Looking for a crispy potato side dish that’s simple to make and can be seasoned any way you like? Air fryer red potatoes are the perfect answer. These tender gems are ready in 30 minutes to pair with your favorite meal.
These crispy air fried red potatoes were on repeat all summer long in my house. With it too hot to deal with an oven blasting at 400°F and no central air conditioning, the air fryer took up the slack.
Side dishes like red potatoes are what the air fryer was made for. It truly does an amazing job at crisping up edges while cooking to a tender, soft middle in a shorter time than the oven ever could.
It simplifies so many sides, appetizers and even main courses, I’m not quite sure how we lived before this convenience appliance came into our lives!
This recipe is super adaptable to your favorite seasonings and uses less oil than crispy oven potatoes would necessitate. It’s a win all around. The only tough dinner decision you’ll need to make is figuring out what to pair the potatoes with.
Ingredients to make red potatoes in the air fryer
- Red potatoes — regular size or baby red potatoes work for this recipe
- Olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Fresh rosemary
Spices can be adjusted to your preferences but this combination is my go-to for potatoes more often than not. It’s similar to what’s used on these air fryer baby potatoes with the exception of swapping out onion powder for paprika.
Prefer Italian seasonings? Use an Italian or Tuscan blend or, make your own up by combining thyme, oregano and basil.
Peri peri potatoes are also a great seasoning choice for those who love some spice.
If you don’t have fresh rosemary, dried can be used but the flavor is so much more intense and fragrant with fresh. Rosemary lasts a good amount of time in the fridge so I try to keep it on hand at all times.
You can even use some parmesan cheese like featured on these air fryer sweet potatoes. The creamy insides with the salty parmesan and crispy edges is side dish heaven.
How to make air fryer red potatoes
Start by cutting the red potatoes into a large chop, about 1 inch wide. For baby red potatoes, this might just be halving or quartering. For larger red potatoes, you’ll likely have to cut into at least eighths.
Add the chopped potatoes to a large bowl along with the olive oil and spices. Toss to combine, then transfer to an air fryer.
From oil sprays to muffin cups and from pizza pans to racks, we've got them all, and they make fantastic Christmas presents, too!
Whether you’re using a basket model air fryer as shown or an oven model air fryer, ensure that the potatoes are arranged in a single layer and not piled on top of each other. This will help them get nice and crispy as they roast in the air fryer.
Roast the red potatoes at 400°F for 18-22 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through air frying or switch the positioning of the racks in an oven model so the potatoes cook evenly.
Once fork tender in the middle with crispy, golden brown edges, remove from the air fryer and garnish with additional fresh herbs such as rosemary, parsley or chives. Serve warm.
Can I put raw potatoes in the air fryer?
Yes, the air fryer makes quick work of raw potatoes turning them into crispy, tender bites in no time!
Do I need to soak my potatoes in water before air frying?
This is not necessary to do. Soaking potatoes in water draws out some of the starch and results in a crispy roasted potato. It’s a method I use in these perfectly crispy rosemary baked fries but don’t bother with when it comes to air frying potatoes.
The air fryer is a heavy duty appliance that uses convection cooking methods to crisp up food really well without the need for extra preparation steps like this.
Do you have to boil potatoes before putting in the air fryer?
Parboiling before air frying is once again unnecessary. The air fryer will do all the work. That’s part of the magic of this appliance!
The best tips & tricks
- Cook in batches if necessary. Crowding the potatoes won’t allow them to get crispy.
- Shake while baking! Don’t forget to shake the basket or rotate the racks during the cooking time.
- Worried about making a mess with oil dripping? Use aluminum foil or air fryer liners to help with clean up.
Storage and leftovers
Any leftover roasted red potatoes can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. They’re best reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3-5 minutes. This will help retain some crispness versus reheating in the microwave.
Serving ideas
These crispy bites with creamy centers are so good they can be served with any meal, any time of day.
Add them to a breakfast plate with homemade breakfast chicken sausage patties or add them to your favorite breakfast hash.
Serve them with a dipping sauce to enjoy for an appetizer or game day snack or enjoy them as an easy dinner side dish.
Air fried red potatoes go perfectly with an air fryer ribeye dinner or your favorite roasted chicken meal.
More potato recipes to try:
If you love these kinds of crispy roasted potatoes, you’ll also like air fryer hasselback potatoes.
Pesto roasted potatoes are made in the oven but could just as easily be roasted in the air fryer.
And if you’d rather a soft and creamy potato, try these Instant Pot potatoes instead or make mashed red skin potatoes. You can make them with almost any potato variety you like!
The Crispiest Air Fryer Red Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound red potatoes, cut into about 1” pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed and minced
- Minced fresh parsley or chives to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss together with the olive oil, spices and herbs until well coated.
- Transfer the potatoes to the basket of an air fryer or spread out on the trays of an oven model air fryer. Arrange in a single layer so they’re not overlapping and the air has room to move around the potatoes as they cook.
- Air fry at 400°F for 18-22 minutes until fork tender and golden around the edges, shaking the basket or rotating the trays halfway through.
- Remove from the air fryer, garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I’m a potato girl and this was yummy! Plus I love how easy it was to put together. Def be making again.
I loved how they turned out. Delicious, Crispy and not greasy at all. Perfect side dish in any occasion.
These have the absolute perfect crunch without the greasiness I often get from trying to roast them. The kids totally devoured them.