water (for thoroughly washing the potatoes)
Vegetable scrub brush (to ensure potatoes are clean)
Paper towels or a clean kitchen towel (crucial for drying potatoes completely to achieve maximum crispness)
Tongs (for safely handling hot potatoes and flipping them)
Fork (to test potato doneness)
Small bowl (for mixing the seasoning oil)
Small whisk (to combine oil and spices thoroughly)
Large baking sheet (for transferring and smashing potatoes)
Large flat-bottomed drinking glass or a flat-bottomed mug (the perfect tool for gently smashing the potatoes)
Spatula (for serving the crispy potatoes)

Instructions

Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit (approximately 200° Celsius). Allowing the air fryer to fully preheat ensures that the potatoes start cooking immediately at the right temperature, promoting even crisping.
Thoroughly wash 1 ½ pounds of baby gold potatoes under cool running water. Use a vegetable scrub brush to gently remove any dirt or impurities from the potato skins. After washing, it is critically important to pat the potatoes completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Excess moisture will steam the potatoes instead of crisping them in the air fryer.
Carefully remove the basket from your preheated air fryer. Arrange the washed and dried potatoes in the basket in a single layer. It’s crucial to avoid overcrowding the basket, as this restricts airflow and prevents even cooking and crisping. If necessary, work in multiple batches to ensure each potato has enough space around it.
Place the basket back into the air fryer. Air fry the potatoes for an initial 10 minutes. This step begins to tenderize the potatoes from the inside, making them ready for smashing.
After 10 minutes, carefully remove the basket from the air fryer. Using tongs, gently flip each potato over to ensure even cooking on all sides. Return the basket to the air fryer. Air fry the potatoes for another 5 minutes.
Once the second 5-minute interval is complete, remove the basket from the air fryer. Carefully test the potatoes for doneness by pressing the tines of a fork into one. The potatoes are fully cooked when the fork pierces them easily, with little to no resistance, indicating a tender interior. If they still feel firm, return the basket to the air fryer and continue air frying for 2 to 5 more minutes as needed, checking with a fork every minute until they are perfectly tender.
While the potatoes are air frying, prepare your flavorful seasoning oil. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of neutral oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper. Whisk all the ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined. Set this aromatic mixture aside.
Once the potatoes are perfectly tender, remove the basket from the air fryer and transfer the hot potatoes to a large baking sheet. Using the bottom of a sturdy drinking glass or a flat-bottomed mug, gently but firmly flatten each potato into an approximately ¼-inch-thick disc. Be careful not to smash them too forcefully or too thin, as this can cause them to break apart. The goal is to create more surface area for crisping while keeping the potato intact.
Drizzle about half of your prepared seasoned oil mixture evenly over the smashed potatoes on the baking sheet. Use tongs to flip each potato over, then drizzle the remaining oil mixture over the other side. Gently flip the potatoes two to three times to ensure both sides are thoroughly coated in the flavorful oil and spices. This step is crucial for both taste and achieving that ultimate crispy texture.
Carefully return the seasoned and smashed potatoes to the air fryer basket, again arranging them in a single, flat layer. Remember to work in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding and ensure optimal crisping.
Place the basket back into the air fryer. Air fry the smashed potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes to begin the final crisping process. After this time, remove the basket and use tongs to flip each potato over, exposing the other side to the hot circulating air.
Return the basket to the air fryer and continue to air fry the smashed potatoes for an additional 2 to 5 minutes, or until they reach a beautiful golden-brown color and are irresistibly crispy on both sides. Keep a close watch as air fryers can vary, and don’t let them burn.
Once perfectly crispy, immediately transfer the smashed potatoes to a large serving plate. If you worked in batches, repeat the smashing and final air frying process with any remaining potatoes. Serve your crispy air fryer smashed potatoes immediately to enjoy them at their peak of deliciousness!

Notes

Baby Gold Potatoes: These delightful small potatoes are also known as petite gold potatoes or gold gourmet potatoes, depending on the brand and grocery store. Their thin skin and creamy interior make them perfect for smashing and crisping in the air fryer. If you can’t find baby gold, small Yukon Gold potatoes are an excellent substitute.
Make Ahead Option: You can boil and smash the potatoes in advance. After smashing, let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to cook, proceed from step 8, coating them in the oil mixture and air frying until crispy. This can save valuable time on the day you plan to serve them.
Serving Suggestions: These versatile smashed potatoes are fantastic with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives for added color and flavor. A side of sour cream, ranch dressing, or a spicy aioli can also make for a delightful dipping experience. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
Adjusting Seasoning: Feel free to adjust the amount of salt, pepper, and garlic powder to your personal taste. You can also add other spices like onion powder, paprika, or a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra flavor and heat.

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.