Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

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I am a huge fan of potatoes, they are so yummy! These air fryer smashed potatoes are so good, they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

If you love potatoes you have got to give this easy air fryer smashed potatoes recipe a try. It is one of my favorite potato recipes. They are super flavorful with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. And they go perfect with ketchup, fry sauce, or sour cream. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

In order to make these yummy petite gold potatoes, smashed and cooked in the air fryer, you need a handful of ingredients and tools.

• Petite Potatoes – I usually use the petite Yukon Gold potatoes, but you can also use the red, and purple potatoes, or any small potatoes. The ideal size of potato for this smashed potatoes recipe is around the size of a golf ball.
• Cooking oil – You can use whatever your favorite cooking oil is, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut, etc. Or if you prefer you can use butter instead.
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Water for boiling – If you choose to boil the potatoes instead of the other options I mention further down in the post.

Tools/Equipment

• Medium to a large pot
• Air Fryer – This one is the highly-rated air fryer I use. I have had it for a few years now and love it.
•  Spatula
• Cooking oil spray or use a basting brush

Step 2: How to Make Smashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Making smashed potatoes in the air fryer is incredibly simple, and there are a few variations that you can try which I mention near the end of this post. I also include some helpful tips and notes along the way which are not included in the condensed “printable” recipe at the end of this post.

Begin with your potatoes. The potatoes need to be small/petite for this recipe. I usually buy a bag of petite Yukon Gold potatoes from Private Selection, at my local supermarket, which is a Kroger-owned store and Private Selection is one of their brands. They are usually $2 to $3 for a package. You can also buy the variety packs that come with the Gold, Red, and Purple potatoes. As long as the potatoes are small, around the size of a golf ball, they will work nicely as smashed potatoes.

The kind I buy come pre-rinsed. If you buy some that are not, you will want to rinse them well first to get rid of any extra dirt, etc.

Step 3: Cook the small petite potatoes before using the air fryer

First, we need to cook the potatoes to get them soft then we smash them and crisp them in the air fryer.

Take a medium to a large pot and fill it a little over halfway with water. Then add some salt to the water.

Add the potatoes then take them over to the stovetop burner. Set the heat to medium-high and once it starts to boil allow the potatoes to boil for 16 to 18 minutes, until fork-tender. They should be soft but not super soft.

Boiling them allows the center to be soft when we fry them and helps to remove the starch making them taste better.

NOTE: There are a handful of ways you can cook the small potatoes before smashing them. The first way is boiling them like I am showing in this recipe. Another way which is the fastest is to just microwave them for a few minutes, which isn’t the best in my option. The other option is to bake them in the oven at 375F/192 C for 30 to 45 minutes until fork tender. Or another way is actually to cook them whole first in the air fryer at 400F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 4: Smash and season the potatoes then into the air fryer they go

Once the potatoes are mostly cooked/just fork tender, remove them from the boiling water and smash them!

You can use a potato masher, or the bottom of a glass, or even a plate and just firmly press them down. They may split but the skin should keep them together for the most part.

Don’t worry if some of them or a piece of it falls apart, just air fry that small piece as well, and it will still turn out amazing.

Now, spray or baste a little bit of oil on the tops. The oil will give it some flavor as well as help it crisp up nicer.

Sprinkle on some seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.

Step 5: Finishing the smashed air fryer potatoes

Time to air fry those smashed potatoes until nice and crispy. Use a spatula and place the smashed potatoes in the air fryer basket.

Cook at 400F/205 C for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the basket and then flip the smashed potatoes over. Add a bit more oil and seasonings to that side and then cook for another 5 to 6 minutes until browned and crispy.

Easy as that!

TIP: If you would like to add some cheese, let it cook for a few minutes on the second side, then pull out the basket and put some shredded cheese on top, then slide the basket back in and cook for another 4 minutes or so to melt the cheese. You could even sprinkle on some bacon bits.

Serve with ketchup, fry sauce, sour cream, etc. It works well as a snack or a side dish with bacon and eggs, or with a sandwich or burger.

Enjoy!

NOTE: If you don’t want to air fry them you can brown them in a skillet with a bit of oil using medium heat.

How long do these smashed potatoes last?

They will last a few days in the fridge. And then when you want to serve them, you can heat them back up in the air fryer for a few minutes.

If you love potatoes, check out these other potato recipes:

Perfect Bake Potato

Sweet Potato Chips

Potato Salad

Twice Baked Potatoes

Ham and Potato Soup

Roasted Baby Potatoes

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