Discover the Deliciousness of Air Fryer Red Potatoes! Together we’ll explore the quick and easy way to prepare mouthwatering red potatoes using an air fryer. They are so simple that even your kids can make them! These crispy and flavorful potatoes are sure to become your new favorite side dish. Join us as we share our favorite recipe and tips for achieving perfectly golden and tender air fryer red potatoes every time.
Why I Love This Recipe
This is our second summer in Arizona and these desert temps are not to be messed around with! I won’t shock you with our summer electric bill amounts. Whatever number you are thinking, you aren’t even close. And we live in a newly built home with state-of-the-art energy-efficient technologies.
The reason I share this is that we NEVER use our oven and rarely our stove from July through September. Everything is grilled or air fried because those can be used outside on the patio. Last week, I created these air fryer red potatoes because I needed some carbs to go along with our air fryer frozen salmon. They turned out so delicious and my kids loved dipping them in their favorite restaurant style ranch dressing. I ate them naked and had a hard time not eating too many 🙂
Air Fryer Red Potatoes Ingredients & Tools
Small red potatoes
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh garlic
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Mixing bowl
Air fryer
How to Make Air Fryer Red Potatoes
Time needed: 10 minutes
How to Make Air Fryer Red Potatoes
Select the right type of red potatoes
Red potatoes are best when they are young and small. The larger they get, the starchier they become and they lose some of their natural sweetness. You want them to be around the size of a golf ball.
Preheat your air fryer
Some air fryer recipes don’t need the pre-heating but this one definitely does. Having the air fryer already at 400 degrees when the potatoes go in allow them to roast quickly and caramelize instead of steam.
Prepare the red potatoes
It doesn’t really matter the size you choose to cut your red potatoes but be sure to cut them all that size. If you have too much size variation, your potatoes won’t be done at the same time. I cut mine into 1/2 inch pieces.
Be sure to not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer
If you try to cook too many air fryer red potatoes at the same time, you’ll keep the hot air from being able to evenly move around each piece of potato. This will create uneven cooking and browning of the finished red potatoes. Check out the photo below to see how much space you should have.
Recipe FAQs
Do I have to boil potatoes before air frying?
No, you do not have to boil potatoes before air frying them. Air frying is a cooking method that uses hot circulating air to cook food, similar to a convection oven, but with a more compact and faster cooking process. They will cook through completely without boiling them.
In fact, boiling potatoes before air frying will only result in the potatoes steaming instead of roasting. They won’t turn golden and crispy on the outside like they should.
Are red potatoes good as baking potatoes?
Absolutely! Red potatoes are excellent for making baked potatoes. While russet potatoes are the most common choice for traditional baked potatoes, red potatoes can be just as delicious and offer a slightly different flavor and texture profile. Red potatoes have a waxy texture compared to the mealy texture of russet potatoes. When baked, this creamy texture remains intact, resulting in a tender and moist interior.
Red potatoes have thinner and edible skins, which means you can enjoy the added nutrition and a bit of extra texture without having to peel them before baking. Also, due to their waxy texture, red potatoes generally cook faster than russet potatoes, making them a great option for when you’re short on time.
Can I use Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes in this recipe?
Yes, that would be a great substitution. Each potato results in a different texture both on the inside as well as the outside, but all are delicious. Use whatever potatoes you already have on hand and make your life easier!
Can I use Sweet Potatoes in this recipe?
Yes, you can use sweet potatoes in this recipe. However, because sweet potatoes cook faster than regular potatoes you do need to adjust the cooking time. Sweet potatoes will cook in the air fryer in 10-12 minutes. You can prepare sweet potatoes in the same way as red potatoes by cutting them into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces. If you do not like the skin of sweet potatoes, they can be peeled before being cut. You will then continue with the recipe as normal; however, you will cook them for only 12 minutes instead of 20 minutes and shake the basket after 6 minutes.
My air fryer red potatoes didn’t cook all the way. What did I do wrong?
If your finished air fryer red potatoes are not soft and tender on the inside, they really weren’t finished. Every air fryer has a different power level, so next time add 3 – 5 more minutes to the cooking time and you should be good to go.
More Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes
Air Fryer Corn on the CobAir Fryer Baked PotatoesAir Fryer Brussel SproutsPrint
Cut the potatoes into similar sized pieces. For red potatoes, that usually means cutting them into 4-6 pieces. Pieces should be about a 1/2 to 1 inch in size.
Place the cut potatoes in a bowl with the oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to coast the potatoes in the seasonings.
Add the potatoes to the hot air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cook time.
Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.
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