Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
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Don’t want to heat up your kitchen for a simple side dish? Air fryer Baked Potatoes to the rescue! Crispy, salted skins and fluffy insides make these Air Fryer Baked Potatoes turn out perfectly, all in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven.
Why You’ll Love Making Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer:
- Crispy Texture: The air fryer’s circulation of hot air creates a crispy exterior on potatoes. This yields a satisfying crunch that many people love.
- Speed: Air fryers cook potatoes faster than conventional ovens, making it a time-saving option for busy individuals. We love it for Air Fryer Meatballs and Air Fryer Turkey Burgers as well.
- Even Cooking: The air fryer’s convection technology ensures even cooking, resulting in consistent texture and flavor throughout the potatoes.
- Energy Efficiency: Air fryers are often more energy-efficient than traditional ovens or stovetops, which can help reduce energy costs. We also love Crock Pot Baked Potatoes for this reason.
Ingredients
- Large Russet Potatoes – I used 8-9 ounce Russet potatoes, which have a high starch content and low moisture content. This results in a dry, fluffy texture when cooked. This is why we use them in recipes like our Bacon and Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes and Baked Potato Bar.
- Oil – I used an avocado oil spray but really any oil will work.
- Salt and Pepper
Potato Air Fryer Cooking Chart
Before starting, determine the size of your potato. This recipe was tested and written based on a large potato (about 9 ounces). Adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Smaller Russet Potatoes (5 oz each) – About 35 minutes
- Medium Russet Potatoes (6-7 oz each) – About 40 minutes
- Large Russet Potatoes (8-9 oz each) – About 45 minutes
- Extra Large Russet Potatoes (10+ oz each) – 45-50 minutes
Check the potato’s doneness when cook time is up. It should pierce easily with a paring knife or fork when done. If it’s not done, air fry for another 3-5 minutes and check again.
How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Prepare the Potatoes
Give the potatoes a scrub and dry them off. Coat them with a little oil and season with salt and pepper on all sides. Prick the potato a few times with a fork or paring knife on all sides.
Cook the Potatoes
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, cook the potatoes for 40-45 minutes. Mine were large (almost extra large) potatoes and took all of 45 minutes. Smaller ones will be done a bit sooner.
Serve and Enjoy!
Serving these on a Baked Potato Bar is my #1 way to eat them. Here are some topping ideas:
- Salt & pepper
- Garlic Herb Butter
- Uncured cooked and crumbled bacon (try oven baked bacon)
- Homemade Cheese Sauce (sub: shredded cheddar cheese)
- Steamed broccoli florets
- Green onions, thinly sliced (sub: minced chives)
You could also turn these into Twice Baked Potatoes.
More Ways to Cook Potatoes
Potatoes are cheap, filling and well-liked by all ages. Here are a few more ways to cook those spuds.
- Boil: Now this method is best for smaller, more tender varieties. We have a recipe for Boiled Baby Potatoes that is been a long-time favorite on Thriving Home.
- Pressure Cook: More to come on this soon! Check out our Instant Pot Mashed Potato recipe for inspiration.
- Slow Cook: Crock Pot Baked Potatoes are a no-brainer when you need a side dish prepped ahead. Or, cook small potatoes in our Slow Cooker Pot Roast.
- Bake:
- You can bake russet potatoes in the oven. Use the recipe in our Baked Potato Bar post for this.
- Or…try this fun method! After boiling baby potatoes, give them a smash and bake them to make Crispy Smashed Potatoes.
- Turn them into Oven Baked Steak Fries.
- Turn them into Twice-Baked Potatoes. Yum!
Recipes to Serve with Baked Potatoes
FAQs
Since the potatoes already have oil on them, it’s not necessary to spray the air fryer before cooking.
The cook time of the baked potato will slightly vary depending on the size of the potato and your air fryer machine. Cook until you can easily pierce into the center of the potatoes with a knife. If your potatoes need a longer cooking time, just return the basket to the air fryer and cook another 3-5 minutes at a time.
The number of potatoes you can cook in an air fryer at once depends on the size of your air fryer and the size of the potatoes. In general, you should avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.
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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Our foolproof technique involves lightly oiling and seasoning the potatoes, resulting in a well-seasoned, crispy exterior. Meanwhile, strategically poking holes for steam to escape, guarantees perfectly fluffy interiors for these air fryer baked potatoes.
Ingredients
- 2–4 large russet potatoes (8–10 ounces each)
- Avocado oil (sub: olive oil)
- Salt and pepper
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Instructions
- Lightly prick each potato several times with fork or paring knife.
- Rub potatoes with oil and season all sides lightly with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes in air-fryer basket, spaced evenly apart.
- Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 400°F.
- Cook until paring knife easily inserts into potatoes and meets very little resistance, 40 to 45 minutes.
- Transfer potatoes to large plate and, using paring knife, cut 2 slits, forming X, in each potato. Press in at ends of potatoes to push flesh up and out. Serve with butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper, if desired.
Notes/Tips
- This recipe was tested and written based on a large potato.
- The cook time of your baked potato will slightly vary depending on the size of the potato and your air fryer machine. Cook until you can easily pierce into the center of the potatoes with a knife. If your potatoes need a longer cooking time, just return the basket to the air fryer and cook another 3-5 minutes at a time.
- Poking holes for steam to escape guarantees perfectly fluffy interiors. Don’t skip this step.
- Try making our Instant Pot Baked Potatoes or Crock Pot Baked Potatoes instead.
- For lots of topping ideas, check out our Baked Potato Bar article.
This was the best baked potato I’ve ever made!
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it so much Lori! Thank you for leaving a review.
I love all your recipes here they are quite and easy
Thanks Jerry!