Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
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My 15-minute air fryer breakfast potatoes are my family’s favorite savory breakfast side. The exterior stays crispy and golden brown, while the center remains light and buttery smooth.
Breakfast potatoes are, arguably, the most essential part of a sit-down breakfast. Even more so than over easy eggs. Yes, I’m serious. Thanks to the air fryer, I’m guaranteed perfectly cooked potatoes that are crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside in a fraction of the time. Bonus? I can simultaneously make my air fryer soft boiled eggs or air fryer hard boiled eggs.
Arman’s tips before starting
Don’t overcrowd the basket. This is the #1 mistake I see with air fryer potatoes. If the potatoes are stacked on top of each other, they’ll steam instead of crisp up. Cook them in a single layer, and if needed, work in batches.
Dry the potatoes thoroughly. Any excess moisture prevents the potatoes from getting crispy. After washing them, I always pat them completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel before seasoning.
Shake the basket a few times during cooking. This helps every side of the potatoes get exposed to the hot circulating air. I usually give the basket a good shake every 5 minutes or so.
Cut the potatoes evenly. It sounds simple, but evenly sized potatoes cook more consistently. I aim for roughly 1-inch pieces so everything finishes at the same time.
Key ingredients
Here’s what goes into crispy air fryer breakfast potatoes, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Potatoes. I tested Yukon gold, red, and russet potatoes, and while they all worked, I slightly preferred the texture of Yukon gold potatoes.
- Olive oil. This is my preferred oil for air frying, but any neutral oil will work, such as avocado or canola oil.
- Spices. I keep it simple with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. The paprika adds a subtly sweet, mild smoky flavor.
How to air fry breakfast potatoes
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the air fryer, clean the potatoes, and dice them into 1-inch cubes.
Step 2- Season. Add the potatoes, oil, and spices to a large mixing bowl and toss to coat.
Step 3- Air fry. Lay the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry until they’re crispy and fork-tender.
Step 4- Repeat the process until all the potatoes are cooked.
Storage instructions
To store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
To freeze: Let the potatoes cool completely, then freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To reheat: I like to reheat them back in the air fryer at 350F/175C for 4-5 minutes, so they crisp up. The microwave is fast but makes them soggy.
Frequently asked questions
That’s completely up to you. I usually leave the skins on because they get wonderfully crispy in the air fryer and save me a little prep time. Just be sure to scrub the potatoes well before dicing them.
If you have time, yes. Rinsing removes some of the excess surface starch, which can help the potatoes crisp up even more. Just make sure they’re dried thoroughly afterward, as excess moisture won’t crisp up the potatoes.
More air fryer breakfast recipes
Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes Russet, Yukon Gold, and Red potatoes are best, 4-5 ounces each.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
- Wash and scrub the potatoes. Dice them into evenly sized cubes (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch).
- In a large bowl, toss the diced potatoes with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well to ensure all the potatoes are evenly coated.
- Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding for even cooking.
- Air fry for 13 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even crisping.
- Remove the potatoes from the air fryer once golden brown and crispy.
I love making these. They are so easy and yummy! Perfect as a side dish or snack!
Thanks so much, Jaycee- glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
Do you have some more recipes using potatoes? In air fryer?
Hi Mario, I sent you an email with all of them- I’m glad you enjoyed these potatoes!
Couldn’t be more grateful! 💕
These air fryer breakfast potatoes are super crispy. I actually cut out the oil and they still turned out fab 🙂
I loved these ,super simple and was a perfect addition to the basic bacon n eggs for breakfast. Now I did use red potatoes cuz that’s what I had at the moment,but I think Yukon will be even better, next time.
Okay, adding bacon bits is a fabulous idea!!!
I just made these air fryer breakfast potatoes and I think I like them more than your air fried home fries. I did add some cayenne pepper for a little spicy kick 🙂
Love that addition, Claudia!