Looking for new ways to jazz up plain ol’ potatoes? Then you’ve got to try these air fryer smashed potatoes! They’re crispy, garlicky, and super yummy. Perfect as an appetizer or snack to enjoy with your family.
Here are some things you’ll need for these air fryer crispy smashed potatoes:
What are smashed potatoes?
So, you might be wondering, what are smashed potatoes?
As the name suggests, these potatoes are “smashed” before being air fried. The end result – heavenly potatoes that are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and flavorful all around.
For this recipe, you’ll need to boil the potatoes until they are fork tender before smashing them gently down with the back of a cup. You don’t want to apply too much force here.
The aim is to smash the potatoes down gently, while still keeping them more or less intact. Smash too hard and the potatoes will break apart and turn into mash!
Once you smash the potatoes, season them before air frying until golden brown, it’s that simple!
Why you’ll love these air fryer smashed potatoes
Here’s why you’ve got to try this recipe:
- It’s vegetarian and vegan friendly. This recipe uses a handful of ingredients to create a flavorful appetizer or snack that your vegetarian or vegan loved ones can enjoy!
- It’s budget-friendly. With potatoes as the star of the show, this recipe uses inexpensive ingredients, making it extremely budget-friendly. This is a great appetizer or side to prepare when you’re on a tight budget.
- It’s easy to make. You can whip up these air fried smashed potatoes in 4 simple steps: boil, smash, season, and air fry!
- It’s healthier than deep-frying. Deep-fried potatoes (think french fries and wedges) are delicious, no doubt, but they can be quite greasy and unhealthy. These air fryer crispy smashed potatoes are a lighter alternative. Air frying uses less oil, resulting in a less greasy potato dish that you can enjoy guilt-free.
Ingredients for smashed potatoes in air fryer
This quick and easy air fryer smashed potatoes recipe requires only a handful of ingredients to make.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Potatoes
These babies are the star of the show! I use small potatoes for this recipe, as they cook faster and are easier to smash down gently using the back of a cup. You’ll need to boil the potatoes for about 15 – 20 minutes until they are fork tender before smashing and seasoning them.
Garlic powder
This makes these air fryer smashed potatoes garlicky and yum! I don’t recommend substituting with minced garlic, as they may burn.
Paprika
In addition to giving this dish a vibrant red color, paprika also provides a sweet, gentle heat to this dish.
Olive oil
Potatoes are all carbs and have no fat of their own, so they’re gonna need a little help to crisp up and become delicious! In this recipe, I apply olive oil onto the smashed potatoes and gently toss to coat the potatoes evenly.
In addition, I also spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking.
Salt and black pepper
Finally, we need good ol’ seasoning!
How to make smashed potatoes in air fryer
Here are step-by-step instructions to whip up these smashed air fryer potatoes. As promised, it only requires 4 main steps, easy-peasy!
1. Boil the potatoes.
In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover them with water. Boil the potatoes on the stove for 15 – 20 minutes until they are cooked. Test your potatoes by piercing a fork through them. If the fork pierces through easily, this means the potatoes are tender and they’re done.
Remove the potatoes and set them aside to cool.
2. Smash the boiled potatoes.
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, use the bottom of a cup to smash the potatoes lightly.
You don’t want to apply too much force here, as the potatoes will turn into mash and lose their shape. Apply gentle pressure until the potatoes are slightly flattened, but still keeping together.
3. Season the smashed potatoes.
Add the remaining ingredients to the smashed potatoes and toss gently so all the potatoes are evenly coated.
4. Air fry the smashed potatoes.
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C/375°F for 5 minutes.
Grease the air fryer basket with an oil mister to prevent sticking. Put the smashed potatoes in the air fryer, making sure to arrange them in a single layer without any overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
Cook for 10 – 15 minutes until golden brown, stopping to flip the potatoes halfway through.
5. Finally, serve these air fryer smashed potatoes with your favorite condiments!
Top with fresh herbs (I opted for chopped cilantro) and serve hot with ketchup, chili sauce, or any other condiment of your choice on the side.
Should I boil my potatoes before I air fry them?
Yes. I find this to be the easiest method to make smashed potatoes. Boil your potatoes over the stove until they are tender, and then proceed to smash them gently before air frying. This process takes about 15 – 20 minutes for small potatoes, depending on their size.
How long should I cook potatoes in an air fryer for?
For this recipe, the potatoes are already boiled and tender when we pop them into the air fryer. So we’re just air frying them until they’re golden brown and crispy.
This takes around 10 – 15 minutes at 190°C/375°F. Make sure to flip your smashed potatoes halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
Pro tips for making perfect garlic smashed potatoes in air fryer
Here are some tips and tricks to nail this recipe and wow your loved ones:
- Smash your boiled potatoes GENTLY. You don’t want to apply too much pressure. The aim is to smash your potatoes while still keeping them mostly intact.
- Preheat your air fryer. Just like an oven, you need to preheat your air fryer before using. Preheat for about 5 minutes to bring it up to temp. Putting your potatoes into a cold air fryer that isn’t preheated will increase your cook time.
- Grease your air fryer basket with an oil mister or use perforated parchment paper. This helps to prevent sticking. The last thing you want is for your potato skins to stick to the air fryer basket and tear apart when you try to flip them!
- Avoid overcrowding your air fryer. For crispy, golden brown smashed potatoes, avoid overcrowding! Arrange your smashed potatoes in a single layer without overlapping. Depending on the size of you air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
How to serve airfryer smashed potatoes
These smashed potatoes can be served as an appetizer or snack.
Here are some mains that you can pair with this scrumptious appetizer:
How to store leftovers
If you find yourself having leftovers, which is very unlikely BTW, here’s how to store them.
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and consume them within 2 – 3 days.
To reheat, pop into the air fryer at 190°C/375°F for 5 – 7 minutes until heated through. Be sure to preheat your air fryer first!
Other air fryer recipes you’ll love
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mashed potatoes and smashed potatoes?
The key difference is mashed potatoes are smooth and creamy, whereas smashed potatoes are chunky and have their skins on.
Mashed potatoes are made using a potato masher to achieve their signature smooth consistency. Smashed potatoes, on the other hand, are just smashed roughly with the back of a cup, to retain large chunks.
What is used to smash potatoes?
You can use the back of a cup to smash your boiled potatoes. Boiling them makes the potatoes tender and easy to smash. Apply gentle pressure until the potatoes are smashed and slightly flattened, but still keeping together.
What happens if you don’t use oil in an air fryer?
Nothing, really. You can air fry food without oil, but adding some oil does improve the taste and texture of your food. Also, greasing your air fryer basket with oil helps to prevent food from sticking.
What cooking spray is best for air fryer?
You want to avoid aerosol cooking sprays as they can damage the coating on your air fryer basket. Instead, you can purchase a reusable oil mister and fill it with oil. Just a spritz or two should do the trick!
Will parchment paper burn in the air fryer?
Parchment paper is safe to use in air fryers, but avoid putting it into an empty air fryer while pre-heating. The light paper may fly up towards the heating element and catch fire. Only use parchment paper once the air fryer has pre-heated and put your food on top to weigh it down.
What can I use instead of parchment paper in air fryer?
If you don’t have parchment paper at home, you can also use aluminium foil or silicone liners to line your air fryer basket. Alternatively, you can just grease your basket with oil to prevent food from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb small potatoes, washed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover with water. Boil the potatoes on the stove for 15 – 20 minutes until they are fork tender.
- Next, remove the potatoes and set them aside to cool.
- Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, use the bottom of a cup to smash the potatoes lightly. You don’t want to apply too much force here, as the potatoes will turn into mash and lose their shape. Apply gentle pressure until the potatoes are slightly flattened, but still keeping together.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the smashed potatoes and toss gently so all the potatoes are evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C/375°F for 5 minutes.
- Grease the air fryer basket with an oil mister to prevent sticking. Put the smashed potatoes in the air fryer, making sure to arrange them in a single layer without any overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
- Cook for 10 – 15 minutes until golden brown, stopping to flip the potatoes halfway through.
- Top with fresh herbs and serve hot with ketchup, chili sauce or any other condiment of your choice on the side.
Conclusion
If you’re always wondering how to jazz up boiled potatoes, this easy smashed potatoes recipe is a must-try!
Crispy and garlicky, these potatoes are sure to be a hit with your family. Your kids may even want to help smash those potatoes for you. Nothing beats some good old fashioned family bonding time in the kitchen!
If you tried this recipe, please rate and comment below! We’d love to hear from you.
