Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Easy Air-Fryer Baked Potatoes

If you love a classic baked potato but don’t want to heat up the oven, the air fryer is your new best friend. In my opinion air fried potatoes are better than oven baked. They’re lighter and fluffier and have an irresistibly crispy skin.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Russet potatoes
• Neutral oil like canola, vegetable or olive oil
• Salt

With just these three ingredients you can make perfectly baked potatoes in about 40 minutes in the air fryer.

Why russet potatoes work best

Russet potatoes have a higher starch content and lower moisture than other potatoes. This creates a fluffy interior to soak up toppings like butter and sour cream.

These “baking” potatoes also have a nice dense skin that becomes deliciously crunchy when air fried.

Inexpensive russet potatoes have always been my go-to for baking and air frying. I also use them for my favorite potato recipes like Mashed Potatoes and Mashed Potato Cakes.

How to make fluffy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Depending on the size of your air fryer basket you can make anywhere from 2 to 6 baked potatoes. I have a small air fryer, which I love, that fits only 2 large or 3 small potatoes at one time.

• Start by scrubbing the potatoes with a vegetable brush and pat dry. Pierce the skins a few times with a fork. This simple step allows steam to escape, helping the inside bake up light and fluffy instead of heavy and wet.

• Rub the skins lightly with oil then sprinkle generously with salt for a classic, crunchy skin. There’s no need to wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil.

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket leaving plenty of room for air to circulate around each potato; no touching! The circulating heat crisps the outside beautifully while keeping the inside pillowy soft.

• Air fry until the skins are crisp and the centers are tender and steamy. Check for doneness by inserting a paring knife into the potatoes. If the knife slides in with little resistance, they’re good to go.

• Cut two slits in the tops of the potatoes forming an X. Press in at the ends to push the flesh up and out. Serve as is or season with salt, pepper and butter to taste.

TIPS for success

• For extra-large potatoes add another five minutes to the cooking time.

• To serve more than two, select smaller potatoes so they’ll fit in your air fryer basket allowing room between each potato for air to circulate.

• For best results select potatoes that are similar in size. This helps them cook in the same amount of time.

• Do not wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil as that traps the moisture making the potatoes more dense and less fluffy. We want fluffy insides; we need more fluffy in our lives. 😉

Potato Toppings and Serving Ideas

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are great served plain straight out of the air fryer. They’re also a great base to any meal and ready to be adorned with all your favorite toppings!

• Classic butter, salt and fresh cracked black pepper
• A big dollop of sour cream
• Minced chives or parsley
• Meaty chili and grated cheddar cheese
• Barbecue pulled pork with creamy coleslaw
• Taco meat, cheese and sliced jalapeños
• Steamed broccoli and gooey queso cheese sauce
• Greek yogurt
• Bacon bits

Serving Suggestions

Pair air fried potatoes with our delicious Air Fryer Chicken Breasts. Make the potatoes first and set aside to keep warm. You don’t even have to wash the air fryer basket before making the chicken breasts.

Here are a few more recipe ideas to serve with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes …

• Steak Kabobs
• Steaks with Mushroom Sauce
• Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Breasts
• Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
• Slow Cooker Ribs

Make Ahead and Reheating Tips

Air fryer potatoes are great for meal prep and entertaining.

• Air Fry the potatoes until cooked through.
• Cool the uncut potatoes to room temperature.
• Once cooled, cover or store in an airtight container and refrigerate until needed. Avoid sealing in plastic wrap or foil which will soften the skin.
• Potatoes can be made up to 3 days in advance.

BEST options for reheating

In the Air Fryer (Best Method):

• Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
• Place potatoes directly in the basket.
• Heat for 5–8 minutes, turning once, until hot throughout and the skin is crisp.
• For extra crisp skin, lightly brush the potato with oil before reheating.

In the Microwave (Quick Option):

• Pierce the potato again if needed.
• Microwave until heated through.
• The inside will be fluffy, but the skin won’t be crispy.