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These Air Fryer smashed potatoes crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside and have a delicate garlicky flavor that just won’t be able to resist.
Just like my Air Fryer red potatoes, these come together in under 30 minutes, and are perfect to enjoy as a snack, teamed up with some cheese sauce, or as a side dish. I’ve tried making these in the oven too, but I have to say- this Air Fryer version is SO much easier.
The beauty of these air fried smashed potatoes is they are incredibly versatile and can be made ahead of time as a side dish for a weeknight meal or a midday snack when you’re on the go.
I love making smashed potatoes when I need a delicious bite size appetizer dish for game day or a potluck along with some Air Fryer scallops, Air Fryer BabyBel cheese, or these Air Fryer armadillo eggs.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Crispy, salty and addictive!
⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 25 minutes (including 10 minutes boiling time).
⏲️ Total time: 30 minutes.
👥 Servings: 4 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer, a deep pot and a glass for smashing the potatoes.
❄️ Freezer friendly: No.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Make sure you pat dry the potatoes and remove all moisture before you smash and air fry them. This will ensure they turn out super crunchy and crispy.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They’re super easy to make- you’ll need just a few ingredients and your trusty Air Fryer.
- They have a nice crispiness on the outside, and are soft and fluffy on the inside- just like my classic Air Fryer baked potatoes.
- They’re great to serve as a snack, and even as a side dish- exactly like my Air Fryer red potatoes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Baby gold potatoes: The hero ingredient! These baby potatoes are perfect for smashing. If you have some extras, you can use them to make my classic Air Fryer roasted potatoes.
- Seasonings: I kept it simple and used a mix of garlic powder, kosher salt and ground black pepper. You can experiment and use other seasonings like my homemade poultry seasoning too!
- Olive oil: Ideally extra virgin. This helps the potatoes stay moist, get that golden brown caramelization and also helps the seasonings stick to the potatoes.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- For extra flavor, you can play around with the seasonings. I like to use my homemade Ranch seasoning for that creamy flavor, and sometimes a pinch of cayenne or my homemade BBQ rub for a spicy kick.
- You can elevated these crispy smashed potatoes with some ranch dressing, sour cream and chives, hot sauce, garlic butter or blue cheese dressing.
- For a fun cheese flavor, toss smashed potatoes with freshly grated Parmesan cheese after air frying.
- Another great idea is to top the smashed potatoes with shredded cheddar cheese and crispy Air Fryer candied bacon after air frying. I did this when I made my Air Fryer potato skins too!
How to Make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
- In a medium saucepan, boil potatoes until they start to become soft. Drain and transfer the potatoes on a baking sheet or chopping board.
- Use the bottom of a glass to gently apply pressure, smashing the potatoes flat into thin discs.
- Brush both sides of potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with the seasonings. Transfer the smashed potatoes back into the Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 380 F for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown. Remove the potatoes from the Air Fryer and serve while hot.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These crispy and garlicky Air Fryer smashed potatoes taste perfect as a side with Air Fryer steak, a classic Air Fryer chicken breast, some Air Fryer salmon or even some Air Fryer lamb chops.
I personally love serving these as a side with my Air Fryer chicken burgers or Air Fryer black bean burgers when I’m looking for something different than my classic Air Fryer French fries.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use small potatoes like baby Yukon Golds or red potatoes for best results. These potatoes hold their shape well and become fluffy inside when cooked.
- Lightly boil or steam the potatoes until they’re fork tender before smashing. This helps them get that perfect crispy exterior.
- You can also use melted butter instead of olive oil if you want some extra flavor. Team it up with some of my Air Fryer roasted garlic for a smoky flavor.
- If you’re adding cheese, make sure you sprinkle it on the potatoes during the final 2 minutes of cooking time to get that perfect melty texture. I did this when I made my Air Fryer cheesy potatoes and they turned out perfect!
- Remember to flip the smashed potatoes over midway during the cooking time to get them nice and crispy. If you’re using a Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer like I am, you don’t need to flip them- I realized this when I made my Air Fryer hasselback potatoes.
Recipe FAQs
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
You can use Yukon gold potatoes, golden baby potatoes, red skinned potatoes and purple potatoes for this recipe.
If you’re using larger potatoes like a russet potato, you will want to cut them in 3-4 horizontal slices to make the discs. Additional 3-5 minutes of cook time may be needed due to the difference in size.
More Air Fryer Potato Recipes
Side Dishes
Sliced Potatoes in Air Fryer
Appetizers
Air Fryer Potato Chips
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Home Fries
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Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby gold potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, boil potatoes until they start to become soft, about 10 minutes. Drain water and place potatoes on baking sheet or cutting board.
- Use the bottom of a glass or lid to gently apply pressure, smashing the potatoes flat into thin discs, about 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Next drizzle or spray both sides with olive oil and seasonings. Then, place smashed potatoes back into the air fryer basket, in a single layer and return basket to air fryer.
- Air fry at 380 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown. Use a spatula to flip potatoes at least once during the cooking process. Remove potatoes from air fryer and serve while hot.
Notes
- For maximum crispiness cook for 1-2 minutes longer than recipe suggests.
- These potatoes just need to be lightly pressed to flatten. Too much pressure can make them fall apart.
- Try to use mini potatoes similar in size and about the size of golf balls.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
