• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Fast Recipe Food Blog
  • 15 Minutes or Less
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 15 Minutes or Less
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 15 Minutes or Less
    • Recipe Index
    • Latest Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Air Fryer

    Smashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer

    Published by: Adina January 23, 2024 Leave a comment
    Jump to Recipe

    Make some crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer. They are delicious and ready in no time. Serve them with a dipping sauce or with your favorite main dish.

    golden and crispy smashed potatoes on a small plate.

    Try our delicious air fryer smashed potatoes! These spuds are crispy outside and soft inside. Just toss them in the air fryer, set the timer, and enjoy a simple, delicious side dish. No fuss, just yum!

    The great part about this easy recipe? No need to pre-boil the potatoes, as you would for roasting them in the oven. But the crunch and flavor? Still there โ€“ no compromise on that. 

    And if you donโ€™t have an air fryer, follow our recipe for baked Cheesy Smashed Potatoes.ย 

    Jump to:
    • ๐Ÿฅ”Why will you love this recipe?
    • ๐Ÿ“‹Recipe ingredients
    • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐ŸณHow to make smashed potatoes in the air fryer?
    • ๐Ÿ”ŠExpert Tips
    • โ“Recipe FAQ
    • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing suggestions
    • ๐Ÿ”What to serve with crispy potatoes?
    • ๐Ÿ“– Recipe
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    ๐Ÿฅ”Why will you love this recipe?

    • Air fryer convenience: Quick cooking time and easy cleanup.ย 
    • Perfect side dish or light main dish. Serve them with Cottage Cheese Dipย or Blended Cottage Cheese. You could also choose one of The Dipping Sauces for Calamari.
    • Crowd-pleaser: Sure to impress friends and the whole family; the kids will adore these crunchy potatoes.ย 
    • Minimal ingredients: A few simple ingredients for maximum taste.

    ๐Ÿ“‹Recipe ingredients

    labeled ingredients for making smashed potatoes with garlic and cheese in the air fryer.
    • Potatoes: For super crispy air fryer smashed potatoes, go for smaller ones - baby potatoes, about the size of a golf ball, not bigger than 2 inches (50 mm) across. Larger ones make it tricky to smash without breaking.
      • You can use small red potatoes or yellow kinds.  Fingerling potatoes, baby gold potatoes, and petite potatoes also work well here. 
    • Olive oil for brushing the potatoes during the first stage of cooking.ย 
    • Butter and fresh garlic: Mix butter with garlic for loads of flavor, making these tubers impossible to resist. You can use unsalted or salted butter; adjust the salt in the mix.
    • Spices: Rosemary, paprika, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper. Finish with some flaky sea salt (or Kosher salt) before serving.ย 
      • Alternatively, use other spices or spice mixtures you like. Onion and garlic powder, oregano, coriander, Herbs de Provence, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Garam masala, curry powder, etc. Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. Once cooked, sprinkle them with fresh parsley, chives, dill, or cilantro.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐ŸณHow to make smashed potatoes in the air fryer?

    • Wash and pat dry the potatoes with a paper towel (donโ€™t peel them). Preheat the air fryer if necessary.
    • Cook potatoes: Place the spuds in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Brush or rub them with oil and air fry them for 12-15 minutes until fork tender.
    smashing cooked potatoes on a white cutting board.

    Step 1: Smash potatoes on a cutting board to about ยฝ inch thick (1.3 cm) using a potato masher, a large fork, or the bottom of a cup.

    butter and garlic mixture for brushing potatoes.

    Step 2: Melt butter in a small saucepan; add garlic and spices; mix well.

    smashed potatoes in the air fryer before cooking.

    Step 3: Brush smashed potatoes with garlic butter.ย 

    smashed potatoes in the air fryer basket after cooking.

    Step 4: Air fry the smashed potatoes for 5 minutes or until crispy golden brown.

    For more easy air fryer recipes, check out Air Fryer Bacon Asparagus, Air Fryer Meatloaf, or make some Air Fryer Turkey Burgers and Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes.

    ๐Ÿ”ŠExpert Tips

    Smashing steps: Grab a potato masher, fork, or the bottom of a glass. Gently press down on the boiled potatoes. Don't squash them completely; keeping some chunks and texture makes the dish even better.

    Serve pronto: These garlic smashed potatoes are at their best straight out of the air fryer when they're super crispy. If you wait too long, they might lose that delightful crunch.

    โ€‹

    a green plate with smashed potatoes with a fork beside it.

    โ“Recipe FAQ

    Can I prep smashed potatoes ahead?ย 

    While they're crispiest fresh, you can get a head start. Prep up to the smashing step, then place them in the fridge. When it's time to serve, brush on the butter mix and air fry for that perfect crispiness.

    How to store and reheat?

    Keep leftover smashed potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To revive that crispiness, air fry them again for a few minutes until crispy and hot.
    Freezing smashed potatoes isn't ideal; they tend to turn mushy upon thawing and reheating.ย 

    ๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing suggestions

    • Crispy bacon topping: Cook crispy bacon separately and crumble it over the air-fried smashed potatoes before serving.
    • Loaded smashed potatoes: Pile on classic baked potato toppings like sour cream, green onions, and even a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
    • Mushrooms and onions: Sautรฉ mushrooms and onions in butter, then pile them onto the smashed potatoes. Make a yogurt or sour cream dip to go with them; you will need nothing more.
    • Truffle oil: Drizzle some over the air fryer smashed potatoes before serving for a touch of luxury.
    • Tex-Mex: Use taco seasoning and serve the potatoes with salsa, refried beans, guacamole, and sour cream.
    close up of a crunchy and crispy smashed potato.

    ๐Ÿ”What to serve with crispy potatoes?

    • brined boneless turkey breast sliced and served with cranberry sauce.
      Brined Boneless Turkey Breast
    • close up of golden instnat pot chicken legs on parchment paper.
      Instant Pot Chicken Legs
    • fried chicken burger with cheese, bacon and pickles close up.
      Crispy Fried Chicken Burgers
    • asparagus and eggs pan fried in a cast iron skillet.
      Asparagus Brunch (with Eggs)
    Hungry for More Fast Recipes?

    Sign up for our Newsletter to receive new, quick, and delicious recipes in your inbox occasionally! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest and Facebook

    Give my quick recipes a try for your next family meal! Feel free to reach out if you need any assistance!

    ๐Ÿ“– Recipe

    air fryer smashed potatoes on a green plate with a rosemary sprig.

    Smashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer

    Crispy delights await! Try our easy air fryer smashed potatoes recipe for a perfect side dish. Simple steps for maximum flavor โ€“ no pre-boiling needed!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 229kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients  

    • 1 lb small potatoes 450 g, Note 1
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter 30 g
    • 1 large garlic clove grated
    • ยฝ teaspoon rosemary Note 2
    • ยฝ teaspoon sweet paprika
    • 1-2 tablespoons chives or other herbs, chopped
    • flaky sea salt or kosher salt
    • ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Prepare potatoes: Wash and pat them dry (donโ€™t peel them).
    • Preheat the air fryer to 400F/ 200ยฐC if necessary; some need it, and some donโ€™t. Mine needs 3 minutes of preheating.
    • Air fry potatoes: Place potatoes in the basket in a single layer. Brush or rub them with the oil (I use my hands and rub them well all over). Air fry the potatoes for 12 -15 minutes or until fork-tender.
      1 lb small potatoes / 500 g + 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Smash them to about ยฝ inch thick (1.3 cm) using a potato masher, fork, or glass bottom. Don't squash them entirely; keeping them a bit chunky gives the best crispy texture.
    • Butter mixture: Make the butter mixture shortly before the potatoes are ready. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the grated garlic and the spices, and mix well.
      2 tablespoons butter + 1 large garlic clove + ยฝ teaspoon rosemary + ยฝ teaspoon sweet paprika
    • Brush the mixture onto the smashed potatoes. Return the potatoes to the air fryer basket.
    • Air fry again for about 5 minutes or until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown. Sprinkle them lightly with a bit of flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper if desired.
      1-2 tablespoons chives + flaky sea salt + ground black pepper

    Notes

    1. Potatoes: Choose small potatoes, about the size of a golf ball, not bigger than 2 inches (50 mm) across. You can use small red or yellow potatoes. Fingerling potatoes, baby potatoes, and petite potatoes also work well here.
    2. Spices: You can use other spices if you like; most anything goes. Try Italian or Cajun seasoning, garlic and onion powder, Garam masala, curry powder, etc.ย 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 451IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Pin it today!Mention @thefastrecipe or tag #thefastrecipe!

    More Crispy Air Fryer Recipes: Quick and Easy Meals

    • air fryer chicken quarters served with potato wedges.
      Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
    • air fryer garlic parmesan wings on a small white plate with parsley.
      Garlic Parmesan Wings in the Air Fryer
    • two pieces of panko chicken, one sliced, on a green plate with salad and lemon wedges.
      Crispy Panko Chicken
    • air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus on a small black plate.
      Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

    Sharing is caring!

    13 shares
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Adina Beck the recipe writer, creator, and photographer behind The Fast Recipe Food Blog.

    Hi, I'm Adina! I am a foodie, creator, writer, and photographer, creating and photographing recipes for my blogs and clients.

    More about me โ†’

    Most Popular

    • collage of four pictures of different dipping sauces for calamari.
      Best Dipping Sauces for Calamari
    • small bowl of creamy ricotta mac and cheese on a white cloth with blue flowers.
      Creamy Ricotta Mac and Cheese
    • quick pork belly bites sprinkled with green onions on a white plate.
      Quick Pork Belly Bites
    • red dutch oven with mac and cheese without flour.
      Simple Mac and Cheese without Flour

    Easy Summer Dinner

    • italian zucchini soup topped with fresh basil in a large bowl.
      Italian Zucchini Soup
    • penne caprese with tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil in a bowl.
      Easy Penne Caprese
    • two pieces of panko chicken, one sliced, on a green plate with salad and lemon wedges.
      Crispy Panko Chicken
    • a bowl of dill lemon rice topped with a large sprig of dill and lemon slices.
      Dill Lemon Rice

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Check out our Web Stories

    Contact

    If you have any questions or want to work with us, please email us @ yummy@thefastrecipe.com

    If you would like to use one of our photos in your editorial content, please feel free to do so as long as a link back to thefastrecipe.com is provided. Thank you.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.