These Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are the perfect side dish! Crispy and crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside, it's easy to get addicted to these!
Sometimes I feel like side dishes are the star of the show. I am a big lover of the main entree but when you have a good side dish, it can be a real game-changer. Another thing that I love is my air-fryer. We are headed full steam ahead into Summer over here which means hot weather. The last thing I want to do is turn my oven on. One of the things that I love about this dish is a lot of it is done in the air-fryer which doesn't heat the house! It is the perfect side dish that will be a show-stopper and it is easy to make and delicious!
For some other great Air-Fryer recipes, check out these Frozen Spring Rolls in Air Fryer, these Air Fryer Diced Potatoes, these Easy Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables or these Savory Rosemary Air Fryer Baby Carrots.
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What Makes These Air-Fryer Smashed Potatoes The Best
- Easy Recipe- This recipe is so easy and delicious! The perfect side dish, this recipe will be ready in just 30 minutes!
- Crispy and addicting texture- The texture of these potatoes is seriously addicting. They are crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside.
- Family favorite- A family favorite in our household, yours will be sure to love them! My husband asks for them all the time!
Ingredient Notes
- Baby Yellow Potatoes- The key to making these smashed potatoes extra crispy, is using the right potatoes. I have tried this recipe with a variety of different potatoes and I can say for certain that Baby Yukon Golds are the way to go. They create a balanced, crispy, and golden exterior but a soft and fluffy interior.
- Olive Oil-You can use any neutral oil that you have on hand for this recipe. Olive Oil is just my go-to. I have also used avocado oil. If you are worried about the oil content, this recipe only contains 2 tablespoons of oil so it isn't as much as traditional frying.
- Rosemary- You can use any seasoning that you want, I just happen to love fresh rosemary and find that it goes perfectly with sea salt on these potatoes!
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the potatoes, making sure to remove as much dirt as possible.
- Add the potatoes to a pot of cold salted water and bring to a boil
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and add them to a baking sheet. Use a potato masher or a serving fork to gently smash each potato to a height of about ½ inch.
- Drizzle the potatoes with the olive oil and sprinkle with the chopped rosemary, sea salt, and pepper.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer to the air fryer basket and fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Remove from the air fryer basket and enjoy!
Hint: You might have to prepare these potatoes in batches as you don't want to stack them in the air fryer basket. Keeping them in an even layer ensures an even distribution of airflow to get that crispy texture.
Substitutions
- Potatoes - These smashed potatoes work best with Baby Yukon Golds, however if you do swap them out, I would suggest that baby red potatoes would be the next best option. They will not get as crispy as the yellow potatoes though.
- Oil-Free - You can skip the oil in this recipe, however your potatoes will not get that crispy exterior that makes them so delicious.
- Oven - If you don't have an air-fryer, you can bake these in the oven. I would bake them at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.
Variations
- Spicy - Kick up the spice and add some crushed red chili flakes along with the other spices.
- Cheesy - Top with some vegan Parmesan to make these smashed potatoes cheesy and delicious!
- Garlic - Add some fresh chopped garlic along with the herbs before frying to make these potatoes full of delicious garlic flavor.
Check out some other great side dishes like these Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes, or this Gluten-Free Scalloped Potatoes!
FAQ's
Mashed potatoes are made by mashing all the potatoes together and adding butter and milk to the finished recipe. Smashed potatoes are different because after boiling the potatoes, they are then smashed, topped with seasonings and air fried to crispy perfection.
Potatoes benefit your health because they offer a rich source of potassium. You will get a large portion of your daily potassium from eating potatoes. They are also a vegetable and air-frying keeps them healthier than deep frying.
No, for this recipe you do not need to poke holes in the potatoes before air-frying. The reason is that they will already be smashed so there is no need to poke extra holes.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.
- Cookie Sheet
- Air Fryer
- Large Pot or Dutch Oven
- Colander
- Spatula
- Chef Knife
- Cutting Board
Storage
These potatoes are best served fresh, but can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days. To reheat, add them to the air fryer basket and air fry for 5 minutes at 350 degrees until reheated
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
Top tips
- You might have to prepare these potatoes in batches as you don't want to stack them in the air fryer basket. Keeping them in an even layer ensures an even distribution of airflow to get that crispy texture.
- Choose small potatoes, rather than large. You can make smashed potatoes with potatoes of any size (even Russet potatoes!) but for crispy potatoes, choose baby dutch potatoes. The yellow variety is my favorite because they get the crispiest!
- Brush the air fryer basket with olive oil. Frying the potatoes against an oiled air fryer basket makes them even more crispy.
Other Side Dishes You Will Love
- Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
- The Best Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Perfect Air Fryer Frozen Hash Browns
- Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer
- Easy Creamy Whole30 Coleslaw
- Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle Cut Fries
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby yukon gold potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the potatoes, making sure to remove as much dirt as possible.
- Add the potatoes to a pot of cold salted water and bring to a boil
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and add them to a baking sheet. Use a potato masher or a serving fork to gently smash each potato to a height of about ½ inch.
- Drizzle the potatoes with the olive oil and sprinkle with the chopped rosemary, sea salt, and pepper.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer to the air fryer basket and fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Remove from the air fryer basket and enjoy!
Notes
- You might have to prepare these potatoes in batches as you don't want to stack them in the air fryer basket. Keeping them in an even layer ensures an even distribution of airflow to get that crispy texture.
- Choose small potatoes, rather than large. You can make smashed potatoes with potatoes of any size (even Russet potatoes!) but for crispy potatoes, choose baby dutch potatoes. The yellow variety is my favorite because they get the crispiest!
- Brush the air fryer basket with olive oil. Frying the potatoes against an oiled air fryer basket makes them even more crispy.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Gloria says
I just made smashed potatoes for the first time last month for a birthday dinner. They have quickly become a family favourite. These look delicious and easy to make too.
Annie says
I love smashed potatoes! I've never thought to make them in an air fryer but I bet they turn out so crispy and delicious!
Bernice says
I love my air fryer so much and I'm always looking for great side dish recipes. This one was a real winner and was ready in no time.
Raksha says
Making these smashed potatoes in air fryer now. Would love to top it with some spicy mayo and have it as a side dish.
Gwynn says
I love cooking in my air fryer and this recipe is definitely a keeper. Will be making these smashed potatoes again!
Kathryn says
We love these smashed potatoes! They are so delicious and crispy on the outside. This is our new favorite way to enjoy baby potatoes.
Lauren Michael Harris says
I would have never thought to make smashed potatoes in an air fryer! This is so brilliant and they look absolutely perfect - I really need to get mine out more often!
Sharon says
This ar fryer smashed potatoes come out super crispy. The seasonings are simple but add lots of flavors.
Denise says
I love my air fryer and smashed potatoes though I have never made them. I have some baby potatoes in my cupboard and can't wait to give these a try! Thanks for sharing.
Marie says
I love smashed potatoes, the contrast between the crunchy exterior and the tender, almost creamy flesh is irresistible. I'd never tried making them in the air fryer and was really pleased! They came out perfectly golden. I couldn't resist having them as a snack 😍
Jenny says
I just got an air fryer, and I am delighted to find your recipe. I love the seasonings as well as how easy it is to make these smashed potatoes. I am sure it will be a winner side dish. Thanks, I will be making this recipe this evening.