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I’ve made these Air Fryer Hash Browns so many times I’ve honestly lost count. They come out perfectly golden and irresistibly crispy every single time, and the best part is they’re ready in just minutes. No messy oil, no splattering pan; just quick, foolproof, diner-style hash browns straight from your air fryer. If you love easy breakfast sides, be sure to check out these air fryer breakfast potatoes too!
“These hash browns are so easy to make in the air fryer!”
-Becky
Quick Look At This Recipe
- ✨ Flavor: Crispy, golden, and savory; just like classic diner-style hash browns without the extra oil.
- ⏱️ Prep time: 2 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes
- ⏲️ Total time: 12 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 🥄 Tools: Air fryer (basket or oven-style) and a spatula or tongs for flipping.
- ❄️ Freezer-friendly: Yes! Cook straight from frozen—no thawing needed.
- 👩🏻🍳 Tip: For the crispiest finish, flip halfway and start checking around 8–10 minutes since every air fryer cooks a little differently.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy every time: Frozen patties turn perfectly golden and crunchy in the air fryer without any oil splatter or skillet babysitting required.
- Ultra easy: Just pop them in the air fryer and go. Breakfast doesn’t get simpler than this.
- Diner-style flavor at home: You get that classic, crisp-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside hash brown vibe without leaving your kitchen.
- Loved by everyone: Great for quick mornings, weekend brunch, or serving alongside any of your favorite breakfast recipes, like air fryer French toast or air fryer blueberry muffin bites.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Will Need
- Frozen hash browns: I love to use my local store brand and the Ore Ida brand. But there are many great brands in your grocer’s freezer section, so feel free to grab the one you love the most.
Variations
- Seasoned Hash Brown Patties: Before cooking, lightly mist the patties with oil and sprinkle on paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite breakfast seasoning blend. This adds deeper color and boosts crispiness, especially in lower-wattage or oven-style air fryers.
- Cheesy Diner-Style Hash Browns: As soon as the patties come out of the air fryer, top them with shredded cheddar, pepper jack, or mozzarella. The residual heat melts the cheese in seconds.
- Loaded Breakfast Hash Browns: Dress the crispy patties like a baked potato — add sour cream, green onions, crumbled bacon, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Crumble for Casseroles & Burritos: Crumble fully cooked patties and stir them into breakfast casseroles, frittatas, or burrito fillings. They hold their texture better than fresh shredded potatoes and give your dish a crispy edge without extra prep work.
- Mini Hash Brown Sliders: Use the patties as a base for breakfast sliders. Layer with air-fried egg bites, a sausage patty, or air fryer turkey bacon for a quick, hand-held breakfast sandwich.
- Southwest Hash Browns: Season with chili powder, paprika, and cumin before cooking, then top with salsa, avocado slices, and a squeeze of lime.
🍽️ If you are looking for more amazing recipes for quick air fryer breakfast recipes, we’ve got you covered! Try air frying scrambled eggs and air fryer sausage links.
How to Make Air Fryer Hash Browns
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for about 5 minutes. (Preheating helps the patties cook evenly and get extra crispy.) Place the frozen patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t let them overlap or stack.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 10–12 minutes, flipping the patties halfway through the cooking time for even crispiness.
- Once they are golden brown and crispy, remove the patties from the fryer with a spatula.
- Serve them with air fryer soft boiled eggs or eggs your favorite way.
How to Make Air Fryer Hash Browns from Scratch
If you don’t have frozen hash browns on hand, no worries! You can easily make your own from scratch. Yukon gold or russet potatoes both work great.
- Shred them using a box grater or food processor, then toss the shredded potatoes into a bowl of ice water. This pulls out excess starch so they crisp instead of turning gummy.
- After soaking for a few minutes, drain them well and squeeze out as much water as you can with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. The drier the potatoes, the crispier the hash browns.
- Shape the shredded potatoes into compact patties, spray them lightly with olive oil or avocado oil, and season however you like. Air fry the patties at 400°F for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they’re golden and crispy.
Using Frozen Shredded Potatoes
If you have a bag of frozen shredded hash browns, you can skip the soaking and shaping. Just spread them in a thin, even layer in the air fryer basket, mist lightly with oil, and season to taste. Air fry at 370–380°F for 18–22 minutes, stirring or flipping once or twice, until they reach your desired level of crispiness.
💡 A thinner layer cooks faster and crisps better, so avoid piling them too high. Oven-style air fryers may need an extra couple of minutes.
Recipe Tip
- Flip halfway for even browning: Turning the patties at the halfway point helps both sides crisp evenly, especially in basket-style air fryers where the heat sits closer to the bottom.
- Oil is optional (but sometimes helpful): Frozen hash brown patties are already pre-oiled, so you usually don’t need to add extra. If they look a little dull or your air fryer runs on the cooler side, a quick spritz of oil halfway through can boost color and crunch.
- Basket vs. oven-style air fryers: Basket-style air fryers cook faster and often brown more around the edges, so start checking a little early. Oven-style models may need an extra 1–3 minutes and generally perform best when the patties are placed on the middle rack for even heating.
- Cook time varies by brand and thickness: Not all patties are the same! Thicker versions often need 1–3 extra minutes compared to very thin styles.
- Adjust time for your specific model: Air fryers can vary in wattage and airflow. Begin checking around 8–10 minutes and continue cooking until the patties reach your ideal crispiness.
Air Fryer Hash Browns Recipe FAQS
Store leftover patties in an airtight container for 2-3 days. To reheat, preheat the air fryer to 350°F, then cook the hash browns for 2–4 minutes or until heated through and crispy again. This works for both leftover patties and loose shredded hash browns.
Overcrowding the air fryer basket or not preheating can lead to soggy hash browns. Ensure the patties are in a single layer and the air fryer is properly preheated. If you need to, add an extra minute or two to cooking time.
No! Stacking prevents the hot air from circulating properly, which leads to pale, soggy hash browns. Always cook them in a single layer with space between each piece. If you need a larger batch, cook in multiple rounds for the crispiest results.
Air fry them straight from frozen. Hash brown patties and frozen shredded potatoes cook best when they go in frozen. They hold their shape better and crisp more evenly. Thawing first can lead to uneven browning and softer centers.
More Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
Desserts
Air Fryer Banana Muffins
Breakfast
Air Fryer Sausage Links
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Breakfast
Air Fryer Sausage Patties
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Air Fryer Hash Brown Patties
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 Hash Brown Patties, Frozen
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for about 5 minutes. Place the frozen patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t let them overlap or stack.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 10–12 minutes, flipping the patties halfway through the cooking time for even crispiness.
- For crispier patties, add an additional 2-4 minutes cooking time, until they reach your desired crispness.
- Once golden brown and crispy, remove the patties from the air fryer and serve. You can leave them as whole patties or crumble them into pieces for a different texture.
Notes
- Flip halfway for even browning: Turning the patties helps both sides crisp evenly, especially in basket-style air fryers.
- Oil is optional: Frozen patties are already pre-oiled, but a light spritz halfway through can boost color and crunch if your air fryer runs cool.
- Basket vs. oven-style models: Basket-style fryers cook faster, so check early. Oven-style fryers may need 1–3 extra minutes and work best on the middle rack.
- Brand and thickness matter: Thicker patties (including some store brands) may need a few extra minutes compared to thinner styles.
- Adjust for your air fryer: Wattage and airflow vary. Start checking around 8–10 minutes and cook until they’re as crisp as you like.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
