Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – who can resist perfectly golden, addictively crunchy air fryer potato cubes? This is a fantastic recipe to try if you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish that you can serve with just about anything. You only need a handful of simple ingredients, it’s also very quick to cook potato cubes in the air fryer making this an ideal recipe for busy weeknight dinners.

Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s Fast – These potato cubes cook up lightning fast in the air fryer. With no need to heat up a pot of oil, you can go from raw potatoes to golden brown cubes in around 20 minutes.
- It’s Delicious – The potato cubes get crispy and caramelized in the air fryer while the inside stays pillowy soft. Seasoned with salt and pepper, or any seasonings you like, these potato cubes are bursting with flavor in every bite.
- It’s Healthy – By using an air fryer instead of deep frying, you significantly cut down on the amount of oil needed to achieve perfectly crispy potato cubes. This means you get all the flavor and crunch without the extra calories and fat.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card for these air fryer potato cubes, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?

Quantities for all ingredients are given in the recipe card below.
Potatoes
Choose a roasting or baking variety for the best results. Try russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, Maris Piper, Agria, or Sebago potatoes. Most types of yellow, gold, or red potato should give good results.
Seasoning
This recipe just uses sea salt, however, you can add extra seasonings to add more flavor if you like. Try adding ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or any other seasonings that you like to make this dish your own.
Oil
The recipe below specifies light olive oil, but you can substitute any other cooking oil that you would normally use in your air fryer. Choose one with a high smoke point, like corn oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
When air frying, choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking.

How to cook potato cubes in the air fryer
This is a very simple recipe to make, but there are a few key steps to getting them just right:
- Soak the potatoes. First, peel the potatoes and cut into 1-inch/2cm cubes, then soak them in cool water for ten minutes or longer to remove any surface starch. Rinse the potatoes and dry thoroughly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F / 180°C.
- Season the potatoes. When the potatoes are dry, mix them with the oil and seasoning in a large bowl. Ensure the potatoes are well coated.


- Place the seasoned potato cubes in the air fryer basket, distributing them evenly. Note: They do not have to be in a single layer, but remember to shake them often during cooking if you want them really crispy.
- Air fry potato cubes for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket a few times during cooking to redistribute the potatoes and ensure they cook evenly.


Tips and variations
- Add some veges: For a variation, you can add some vegetables like onions or bell peppers. Simply cut them into bite-sized pieces and add them to the potatoes when you season and oil them.
- Freezer-friendly option: If you want to save time, you can prepare your cubed potatoes ahead of time and store them in the freezer. Just make sure to arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them into a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to cook the potatoes, add them directly to the preheated air fryer without any additional thawing needed. Keep in mind that the cooking time might be slightly longer.

Serving ideas
Whether you’re having them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, there are many, many ways to serve these potato cubes.
- Serve the hot potato cubes on a platter with ranch dressing or other dipping sauces for an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.
- These crunchy potato cubes pair perfectly with steaks, chops, chicken or fish for a delicious side at dinner.
- Allow the potatoes to cool then add them to fresh green salads for a hearty topping.
- Add the potato cubes to your morning breakfast plate for a tasty alternative to hashbrowns or home fries.
- Load up a bowl with the air fryer cubes, then top with chili, shredded cheese, avocado and sour cream for a tasty alternative to nachos.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Store any leftover potato cubes in an air tight container in the fridge. Use within 3 days.
Leftover potato cubes can be eaten cold, or you can reheat them in your air fryer. Place potatoes in the air fryer basket, and cook for 5 minutes at 360°F/ 180°C until hot.

Air Fryer Potato Cubes
Ingredients
- 2 lb russet potatoes [Note 1]
- 3 tablespoons light olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Directions
- Peel potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, and place into a bowl of cold water to soak for 10 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F/180°C.
- Drain potatoes and pat dry. Place in a large bowl, drizzle with oil, add the salt, and toss to coat.
- Place potato cubes in air fryer and cook at 360°F/180°C for 20 minutes, shaking the basket to redistribute the potato cubes 1 or 2 times during the cooking time [Note 2].
- The potato cubes should be golden brown and crispy. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes if required.
Notes
- Choose a roasting variety, such as russet potatoes, Yukon Gold, Sebago, Maris Piper, Agria, or another red, yellow or golden variety.
- Shake the basket to redistribute the potatoes so they cook easily, or use tongs to quickly flip them if you have a tray type air fryer.
Nutrition
Recommended equipment
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Debbie
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
Really great, easy to make and delicious
Kelli
Saturday 27th of May 2023
Love this recipe. So easy to make and crispy! :)
Bob
Saturday 27th of May 2023
Very tasty!