Crispy Air Fryer Whole Baby Potatoes: Your New Go-To Side Dish

Discover the simplest, most delicious way to prepare potatoes with this incredible recipe for air fryer whole baby potatoes. Achieve a perfect balance of crispy exteriors and wonderfully tender interiors every single time. If you’re new to cooking potatoes in an air fryer, prepare to be amazed by how effortless and flavorful this method is. With no tedious peeling or chopping required, these perfectly roasted air fryer mini potatoes are poised to become your family’s favorite vegetable side. They’re versatile enough to complement any meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or a hearty dinner.

Why Air Fryer Baby Potatoes are a Game Changer

Picture this: you’ve just bought a bag of fresh potatoes. The usual routine involves a lengthy process of deciding on seasonings, cooking methods, and what to pair them with. Then comes the prep work – peeling, chopping, perhaps mashing or smashing. It’s often a significant time commitment, especially on busy weeknights.

This is precisely why you need these air fryer baby potatoes in your culinary repertoire. This easy-to-follow recipe cuts down on all that extra work. Simply toss the little potatoes with some oil and your favorite seasonings, then pop them into your air fryer. It’s that simple!

We specifically choose small, thin-skinned potatoes for this recipe because they eliminate the need for peeling and chopping. This saves a tremendous amount of time, making it an ideal solution for a quick and satisfying side dish any day of the week.

Roasting whole baby potatoes in the air fryer elegantly solves many common challenges associated with fresh vegetables. They are incredibly affordable, remarkably easy to prepare, and — most importantly — absolutely delicious. I am confident that air fried baby potatoes will quickly become a staple in your home, just as they have in mine. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones enjoy them as much as we do!

You only need a handful of readily available ingredients to create these delightful air fried small potatoes. Here’s your essential shopping list:

• 1½ lbs (680g) baby potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

A printable recipe card with full details is available at the end of this post!

Choosing the Right Potatoes for Your Air Fryer

Selecting the correct type of potato is crucial for this recipe’s success. You want baby potatoes with very thin skins, as this allows them to cook quickly and eliminates the need for peeling. Thicker-skinned potatoes will take longer and might not achieve the desired texture without additional prep.

For this recipe, I used vibrant yellow mini potatoes. However, you have several excellent alternatives that will work just as well: baby red potatoes, baby purple potatoes, baby white potatoes, or even baby Yukon Gold potatoes. Their thin skins make them perfect for this method. Avoid larger, thick-skinned varieties like Russet potatoes, as they are simply too big and their skins too tough for this specific whole-roasting technique.

Keep in mind that potato size directly impacts cooking time. If your potatoes are significantly smaller than those pictured, they will likely cook faster. Conversely, if you opt for slightly larger baby potatoes, consider cutting them into large, even chunks before air frying to ensure consistent cooking and tenderness.

Air Fryer Compatibility

This recipe is adaptable to nearly all popular air fryer brands and models, including the Ninja Foodi, Philips, Cosori, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, and Power Air Fryer. While the method remains consistent, minor adjustments to cooking times might be necessary based on your specific appliance’s wattage and design.

If you have a compact air fryer basket or tray, you may need to cook the mini potatoes in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding can prevent proper air circulation, leading to steamed rather than crispy potatoes. Always aim for a single layer of potatoes for best results.

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

To begin your air-fried baby potato journey, first thoroughly rinse your potatoes under cool water to remove any dirt. Pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Transfer the clean, dry potatoes to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the potatoes, ensuring each one gets a light coating.

Step 3: Load the Air Fryer

Carefully transfer the seasoned potatoes into your air fryer basket or onto the tray. Arrange them in a single layer if possible, avoiding excessive overcrowding to ensure they roast evenly and get delightfully crispy. I found that I could fit all of these baby potatoes onto one tray in my air fryer oven. Don’t forget to pour any remaining herbed oil from the mixing bowl over the potatoes in the air fryer – every drop of flavor counts!

With your potatoes seasoned and perfectly placed, they’re ready for cooking. If you’re using an air fryer oven, position the tray of baby potatoes on the top rack for optimal browning and crispiness.

Step 4: Air Fry to Perfection

Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200°C) and cook the mini potatoes for a total of 20-25 minutes. A crucial step for even cooking and all-around crispiness is to shake the basket or flip the potatoes approximately halfway through the cooking time, after about 10 minutes. This ensures every side of the potato gets exposure to the circulating hot air.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Potatoes

• **No Preheating Needed:** One of the great benefits of this recipe is that you don’t need to preheat your air fryer, saving you valuable time in the kitchen.
• **Faster Cooking:** For an even quicker cooking time, you can cut the baby potatoes into halves or quarters before seasoning and air frying. This increases the surface area and reduces the required cooking duration.
• **Doneness Check:** The potatoes are perfectly done when the largest ones are easily pierced with a fork and have a beautiful golden-brown, slightly crispy skin. If they’re not quite ready, add a few more minutes to the air frying time, checking frequently.
• **Cooling Effect:** Don’t be alarmed if the potato skins appear to wrinkle slightly after they’ve cooled for a few minutes; this is a natural occurrence and a sign of their delightful roasted texture.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover air fried baby potatoes are fantastic for meal prep! Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. While they reheat well, these potatoes do not hold up to freezing, as their texture can become mealy upon thawing.

To reheat cooked baby potatoes, simply place them back in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 4-5 minutes, or until they are warmed through and regain a bit of their crispiness.

This recipe provides a fantastic base for herbed air fryer baby potatoes, but the beauty of it lies in its flexibility. Feel free to experiment with different seasoning blends to suit your taste preferences. Here are some popular suggestions for seasoning baby potatoes:

• Cajun Spice: For a bold, zesty kick.
• Italian Seasoning: Aromatic herbs like oregano, basil, and rosemary for a Mediterranean flair.
• Mrs. Dash: A salt-free blend for a healthier option packed with flavor.
• Old Bay Seasoning: A classic choice for a savory, slightly spicy, and herbaceous flavor profile.
• BBQ Seasoning: Sweet and smoky notes, perfect for a summer cookout vibe.
• Chili Powder: Adds a warm, earthy heat that pairs beautifully with potatoes.
• Everything But the Bagel Seasoning: For a garlicky, oniony, poppy, and sesame seed crunch that’s incredibly addictive.

Don’t hesitate to mix and match or create your own signature blend!

Air Fryer Whole Baby Potatoes (Mini Potatoes Recipe)

Recipe by Summer Yule

My air fryer whole baby potatoes are slightly crispy outside and deliciously tender inside.

If you’re loving the convenience and delicious results from your air fryer, you’ll definitely want to try these other fantastic potato recipes:

• Air Fryer Potato Skins
• Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
• Frozen Diced Hash Browns in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Frozen Hash Browns
• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

And while you’re exploring, be sure to check out my other delicious side dish recipes for even more meal inspiration!