I have made red potatoes in the air fryer more times than I can count. The thin skin crisps up beautifully with no peeling required, the inside stays creamy, and the entire prep takes about 20 minutes from “should I make a side?” to “yes, that’s dinner.”
Also, if you’re new to air-fryer cooking, this is a fabulous novice recipe. Red potatoes are forgiving, need little prep, and they pair with nearly any protein.
Read next: Chart: How long to cook potatoes in an air fryer
Quick reference
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 400°F |
| Time | 15 to 20 min |
| Cut | Cut small red potatoes in half or quarter medium-sized red potatoes |
| Yield | About 1 lb feeds 2 or 3 as a side |
Air-fryer red potatoes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air fry
Description
An easy way to make red potatoes that are crispy outside and tender inside.
Ingredients
- 1 lb red potatoes (small to medium)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and dry the potatoes well. Skip peeling — the skin is thin and crisps up nicely on its own. Drying is the step people skip, and it’s the difference between crispy and steamed.
- Cut into even pieces. Halve small potatoes; quarter medium ones. Aim for roughly 1-inch chunks so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Toss with oil first, then seasonings. Oil first helps the seasonings stick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes. Not strictly required on most newer models, but I notice a real difference in crispness when I do.
- Cook in a single layer for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Smaller pieces lean toward 15 minutes; larger ones toward 20.
- Test with a fork. A fork should slide in with no resistance. If it doesn’t, give them another 2–3 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 228
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 662.3 mg
- Fat: 7.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 38.1 g
- Protein: 4.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Read next: How to cook fried potatoes in the air fryer
Variations
Red potatoes can handle a huge range of spices, which means this side dish never gets old. If you’re bored with salt and pepper on your potatoes, try:
- Adding a dash of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to your salt-and-pepper seasoning.
- Tossing cooked potatoes with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley.
- Tossing cooked potatoes with melted butter and minced fresh garlic.
- Swapping another type of potato, like cubed Russets or Yukon golds.
Storage and reheating
Store leftover air-fried red potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. To reheat, put them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 or 4 minutes.
You can freeze cooked red potatoes in a freezer bag for up to 6 months, but the texture suffers. I almost always just eat leftovers within the week.
