Crispy-Skinned Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Unlock the secret to the perfect baked potato right in your kitchen with this incredibly easy and delicious air fryer recipe! Say goodbye to heating up your entire house and hello to perfectly cooked, crispy-skinned potatoes with minimal effort. With just a few minutes of prep, your air fryer will do all the heavy lifting, delivering a truly epic baked potato experience every time.

The Ultimate Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a perfectly baked potato – fluffy on the inside, wonderfully crispy on the outside, and ready to be loaded with your favorite toppings. We recently had the eye-opening opportunity to tour a Washington potato farm, and it completely transformed our appreciation for this humble root vegetable. Seeing the dedication and care that goes into cultivating these potatoes truly makes you look at a baked potato in a whole new light. For a glimpse into our farm visit, make sure to check out our Instagram page for photos and insights. It was a fascinating first-time experience, and we learned so much about the quality and versatility of Washington potatoes.

Inspired by our farm visit, we came home craving the comforting goodness of baked potatoes. We immediately reached for our trusty air fryer and whipped up a batch of loaded baked potatoes for dinner that very night. The convenience and superior results of air frying have made it our go-to method for this classic dish. There’s something undeniably satisfying about a perfectly prepared baked potato, and the air fryer takes it to the next level.

One of the best parts about baked potatoes is the endless customization. My husband and I adore personalizing them with our preferred toppings. For me, it’s all about a generous sprinkle of garlic powder, a dollop of creamy butter, and a mound of sharp cheddar cheese melting into the hot potato. My husband, on the other hand, goes all out with copious amounts of sour cream, savory bacon bits, and plenty of gooey cheese. What are your must-have baked potato toppings? Share your favorites in the comments below!

Beyond russet potatoes, the air fryer is also excellent for cooking sweet potatoes, which often require a slightly shorter cooking time due to their different starch content. These air fryer russet potatoes aren’t just a fantastic side dish; they can easily become the star of your meal. Many evenings, we enjoy loaded baked potatoes as a wholesome main entree, perhaps accompanied by a simple salad or a few other complementary side dishes.

The crispy skin achieved through air frying is truly a game-changer! It offers that desirable texture you get from a traditional oven-baked potato, but without the lengthy preheating time or the extended baking duration. The air fryer circulates hot air rapidly, ensuring an evenly cooked potato with an incredibly crisp exterior in a fraction of the time. This efficiency makes it an ideal cooking method for busy weeknights or when you simply want to enjoy a delicious baked potato without the wait.

Simple Ingredients for a Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potato

Crafting an epic Air Fryer Baked Potato requires only a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need. For specific measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, be sure to check the full recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Russet Potatoes (choose medium-sized potatoes for even cooking)
• Olive Oil Spray or Avocado Oil Spray (for that perfect crispy skin)
• Kosher salt or Sea Salt and Black Pepper (to taste, for seasoning)

Potato Toppings Galore: The beauty of a baked potato lies in its versatility with toppings! Get creative with options like Butter, Sour Cream, Garlic Powder, crispy Bacon, shredded Cheddar Cheese, savory Taco Meat, fresh Green Onions, Chives, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Shredded Chicken, Chili, zesty Salsa, Bacon Bits, or diced tomatoes. The possibilities are endless!

Essential Equipment for Air Frying Potatoes

To make your air fryer baked potatoes a breeze, here’s the essential kitchen equipment you’ll need:

• Air Fryer: We highly recommend investing in an air fryer that’s slightly larger than you initially think you’ll need. Once you discover the ease and efficiency of air frying, you’ll likely find yourself using it for an increasing variety of meals and larger batches. A bigger basket allows for better air circulation and more even cooking, especially for items like potatoes.
• Tongs: These are crucial for safely handling and removing the potatoes from the air fryer. The potatoes, especially their crispy skins, will be extremely hot!
• Fork or a small sharp knife: Essential for piercing the potatoes before cooking, which allows steam to escape and prevents them from bursting.

How to Make a Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potato

Preparing air fryer baked potatoes is incredibly simple, and the results are consistently fantastic. While you’ll find the complete, printable instructions in the recipe card below, here’s a simplified breakdown to get you started:

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

Begin by thoroughly cleaning and scrubbing your russet potatoes under cool running water to remove any dirt. Once clean, pat them completely dry with a paper towel. This ensures the oil spray will adhere properly and contribute to a crispier skin. Next, use a fork or the tip of a small knife to generously prick the potato several times all over its surface. This crucial step creates small vents, allowing steam to escape during cooking, which helps prevent the potato from exploding and ensures a fluffy interior.

Lightly spray the entire surface of each potato with olive oil cooking spray or avocado oil spray. The oil helps achieve that coveted crispy skin. If desired, sprinkle the potatoes evenly with a pinch of kosher salt or sea salt. The salt not only adds flavor but can also enhance the crispiness of the skin.

Step 2: Air Fry to Perfection

Carefully place the prepared potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can impede air circulation and lead to uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches to achieve optimal results.

Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and air fry for an initial 30-35 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, use your tongs to flip the potatoes. This ensures both sides get exposed to the circulating hot air, promoting even cooking and consistent crispiness all around. After the initial cooking time, check the potatoes for doneness by piercing them with a fork. If the fork slides in easily and meets little resistance, the potato is fork-tender and ready. If it still feels firm, return the potatoes to the air fryer for an additional 5-10 minutes, checking again until they reach the desired tenderness.

Once cooked, use your kitchen tongs to carefully remove the air-fried potatoes from the basket. Remember, the potatoes, especially their deliciously crispy skins, will be incredibly hot! Handle with caution.

Step 3: Load with Your Favorite Toppings

Carefully slice open each hot baked potato down the middle, creating a deep opening. Gently fluff the interior with a fork to create pockets for your toppings, and allow the steam to escape. Now comes the best part – load them up with all your favorite toppings! From classic butter and sour cream to more elaborate chili and cheese, customize your air fryer baked potato exactly how you like it. Serve immediately and enjoy the warm, comforting deliciousness.

Preparation and Storage Tips

To ensure you always get the best out of your air fryer baked potatoes, here are some practical tips for preparation and storage:

Make Ahead: For the freshest and crispiest baked potatoes, we always recommend preparing and serving them immediately after cooking. The peak flavor and texture are best enjoyed straight from the air fryer.

Storage: If you happen to have any leftovers, allow the baked potatoes to cool completely before storing them. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. Properly stored, cooked potatoes can be safely enjoyed within three to four days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Yes, you can freeze your Air Fryer Baked Potatoes! However, it’s important to note that the texture might not be identical to freshly made potatoes after thawing and reheating. To freeze, wrap each cooled potato individually in aluminum foil, then place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. They will retain their quality in the freezer for up to three months.

How to Reheat: The best way to bring leftover baked potatoes back to life is by reheating them in the air fryer. This method helps restore some of that delightful crispiness to the skin, making them almost as good as fresh. Simply preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and reheat for 10-15 minutes, or until thoroughly heated through.

Recipe Variations and Dietary Considerations

This Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe is incredibly adaptable, making it suitable for various dietary needs and preferences:

Substitutions: While this recipe specifically calls for russet potatoes, other potato varieties can certainly be cooked in the air fryer. Keep in mind that cooking times will need to be adjusted accordingly. For instance, smaller potatoes or thinner-skinned varieties like Yukon Golds may cook faster, while larger baking potatoes might require a bit more time. Experiment to find your perfect timing!

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: This recipe is naturally vegetarian and vegan-friendly at its core, as the main ingredients are simply potatoes, olive oil, and salt. Just be mindful of your chosen toppings to maintain its vegan status – opt for plant-based butter, vegan sour cream, and other vegetable-based additions.

Gluten-Free: Good news! This recipe is inherently gluten-free, making it a safe and delicious option for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. Again, ensure any added toppings are also gluten-free.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The provided recipe is perfect for two medium-sized russet potatoes. However, you can easily scale this recipe up or down to suit any serving size. The key factor for larger batches is your air fryer’s capacity. To ensure proper air circulation and even cooking, avoid overcrowding the basket. If you’re making a big batch for a crowd, plan to cook the potatoes in multiple batches.

Make It Spicy: For those who love a kick, it’s easy to spice up your baked potatoes! Before cooking, sprinkle them with your favorite spicy seasoning blend, such as cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, or a chili-lime seasoning. Alternatively, add a drizzle of your go-to hot sauce or some chopped jalapeños as a garnish after cooking for a fresh burst of heat.

Sugar-Free: The base recipe for an air fryer baked potato contains a minimal amount of natural sugar (approximately 1 gram per serving as per the nutrition facts provided). The final sugar content will largely depend on the specific type of potato you use and, more significantly, on the toppings you choose. Opt for unsweetened toppings to keep it sugar-free.

Expert Tips for the Best Air Fryer Baked Potato

Achieving the perfect air fryer baked potato is simple with these expert tips:

• Uniformity is Key: Always use potatoes that are similar in size. This ensures they cook evenly and finish at the same time, preventing some from being undercooked while others are overdone.
• Crispy Skin Secret: Skip wrapping your potatoes in foil! Air frying directly without foil allows the hot air to circulate freely around the potato, resulting in that desirable, perfectly crispy skin that foil would prevent.
• Preheating: We typically don’t preheat our air fryer for baked potatoes. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. This can shave a few minutes off the overall cooking time.
• Versatile Vegetarian Meal: These baked potatoes can easily be transformed into a fantastic vegetarian air fryer meal. Simply load them with plant-based chili, steamed vegetables, beans, corn, or a rich mushroom gravy.
• Nutrition Note: Keep in mind that nutrition facts and information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the specific products (potatoes, oils, toppings) you choose to use. Always consult package labels for precise nutritional data.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Baked Potato

With this comprehensive guide to making delicious baked potatoes in your air fryer, you’ll never be far from a quick, versatile, and satisfying meal. These potatoes can cater to almost any dietary need or preference, all without the need to heat your entire house. Here are some pairing suggestions to help inspire your next menu:

Flavorful Side Dishes: Pair your air fryer baked potato with classic comforting sides like Broccoli Casserole, savory Apple Stuffing, light and fluffy Carrot Soufflé, a refreshing BLT Pasta Salad, hearty Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, a vibrant Broccoli Bacon Salad, moist Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, sweet Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Yams, tender Southern Style Green Beans, rich CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans, or savory Air Fryer Mushrooms.

Hearty Main Dishes: Elevate your meal by serving your baked potato alongside main courses such as Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, a comforting Stovetop Meatloaf, creamy Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers, tender CrockPot Rosemary Pork, classic Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings, a cheesy CrockPot Macaroni & Cheese with Ham, savory CrockPot Salisbury Steak, or a delicious CrockPot Ham & Cheese Grits.

Delightful Desserts: Finish your meal with a sweet treat like an Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake, tangy Lemon Bars, refreshing Lemon Icebox Pie, the Best Rice Krispie Treats, a warm Bisquick Blueberry Cobbler, creamy Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, classic Bisquick Apple Cobbler, sweet Bisquick Peach Cobbler, spiced Molasses Cookies, comforting Banana Bread, or rich Classic Chocolate Brownies.

Refreshing Drinks: Quench your thirst with a Coke Slushie, a fun Red Robin Freckled Lemonade copycat, or a sweet CopyCat McDonald’s Sweet Tea.

When to Serve Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

The versatility of air fryer baked potatoes means they can be enjoyed for almost any occasion:

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Cookouts
• Family and Friend Gatherings

More Great Air Fryer Recipes to Try

If you love the convenience and results of air frying, be sure to explore more of our fantastic air fryer recipes:

• Air Fryer Frozen Corn Dogs
• Air Fryer Onion Rings
• Air Fryer Frozen Potato Skins
• Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
• Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
• Air Fryer Kielbasa
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Discover our full collection of Air Fryer Recipes for more inspiration!

This recipe is also a perfect addition to our collections of Sloppy Joe Sides and easy vegetable side dish recipes.

Craving more delicious recipes? Explore our popular copycat recipes, indulgent dessert recipes, and our convenient CrockPot Recipes.

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