Crispy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes | Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes turn out so light and fluffy inside and perfectly crispy on the outside, you will never want to make a baked potato any other way again!

Suitable for gluten free and vegan diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have a cloud like fluffy interior with a perfectly crispy skin on the outside. Peeps, trust me when I say that an air fried baked potato is beyond amaaaaaazing.

Sometimes life can be rather busy, and as I write this post I am having the busiest week ever.

I have 4 different children parties (yeap 4), 1 impromptu supper party, 2 days of happily shopping the sales and a mad freezer clean out at 1 in the morning.

Stress Free Air Fryer Baked Potato

So at times like this, I find myself turning to super quick, super easy, stress-free suppers like these delicious Baked Potatoes. These make a great side dish or a main dish with all the toppings.

And if you love these then check out these crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips, family favorite Air Fryer Zucchini Chips and Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries and these delicious Air Fryer Baby Potatoes.

Folks, I just looooooooove potatoes. They are definitely one of my favorite foods, and I love them in all forms.

But if I had to choose just one (and I sure hope it never comes to that), I would have to pick the baked potato. This easy recipe is exactly what the whole family loves.

And making a great baked potato in air fryer takes that delectable baked potato perfection to another whole level.

Why Cook Baked Potatoes In Air Fryer?

• It’s fast and easy! It usually takes me over an hour to bake average sized potatoes in the oven, but baked potatoes in air fryer cut that time in almost half. How? The air fryer oven circulates heat all around the potato, so it becomes fully cooked in much less time.
• Oh, and did I mention how seriously fab the crispy skins are? If you’re someone like me who eats the potato skins (that’s where the best flavor is, peeps!) you will only ever want to cook them this way from now on as the potatoes turned out perfectly fluffy inside.

Ingredient Notes

You only need a few ingredients to make these.

• Potatoes– use larger potatoes for hungrier guest or medium potatoes which you can double up.
• Olive oil– or any oil eg avocado oil and canola oil. Cooking spray works too.
• Seasoning– start simply with salt, but use your favorite seasoning – see suggestions below.

So, are you ready to try your hand at making the best baked potatoes in the air fryer? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you….

How To Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
2. Scrub, pat dry and then use a fork to poke holes in the potatoes.
3. Spray potatoes with oil and sprinkle sea salt.
4. Place potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching.
5. Air Fry for 30 minutes.
6. Open the air fryer, turn them and cook potatoes for another 15-30 minutes, until they are soft inside and crispy outside. Note: if the potatoes are large, you may need to cook them for a further 10 mins.

Chef’s Tip: Air fryer temperatures can vary, so start at the lowest cook time given then check your potatoes and add more cooking time as needed.

Recipe Tips

• Smaller potatoes may require less cook time.
• Thicker or large potatoes may need a few more minutes. If they are not cooked enough return them to the air fryer and cook for another 5 or so minutes and re-test.
• Pierce the skin before adding to the basket, to avoid the possibility of the potatoes bursting in the air fryer.
• To get the Potato skin nicely crispy, it is important to make sure your potatoes are totally dry before rubbing with oil and salt.

Plus….

• Do not overcrowd the air fryer so that the air circulates and the veggies cook evenly and crisp up.
• Use potatoes that are about the same size so they cook at the same rate.
• The air fryer gets super hot, so use tongs or two spoons to remove the cooked potatoes.
• For extra great flavor, seasoning the outside of the potatoes with garlic powder, rosemary and parsley before cooking.
• You can use sweet potatoes instead but the cook time will be different.

What Type of Potatoes are Best for Making Baked Potato In Air Fryer?

Starchier variety of potatoes that are best suited for making the perfect baked potato, since they have light, fluffy and absorbent texture.

Waxy potato varieties are good for using in soups, salads and casseroles because they hold their shape well duringthe cooking process.

The following varieties of starchy potatoes are most commonly used to make bake potatoes:

• Russet potatoes (also known as Idaho potatoes) are what you think of when you think of baked potatoes. These potatoes have a russet colored skin and white flesh. Russets are fluffy, creamy and soft and have a neutral taste.
• Yukon Gold is an all-purpose potato variety with a smooth yellowish-white skin and light yellow flesh. They have a bright and slightly sweet flavor.

Plus…..

• Purple Peruvian potatoes have a dry and starchy texture and a deep purple skin. The flesh is either evenly purple throughout or can be marbled with white and a dark purple. These potatoes have an earthy, buttery taste.
• Rooster potatoesare a red potato with a fluffy light yellow flesh. This is an all-purpose potato, with a deep earthy flavor.
• Katahdin potatoes are a starchy variety with a smooth skin, yellowish flesh and a classic potato flavor.

Potato Topping Ideas

One of the things about fork tender air fried baked potatoes that makes them so great is how they are a perfect blank canvas for an almost limitless amount of toppings.

For an easy delicious meal, just sprinkle on salt and pepper, add butter and some shredded cheese. Bacon bits work well too.

In fact, I recently hosted a build-your-own baked potato dinner party. The topping choices were grouped into different themes, which was a huuuuuuge hit with the adults and kids alike.

I’ve included some of the most popular offerings from that night below as inspiration. But why not have fun, get creative and come up with a whole new flavor combination of your own?

• Easy Pantry Staple = Homemade Stone House Seasoning.
• Veggie – green onion, tomatoes and sweet corn.
• Mexican = salsa, guacamole, Cojita cheese
• Mediterranean = feta cheese, pomegranate seeds, hummus, kalamata olives
• Green Machine = broccoli, spinach, pesto
• Pot Pie = peas, carrots, diced chicken (if not vegan)
• Steakhouse = air fryer bacon, horseradish, sour cream, chives (if not vegan)

How To Tell When These Are Done?

When these are cooked, you should be able to piece the skin and slide a butter knife in easily.

Are Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Vegan?

Yes, air fryer baked potatoes are vegan when you season with a plant-based oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil, or a dairy-free butter.

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe

No air fryer? No problem! Simply follow my recipe for Instant Pot Baked Potatoes to cook up perfectly delectable, fluffy baked potatoes in just a few minutes.

Yeap, we have got you covered.

Serving Suggestions

This side goes well with so many things.

• Juicy The Best Air Fryer Pork Chops – a great combination.
• The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken. Great for Sunday lunch.
• Really Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers.
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – so so easy.
• Air Fryer Steak – pull this out for special occasions.
• Lemon Garlic Chicken Tenders – a great family meal.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
• Crispy Air Fryer Bacon.
• CrunchyAir Fryer Grilled Cheese.
• Air Fried Chicken Breast.
• Air Fryer Frozen Pierogies.
• Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving.

I hope you enjoy making your crispy potatoes in your air fryer.

Get the Baked Potato Air Fryer Recipe: