Skip to Content

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Air fryer smashed potatoes: crisp golden baby potatoes with olive oil, garlic and hints of rosemary. The perfect easy side for your chicken, fish, or vegetarian entree. Also works as a healthy snack for hungry times!

If you like the idea of vegetarian sides to go with your mains, check out these air fryer cauliflower steaks.

Smashed potatoes in plate with a fork and napkin on the side.

I mean, just look at these babies. Aren’t they just perfect? If you love your spuds, you’ve got to try air fried potatoes. SMASHED. If you’re not an immediate fan, money back, haha!

I like to call them french fries on steroids. The taste is very similar though much, much better. They’re more crispy, for one, with not a hint of sogginess (french fries can get there very quickly). Also, the seasonings and herbs pack quite a punch. For the best experience, take them straight from the air fryer to the dinner table when they’re still hot and fresh.

Smashed potatoes in plate with a fork and napkin on the side.

Why this recipe is a keeper

  • The perfect texture and taste: The skins are crisped-up and crunchy, and the insides are tender and fluffy. They are packed with a peppery, garlicky flavor. Exactly where you want them to be.
  • Healthy: Anything made in the air fryer uses a fraction of the oil you would use with more conventional methods. Plus, this is a gluten-free, vegan recipe for those of us on these diets.
  • Easy: No boiling the potatoes first in a separate pot or baking them in an oven. They get ‘boiled’ and ‘baked’ in the air fryer.
  • Few ingredients: No mile-long, difficult-to-find ingredients. They’re made with simple stuff you will already have in your pantry.
  • Very customizable: Make this recipe your own by switching up the ingredients. Use the seasonings and herbs of your choice.

Ingredients

Note: exact amounts are mentioned in the recipe card further down.

  • Baby potatoes – I chose a mix of yellow and red potatoes.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – A good quality olive oil makes a world of difference to the taste. It also helps in crisping up the potatoes, so don’t skimp on it. Use the full amount; in fact, you can drizzle a little more after the potatoes are done!
  • Garlic powder – adds a lot of flavor.
  • Paprika – for flavor and color.
  • Black pepper – freshly ground is the best.
  • Sea salt -Taste as you go as everybody’s salt threshold is different. However, if you feel that the potatoes are missing something/tasting flat, it’s probably salt. It’s amazing how salt can make the rest of the flavors pop!

Instructions

1. Wash the baby potatoes to get rid of the soil and dirt. There is no need to peel them. The skins are full of nutrients and add to the taste when they crisp up in the fryer.

2. Preheat your air fryer to 400 F and add the potatoes to the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10 minutes. Insert a fork or toothpick in some of them to see if they are cooked through. Baby potatoes are tender and soften in 10 minutes, but if you feel they are still hard, put them back in the air fryer for a couple minutes extra.

3. Take out the potatoes and spread them on a sheet pan. With the back of a spoon or fork, press down on each one until it breaks and flattens down.

4. Drizzle the olive oil on the smashed potatoes and sprinkle the sea salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper evenly. You can also mix the dry seasoning in the olive oil and drizzle the seasoned oil on the potatoes. Whichever is easier.

5. Preheat the air fryer to 400 F again and set the timer to 8 minutes this time. Put the potatoes back in the basket and air fry. There’s no need to flip them. Once this second cycle is finished, take them out and garnish with rosemary. Alternatively, you can add the rosemary 2-3 minutes before the 8 minutes are up too so the potatoes get infused with the aroma of the herb.

Seasoned, smashed potatoes on a sheet pan.
Steps 3 and 4
Smashed potatoes in air fryer.
Step 5

Variations

Customize this recipe to your heart’s content! Here are some ideas:

  • Drizzle a little melted butter once the potatoes are crisped up and out of the fryer. This will make the recipe non-vegan, but you can use vegan butter in a pinch if you are on a strict vegan diet.
  • Sprinkle some chilli flakes and squeeze a lemon wedge on the potatoes before serving. Kicks things up fo’ sure!
  • Use the herbs of your choice: parsley, mint, dill, chives, thyme… anything you have or fancy.
  • Serve them with a sauce! Chipotle, sour cream, ranch or any of your favorites will make these smashed potatoes game day worthy!
Smashed potatoes in bowl with fork.

Top tips

  • I used baby potatoes for this recipe, but if you have slightly bigger ones, cut them in half to keep them bite-sized. This will also help keep the cooking times same.
  • Do serve them immediately or else they will lose some of their crunch. If you don’t have a choice and want to make them ahead of time, just pop them back into the air fryer when you are ready to serve. Two to three minutes at 400 F, and they will be good as new.
Smashed potatoes in two plates with fork in one.
Smashed potatoes on a plate with fork.

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Saima Zaidi
Air fryer smashed potatoes: crisp golden baby potatoes with olive oil, garlic and hints of rosemary. The perfect easy side for your chicken, fish, or vegetarian entree. Also works as a healthy snack for hungry times!
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 18 mins
Total Time 23 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 197 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Sheet pan

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ½ lbs baby potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • ½ tsp sea salt adjust to taste
  • 1 tbsp rosemary chopped

Instructions
 

  • Wash the baby potatoes to get rid of the soil and dirt.
  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 F and add the potatoes to the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10 minutes. Insert a fork or toothpick in some of them to see if they are cooked through. Baby potatoes are tender and soften in 10 minutes, but if you feel they are still hard, put them back in the air fryer for a couple minutes extra.
  • Take out the potatoes and spread them on a sheet pan. With the back of a spoon or fork, press down on each one until it breaks and flattens down.
  • Drizzle the olive oil on the smashed potatoes and sprinkle the sea salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper evenly. You can also mix the dry seasoning in the olive oil and drizzle the seasoned oil on the potatoes.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 F again and set the timer to 8 minutes this time. Put the potatoes back in the basket and air fry. There’s no need to flip them. Once this second cycle is finished, take them out and garnish with rosemary. Alternatively, you can add the rosemary 2-3 minutes before the 8 minutes are up too so the potatoes get infused with the aroma of the herb. Serve hot.

Notes

  1. I used baby potatoes for this recipe, but if you have slightly bigger ones, cut them in half to keep them bite-sized. This will also help keep the cooking times same.
  2. Do serve them immediately or else they will lose some of their crunch. If you want to make them ahead of time, pop them back into the air fryer when you are ready to serve. Two to three minutes at 400 F, and they will be good as new.
  3. For variations, see the body of the post. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 302mgPotassium: 730mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 2mg
Keyword air fryer potatoes, smashed potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Recipe Rating




Julie McAdoo

Wednesday 15th of June 2022

Can't wait to try. Thanks for sharing