Smashed potatoes are savory delightful appetizer or snack. This recipe makes crispy-on-the-outside, tender soft-on-the-inside smashed potatoes. Make them in the air fryer or oven without using too much oil or deep frying.
Prepare restaurant-style Crispy Smashed Potatoes for a healthy dish that the whole family will LOVE. 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.
Jump to:
- What is Smashed Potatoes?
- Recipe Inspiration
- Easy Appetizer / Snack / Side Dish
- Non Fried Smashed Potatoes
- Easy Recipe
- Delicious Potato Recipes
- Ingredients
- How to Make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
- Baking Smashed Potatoes in the Oven
- If Using Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid or Crisp Lid
- How to Store the Leftovers?
- Pro Tips
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Our favorite Air Fryer Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
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.
Recipe Inspiration
A while back I enjoyed eating these lip-smacking Crispy Potatoes at a friend’s place on Friday night hangout as a bar nibble. Ever since I wanted to try my hands on that.
On the same weekend, I tried this recipe myself with some healthy tweaks like roasting them in the air fryer instead of deep frying.
I also used Instant Pot for boiling the potatoes. And voila altogether a new favorite recipe in my family and friends was born!
Easy Appetizer / Snack / Side Dish
Smashed Potatoes are so irresistible and fun to eat and easiest to make. These are always very popular finger food appetizer when I serve it for dinner parties.
These flavorful garlicky Potatoes are even perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. They are also terrific for football food, game or movie nights , tailgating as well as elaborate, fancy gatherings and holiday parties.
So if you’re on the hunt for an appetizer for your next party you have arrived at the right place.
As they are so easy to make it has become our favorite evening snack at any time of year. I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything as addictive as smashed potatoes. They are unbelievably delicious and can be served as the best side dish or mid-afternoon snack.
Non Fried Smashed Potatoes
Fresh new potatoes are delicious and simple to make in the air fryer. They can be a healthy alternative to fried potatoes. You need very little oil to make them in air fryer since hot air circulation will crisp them up.
The Air Fryer is wonderful for quick cooking. These yummies get done in Instant Pot and Air fryer/oven with very less hands on cooking. All the instructions are included.
Easy Recipe
Smashed potatoes might seem like they need more work than your regular potato-based creations, but they are totally worth the effort. And with this garlicky and savory seasoning it reaches to altogether different level.
Crispy potatoes get their unique texture and taste from double cooking. Once in pressure cooker/electric cooker and finished in Air fryer/oven.
This recipe gives you the best of both worlds with potatoes that are crispy on top and tender and creamy inside. Not only do they taste great but they add a fun factor to any party, get together or dinner.
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)
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, â…› 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.
Baking 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.
If Using Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid or Crisp Lid
Arrange prepared and seasoned smashed potatoes in a single layer on the basket. Place the basket on the trivet.
Cover and secure the Instant Pot with air fryer lid. (or crisp lid) Air fry at 400 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until the potatoes look crispy and start turning golden brown.
How to Store the Leftovers?
Your leftover potatoes can stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just cover them up with foil or store them in an airtight container. Then, when you want to have them, just reheat them in the oven for 5-7 minutes. But I am pretty sure, there will not be any leftovers. I do not suggest freezing the smashed potatoes.
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.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These mouth-watering smashed garlic potatoes are lightly spiced and can be paired with anything from your casseroles and stews to your protein roasts and holiday mains- they are super versatile that way.
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. Apart from that these are best bar nibbles to enjoy at your drinks parties. 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
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📖 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
- â…› teaspoon smoked paprika
- â…› 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.
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!