Air Fryer Potato Chips

Name: Air Fryer Potato Chips
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 large potatoes; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon cooking spray

By Arman Liewupdated on Jul 27, 2026

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Comments (26)

Total Time 20

Servings 4 servings

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My air fryer potato chips are crispy, golden brown, and addictive. Made with just 3 ingredients, they’re the ultimate savory snack!

Why I love air fryer potato chips

Potato chips are my Achilles’ heel. I know they’re not exactly the healthiest snack, but I’ve never been able to resist them (don’t get me started on portion control!).

Instead of giving them up, I started making homemade chips in the air fryer- and honestly, I haven’t looked back. They’re crisp, satisfying, and ridiculously easy to make whenever the craving strikes. Here’s why I love making them:

3 ingredients. All you need are potatoes, cooking spray, and salt.
Easy to customize. I kept the base recipe simple with just a dash of salt, but if you’re after more flavors, I’ve got you covered.
Truly crispy. No limp or soggy chips here, I promise.
No planning required. As long as you have an air fryer and potatoes, you can have potato chips whenever the cravings strike.

Let’s whip up a batch together now!

Table of Contents

Why I love air fryer potato chips
Key Ingredients
How to make air fryer potato chips
Arman’s tips for texture
Frequently asked questions
Air Fryer Potato Chips (Recipe Card)
More air fryer snacks

air fryer potato chips with sea salt and chopped parsley on top.

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.

Potatoes. Russet potatoes are my go-to for any fry or chip recipe because they’re starchy, which helps the chips crisp up beautifully. Yukon Gold are another good option.
Cooking spray. I used olive oil cooking spray, but any kind will do.
Salt. To taste.

Flavor variations

Sea salt vinegar chips. Lightly spritz the chips with white vinegar before air frying.
BBQ chips. Toss the chips in BBQ seasoning or a mix of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, and chili powder.
Ranch chips. Sprinkle dry ranch seasoning mix over the potatoes.
Salt and pepper chips. Season with coarsely ground black pepper.
Dill pickle potato chips. Add fresh dill, onion powder, and garlic powder. Optionally, spritz with vinegar.

How to make air fryer potato chips

Step 1- Cut the potatoes. Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin slices.

Step 2- Soak. Place the slices in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes, place them on paper towels, and pat dry.

potato slices on air fryer with cooking spray on top.

Step 3- Assemble. Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place a single layer of sliced potatoes on top.

cooked potato chips on air fryer basket.

Step 4- Air fry. Spritz with more oil, add salt, and air fry for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Arman’s tips for texture

Slice the potatoes as evenly as possible. This helps every chip cook at the same rate, so you don’t end up with some burnt and others undercooked.
Dry them really well. After soaking the potato slices, pat them completely dry with paper towels. Any leftover moisture will create steam and stop the chips from crisping up properly.
Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want the chips to get equal access to the heat so they get crispy. That means no touching (see my pictures and video).
Keep an eye on the last few minutes. Once the chips start turning golden, they can go from perfectly crisp to overdone very quickly, especially if they’re sliced extra thin.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bake these in the oven instead?

Yes! Prepare the potatoes as directed, then arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the chips at 400F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Why do you soak chips before air frying?

Soaking removes some of the excess starch from the potatoes, which helps them crisp up better in the air fryer. Just be sure to dry them thoroughly afterward so they don’t steam.

Why are my potato chips flying around in the air fryer?

Because they’re so thin and lightweight, the air fryer can sometimes lift them while they cook. Don’t worry- this is completely normal. If it happens, make sure the potato slices are lightly coated with cooking spray and arranged in a single layer. After the first 2 to 3 minutes, they’ll start to crisp up and stay in place.