Red Potatoes Air Fryer

Subtly spiced, crispy on the outside, and buttery soft on the inside, these air fryer red potatoes make for an easy and nutritious side dish for any meal. 

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes & Substitutions 
• Step by Step
• Video Instructions
• Expert Tips
• FAQs
• Red Potatoes Air Fryer

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It's quick and easy. Compared to roasted potatoes, these red potatoes in the air fryer are ready in 20 minutes, and no pre-boiling is required. Even the prep doesn’t take too long, only about 5 minutes to cut up the potatoes and prepare the seasonings.
• The flavor and texture are similar to roast potatoes, and if you follow the instructions in this recipe, you’ll be avoiding dry, overcooked potatoes.
• It’s budget-friendly. Red potatoes are available all year round and are always affordable. Seasoned with easily-accessible spices you’re likely already have in the pantry, they are a real crowd favorite. 
• Healthy and nutritious, potatoes are loaded with vitamins and satiating fiber and carbohydrates while being low in calories (around 110 calories per serving without any added fats or other ingredients).
• It’s one of the most versatile side dishes—you can serve it with any meat, chicken, or fish dish or as a vegetarian option with extra vegetables and salad. You can adapt the seasoning to suit most cuisines.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions 

• Red potatoes: I used medium red potatoes, which usually need a quick wash and dry before being sliced or diced. You can cut them into wedges or large cubes. White potatoes can also be used.
• Olive oil: You need about a tablespoon to coat the potatoes before cooking. I recommend using an olive oil spray to mist the potatoes with a little more oil in the second half of cooking. You only need a light spray, which will help the potatoes from drying out and give them an extra crispy finish.
• Seasoning: Salt and pepper are used during the first part of cooking. Garlic powder, mixed Italian herbs, and sweet paprika powder are added in the second half of air frying (mostly to prevent them from burning and turning bitter). Feel free to replace the herbs with thyme or rosemary or replace sweet paprika with a smoked version.

Step by Step

1. Cut the potatoes.

•  Wash and pat dry the potatoes, then cut them into quarter wedges. 

2. Season the potatoes.

• Drizzle potato wedges with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub all over. 

3. Air fry potatoes.

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-4 minutes. Spray the basket with a little olive oil. Transfer the pre-seasoned potatoes to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t worry if a few of them overlap, as we’ll be flipping them over halfway through, and the potatoes will shrink slightly while cooking. 
• Set the timer to 12 minutes, flipping potatoes halfway through. 
• After 12 minutes, remove the basket and season the potatoes with garlic powder, paprika, and herbs. Toss through to distribute the spices. Spray with a mist of olive oil and pop the basket back into the air fryer.
• Set the timer for 8 more minutes at the same temperature. You can turn the potatoes over again. However, it’s optional. 

4. Serve while hot.

Transfer air-fried red potatoes to a serving platter. Sprinkle with a little more salt and fresh parsley or chives if you wish.

Video Instructions

Expert Tips

• Red potatoes don’t need to be peeled. Cut away any blemished or spoilt skin, but otherwise, you can leave the skin on. It adds color contrast to cooked potatoes, which look great on the table.
• Make sure to coat potatoes in oil. You don’t need much but it will give you a crispier finish and will help to keep them soft and fluffy. 
• Size matters. Potatoes come in different shapes and sizes. I used medium red potatoes cut into quarter wedges, which cooked perfectly in 20 minutes without drying out. If you cut potatoes into smaller cubes, you may need to shorten the cooking times. If using potato halves, you may need a couple more minutes. 
• Don’t overcook. Air-fried red potatoes can get dry if overcooked, so make sure to give them a test after about 20 minutes. I find that giving them an extra olive oil spray halfway through also helps.
• If using garlic or onion powder or herbs, I recommend adding them in the second half of air frying to avoid burning. 

FAQs