Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside—learn how to make perfect air fryer smashed potatoes with easy steps, pro tips, and delicious flavor variations. Smashed potatoes are savory delightful appetizer or snack. Made with baby potatoes and simple seasonings, they’re quick, easy, and irresistibly golden brown.
Similar to Roasted Masala Potatoes, Crispy Fingerling Potatoes and Cheese Potato Poppers , these easy air fryer smashed potatoes are pure delight for all spud fans.
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What is Smashed Potatoes?
Smashed potatoes are twice cooked delicious potatoes that are are crispy on the outside and creamy inside. Typically they are seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika and pepper.
Small baby potatoes are pressure cooked first then smashed to flat and then air fried or roasted with seasoning of your choice and served with sauce or chutney.
Ingredients
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make the best ever crispy potatoes. I am keeping simple seasoning mix however, feel free to choose your favorite.
Potatoes : One pound small or medium potatoes. Since we do not peel the skin, choose clean and blemish free potatoes.
Butter or Oil : 2 tablespoons oil or butter. Use vegan butter or plant based butter to keep the recipe vegan.
Seasoning : 7-8 garlic cloves crushed, ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Optional Garnishes : Dried parsley or thyme , sea salt crystals, fresh chives, chili lime seasoning, parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast or use any of your favorite seasoning.
How to Make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
- Wash and scrub the potatoes; pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Boil the potatoes on the stove. Alternatively, you can make them in the Instant Pot. Add the potatoes in a pan or steamer basket inside Instant Pot or pressure cooker with enough water at bottom. Pressure cook the potatoes for 5 minutes, followed by natural pressure release.
- Once cooled, spread them on the cookie sheet. Gently smash the potatoes with potato masher or back of glass. Apply appropriate pressure such that potatoes become flat however do not break apart.
- Prepare the basting butter/oil mixture by whisking together butter/oil, smoked paprika, crushed garlic, ground pepper and salt in a bowl.
- Place potatoes on an air fryer rack or basket in single layer, making sure to leave some space between them and not stacking them. Work in batches if needed.
- Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes (depending on the size of your potatoes), flipping over after around 8minutes.
How to Bake Smashed Potatoes in the Oven
Don’t have an Air fryer, no worries at all. You can make these crispy Potatoes in the oven too.
Prepare the potatoes as described in the steps 1-4 above. Place potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes at 400 degree Fahrenheit in pre heated oven.
How to Store the Leftovers?
Refrigeration: Store leftover smashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: To maintain crispiness, reheat in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes.
Freezing: Freeze cooked smashed potatoes on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer until heated through.
Pro Tips
- Use good quality/organic and fresh potatoes.
- Make sure you wash the potatoes thoroughly before you use them for the recipe. We are not peeling them so you’ll be eating the skin too.
- Do not peel the skin of the potatoes. It helps them hold together as well as crispy texture when roasted.
- Use small or medium or sized potatoes. They are easier to crisp and are best for bite size appetizers.
- It is always best to choose potatoes that have a similar size, so that they all end up cooking at the same time, and are evenly cooked through.
- Remember to season the potatoes with kosher salt and black pepper before you put them into the oven or the air fryer. Sprinkle rest of the seasoning only after roasting.
Why are my smashed potatoes not crispy?
This could be due to overcrowding in the air fryer basket or not drying the potatoes thoroughly before air frying. Ensure there's enough space for air circulation and that the potatoes are dry.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
You can serve them with a dipping sauce like Avocado Cilantro Lime or Greek Tzatziki Sauce. Cilantro Mint Chutney, Tomato Chutney or Apple Ginger Chutney also makes fabulous pairing.
You can enjoy them as is. I love them with a cup of warm Masala Chai for mid after noon snack.
Our favorite Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
- Air Fryer Pasta Chips
- Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
- Crispy Corn Fritters
- Zucchini Fries
- Sweet Potato Wedges
★ If you make this Smashed Potatoes Recipe , do let us know how you like it by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb. small baby potatoes
- 2 Tablespoon butter or olive oil use plant butter if vegan
Spice Mix
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder or freshly minced garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
Equipment and Kitchen items
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in a pressure cooker/ Instant Pot or in microwave till fork tender.
- Use a potato masher or back of measuring cup or a thick glass to smash them lightly.
- Lay the smashed potatoes in a single layer and brush them with butter and seasoning mixture.
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
- Set the Air Fry 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. Put the air fryer basket in.
- After 8 minutes, open the air fryer basket, flip the potatoes and brush again with spice mix and air fry for a further 4 minutes till they are crispy and delicious.
- Take them out and brush once more with the butter / oil spice mix to enhance the flavor. Serve hot with a dip or enjoy them as is.
To Make Smashed Potatoes In Oven
- Preheat oven at 400 degree Fahrenheit. Arrange prepared potatoes in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes on center rack. Check half way through to make sure that they are evenly baking.
Instant Pot Instructions to Boil Potatoes
- Add 1 cup water in the instant pot steel insert. Place trivet or steamer basket and place potatoes on top of it. Close lid with vent in sealing position.
- Pressure cook on Steam mode at high pressure for 6 mins.
- When the instant pot finishes cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then remove leftover pressure by moving the valve to venting.
- Remove the potatoes from the instant pot and proceed to make the rest of the recipe.
Notes
- You can also microwave the potatoes for about 8-10 minutes till they seem fork tender. Or on the stove top boil them in large sauce pan for 10-15 minutes.
- Use small or medium or sized potatoes. They are easier to crisp and are best for bite size appetizers.
- Wash the potatoes thoroughly and ensure there is no dirt on the skin.
Nutrition
Delicious Potato Recipes
We love Potatoes in my family. We have one potato recipe at least once a week. Some of our favorites are Instant Pot Potato Soup, Creamy Potato Salad, Homestyle Mashed Potatoes as well as Indian Dum Aloo Curry , Crispy Aloo Tikki and Instant Pot Aloo Matar ( Potato and Peas Curry)
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Claire
These were so delicious! And I loved the fact I didn't have to put the oven on!
The kids demolished them!! Big thumbs up from my 5 kids 🙂
Sophia
I don't know why it had never occurred to me to make smashed potatoes in the air fryer, but boy were they good! I used fresh garlic and it turned out great, I thought it might burn but it was perfect!