Air fryer smashed potatoes are the perfect easy and delicious side dish, ready in less than 30 minutes! Topped with garlic and melted parmesan, the flavor is incredible and the air fried potatoes are super crispy.
You can use petite gold or yellow potatoes, red skin potatoes or even fingerling potatoes!
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If you love super crispy air fryer smashed potatoes, you are in the right place! Did someone say garlic and parmesan flavor bomb!???
The best part is, you can cook the entire recipe using only your air fryer. No need to pre-boil the potatoes separately. Air fryer is one and done!
Serve these air fried potatoes as the perfect side dish to go with Air Fryer Chuck Roast, Air Fryer Top Sirloin Steak or Air Fryer Shake and Bake Pork Chop, or Banquet Pot Pie in Air Fryer for the perfect family dinner.
These smashed air fryer potatoes are also the perfect accompaniment to any breakfast. Serve alongside Breakfast Sausage in Air Fryer, Frozen Bacon in Air Fryer and some scrambled or sunny-side-up eggs! And speaking of potatoes, be sure to check out these Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes!
The best part it, no mess to worry about after! Clean your air fryer in a flash and enjoy that delicious meal.
Why this recipe works
- This air fryer smashed potatoes recipe is the perfect side dish for almost any meal! Great side dish to go with steak, fish, chicken and even a full veggie dinner.
- This recipe for crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer doesn’t require you to pre-boil your potatoes in water. You can use the air fryer for all the steps which means less mess in the kitchen! Quick clean-up is always a winner.
- You can have these air fried potatoes ready in less than 30 minutes. The perfect amount of time to get any quick dinner on the table.
- The flavor or the garlic and parmesan is super flavorful and delicious. Don’t be afraid to add any extra seasonings you might enjoy such a Italian seasoning or even cayenne pepper if you like some spicy kick!
Ingredients
Potatoes: I recommend using petite potatoes for this recipe. You can use gold/yellow skin, red skin potatoes or fingerling potatoes.
Oil or Butter: You can use oil or melted butter for this recipe. Butter will provide a different flavor so it is really based on preference. You can also use olive oil or any type of oil you may prefer (vegetable, canola, avocado, grapeseed, peanut, etc.).
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan or pre-shredded parmesan cheese are both great options.
Garlic: Finely mince or fresh garlic or use a garlic press (my favorite method).
Salt: Kosher, Himalayan or table salt.
Black Pepper: Fresh ground black pepper (optional).
Seasonings of Choice: You can use any seasoning of choice for these air fryer smashed potatoes. Italian seasoning works really well with the parmesan and garlic. You can also use onion powder, creole seasoning or cayenne pepper, to name just a few!
How to make smashed potatoes in air fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- In small dish, mix 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter with minced garlic. Set aside.
- Coat whole potatoes with 1-2 tablespoons remaining olive oil or melted butter.
- Transfer whole potatoes to air fryer basket (do not overcrowd).
- Cook potatoes for 10 minutes on 400°F.
- Shake basket. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until potatoes are soft.
- Transfer potatoes to a plate and smash them down using a metal spoon or a cup/mug. You want to smash them enough so they are flat with cracks but not so smashed that they fall apart.
- Transfer back to air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd.
- Drizzle evenly with olive oil/melted butter and minced garlic mixture.
- Sprinkle with any additional desired seasonings (Italian seasoning), salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- On 400°F, cook smashed potatoes for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Depending on your air fryer, the size of your fryer basket and amount of smashed potatoes in the basket, you can cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until you reach your desired level of crispiness.
Pre-Heating Air Fryer: I recommend pre-heating air fryer. However, if you choose not to pre-heat, add about 3-4 minutes to your cook time.
This recipe works well with any brand of air fryer including Ninja Foodi, Gourmia, Vortex, Nuwave, Cuisinart, Cosori, Power XL and Power Air.
Can I use regular potatoes to make smashed potatoes?
While you could use regular potatoes to make smashed potatoes, using mini or petite potatoes is the way to go. Because of the smaller size and shape of petite potatoes, it allows you to fully cook them quickly and then get the perfect smashed round potatoes with cracks that you are looking for.
That being said, if you are in a pinch and you don’t have access to the smaller size potatoes, cut your potatoes into large cubes (the size of a mini potato) and follow the cooking instructions.
Also, be careful not to overcook. Because you won’t have the skin enclosing the entire potato, it will smash much easier and you don’t want to end up with potato mush!
FAQ and expert tips
No! You don’t need to boil your potatoes ahead of time. You can use your air fryer for the entire cooking process. First you cook the potatoes whole in the air fryer. Then, you smash them and add toppings and finish them in the air fryer. Less mess!
No. There is no need to poke holes. The potatoes will cook slowly and evenly without exploding in the air fryer.
Yes! I don’t recommend cooking anything raw along with potatoes but cooking other vegetable sides or reheating meat both work well for a perfectly timed dinner.
Looking for other great air fryer side dishes?
- Frozen Curly Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Totinos Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Chicken Fries
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Air Fryer
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz petite potatoes (gold/yellow skin, red skin or fingerling)
- 4 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (or garlic powder)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon italian seasoning optional
- ½ teaspoon pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- In small dish, mix 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter with minced garlic. Set aside.
- Coat whole potatoes with 1-2 tablespoons remaining olive oil or melted butter.
- Transfer whole potatoes to air fryer basket (do not overcrowd).
- Cook potatoes for 10 minutes on 400°F.
- Shake basket. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until potatoes are soft.
- Transfer potatoes to a plate and smash them down using a metal spoon or a cup/mug. You want to smash them enough so they are flat with cracks but not so smashed that they fall apart.
- Transfer back to air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd.
- Drizzle evenly with olive oil/melted butter and minced garlic mixture.
- Sprinkle with any additional desired seasonings (Italian seasoning), salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- On 400°F, cook smashed potatoes for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Depending on your air fryer, the size of your fryer basket and amount of smashed potatoes in the basket, you can cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until you reach your desired level of crispiness.
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