Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Whip up these air fryer roast potatoes for crunchy, golden roasties with next to no effort. They make an irresistible side dish for just about any meal, and are so quick to make that you can have them any night of the week.
Air frying is ideal for roasting potatoes because it does what the oven does, only faster and more efficiently: faster browning, even cooking, and a fluffy fork-tender center.
For some more air fryer potato recipes, these air fryer baby potatoes, air fryer smashed potatoes, or go fancy with these air fryer parmentier potatoes.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Roasting potatoes
Choose starchy or all-purpose potatoes for the fluffiest centers and crispiest outsides. Great options:
- Russet potatoes
- Idaho
- Yukon Gold
- Maris Piper (UK)
- King Edward (UK)
- Yellow potatoes
Waxy potatoes (like red potatoes or baby/fingerlings) won’t get as fluffy inside, but they still crisp nicely and hold their shape well. Use whatever you’ve got, just cut them into even-sized pieces.
Seasoning
Salt is non-negotiable (potatoes absolutely need it), and pepper, garlic, and a little rosemary are always welcome. Beyond that, customize as needed:
- Smoked paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Rosemary & thyme
- Cajun seasoning
- Lemon pepper
Use what makes you happy, potatoes are extremely forgiving.
Oil
Light olive oil is my go-to, though avocado oil or any neutral, high-smoke-point oil works perfectly. You don’t need much, the air fryer does the heavy lifting.
Pro Tip
Choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking. Vegetable oil or avocado oil are good choices.
The more oil you use, the crisper the potatoes will turn out. To make a calorie-lighter version of these roasted potatoes, you can use olive oil spray instead of regular oil.
Note: Choose an oil spray that spritzes rather than an aerosol, as aerosol sprays can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket.
How to roast potatoes in the air fryer
1 Prep the potatoes
Wash and peel the potatoes. Peeling gives a smoother, more even crisp, but you can leave the skin on for extra texture if you prefer.
Cut into evenly sized chunks, about 1-1½ inches (3-4 cm). The smaller they are, the quicker they will cook.
Optional step: soak.
For extra crispiness, soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 10-20 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain thoroughly.
Prep-ahead tip!
You can peel and cut the potatoes the day before, and soak them in water overnight in the fridge. Just ensure that the potatoes are completely covered by the water to prevent them turning grey.
2 Preheat + season the potatoes
Set the air fryer to preheat to 360°F/ 180°C for a few minutes while you season the potato chunks.
Pat the potato chunks dry, and toss in a large bowl with oil, salt, and any other seasonings you are using.
3 Arrange in the air fryer
Spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid piling them up too much if possible – overcrowding traps steam and prevents crisping.
If needed, cook them in batches, or shake the basket often during cooking to release the steam and redistribute the potatoes.
4 Air Fry
Air fry the roast potatoes for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket or gently flipping the potatoes once or twice during cooking so they brown evenly on all sides.
Check for doneness: the outside should be crisp and deep golden brown. If they’re not quite there yet, cook for another 2-3 minutes and check again.
Once done to your liking, serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Tips for Perfect Roast Potatoes
- Dry thoroughly after rinsing or soaking. Moisture = steaming, not crisping.
- Size consistency matters. Cut potatoes evenly so they cook together.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Air needs room to circulate for max crispiness.
- Shake halfway for even browning.
- Crank the heat at the end. If the potatoes aren’t browned enough for you liking, a final 2 minutes at 400°F can level up the crunch.
Serving ideas
Air fryer roast potatoes go with almost anything:
- A simple weeknight protein like air fryer roast chicken
- Gravy and steamed greens for a mini roast dinner
- Fish, steak, or veggie patties
- As the “crunchy carb” component of bowls, wraps, or brunch plates
You can also dress them up: toss with Parmesan and herbs, coat with a little garlic butter, or drizzle with aioli or chimichurri.
Storing and reheating roast potatoes
Store any leftover roast potatoes in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat the potatoes in the air fryer, air fry for 3-4 minutes until warmed through (twice air-fried potatoes are the ultimate crispy potato dish!).
Freezing leftover roast potatoes
You can also store leftover roast potatoes in the freezer if you want to keep them for longer. Spread the leftover roast potatoes on a baking tray, and place in the freezer until they are frozen. Then transfer the frozen roast potatoes to freezer bags for storage.
You can air fry frozen roast potatoes from frozen to reheat them:
- Place the frozen roast potatoes in the air fryer
- Air fry at 360°F/ 180°C for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are heated through and crispy. Shake the basket every 5 minutes or so to redistribute the frozen potatoes and ensure they air fry evenly.
Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 lb / 900 g potatoes [Note 1]
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- Wash potaotes, peel (if desired), and cut into chunks about 1½-inches (3-4 cm) in size.
- Optional step: Place cut potato pieces into a large bowl filled with cold water, and leave to soak for 10 minutes before draining.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F / 180°C.
- Pat the potato chunks dry thoroughly. Toss in a large bowl, with the oil, and seasonings.
- Place prepared potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Roast potatoes in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking, until crispy and golden.
Notes
- Choose a roasting variety like russet potatoes, Idaho, Maris Piper, King Edward, or all-purpose potatoes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
FAQ & Tips
If you want to prepare them ahead of time do not leave them exposed to air for too long as the cut edges can start to go brown. This is easily fixed by storing them in a bowl of water and popping them in the fridge.
There is no need to parboil potatoes before air frying. You can if you want to, and you may get slightly crispier potatoes. However, I find that pre-soaking them is enough to get them crispy (without the added effort).
