Air fryer baby potatoes are the perfect side dish. Extra crispy and deliciously soft on the inside, these new potatoes are topped with parsley and crushed pepper for a flavor hit. Discover the best way to make them with our recipe.
If you are after a quick and easy side dish for your next quick dinner, look no further than these air fryer baby potatoes. They’re crispy with just the right amount of buttery flavor and are ready in under 30 minutes.
While traditional pan-fried or oven-roasted potatoes can be heavy in oil and butter, this simple air fryer recipe takes all of that out of the equation to give you a much healthier way of enjoying mini potatoes.
From potato prep to cooking times, discover how to cook baby potatoes in your air fryer today. Let’s get cooking!
What are Baby Potatoes?
Baby potatoes are small potatoes that feature a sweeter and slightly more buttery flavor than their larger counterparts. With thin and delicate skin, they don’t require peeling, making them far quicker and easier to cook than traditional potatoes.
Baby potatoes are incredibly versatile in cooking and can be easily boiled, grilled, roasted, or air fried. Their quick cooking time makes them perfect for throwing into salads or serving as a last-minute side dish or appetizer.
Why Use an Air Fryer?
For the uninitiated, using an air fryer is a great way to cook healthier versions of your favorite dishes. Whether it’s chicken wings or halloumi fries, preparing them in an air fryer keeps all the flavor but does away with (most of) the fat.
They use hot air instead of oil, which makes them healthier and less messy to use. The best air fryer recipes are ones that are traditionally pan-fried recipes, making them crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. These baby potatoes are no exception.
How to Cook Baby Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Wash the baby potatoes and dry them using a kitchen towel or paper towel. Washing helps remove some of the excess starch and ensures they are clean, while drying ensures the seasoning is absorbed by the potatoes and not dissolved into the excess moisture.
- Cut the potatoes into half and for larger ones into three pieces. This will help them cook faster. Place them in a large bowl and add one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, making sure to distribute it evenly over the potatoes.
- Sprinkle one teaspoon of salt, add half a teaspoon of pepper, and a tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley for garnish. Toss the potatoes until each is adequately coated.
- Place the baby potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are well spread out to form a uniform layer and insert it in the air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to a temperature setting of 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer to 20 minutes and press start.
- At the 10-minute mark, halfway through, remove the basket, shake the potatoes then place them back in the air fryer to continue cooking. This helps them cook uniformly and avoids undercooking or overcooking one side. Once it’s done, serve immediately while hot.
Ingredients
- Baby Potatoes: Ruby crescent baby potatoes are ideal for this recipe. They have a dusty rose color and are rich in vitamins B6, C, phosphorus, and manganese.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Be sure to check for the “cold-pressed” label on the bottle when shopping for olive oil. This ensures you buy olive oil made from pure, cold-pressed olives.
- Chopped Parsley: Use curly parsley since it has a more distinct texture than straight parsley.
- Salt: Go for kosher salt due to its quick-dissolving property and wider, coarser grains that salt the dish more gently. It also enhances the flavor rather than making the food taste salty.
- Crushed Red Pepper: Red pepper has a sweeter flavor and better health benefits compared to green pepper and also gives the dish a bigger kick.
How Long to Cook Baby Potatoes in Air Fryer
These simple mini potatoes take just 25 minutes to make from scratch. With just 5 minutes of prep, before cooking in the air fryer at 400°F (205°C) for 20 minutes.
Tips for Crispy Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Soak the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch and make them extra crispy. It also prevents them from sticking to each other.
- Preheat the air fryer before placing the potatoes to give them that great crispy crust while keeping the inside soft.
- Pat the potatoes dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture and allow the seasonings to cling to the potatoes. Use paper towels or kitchen towels. Do not tissue or toilet paper since this will become part of the seasoning.
- Let the potatoes rest for 5-10 minutes before putting them in the oven for maximum absorption of the flavors and seasoning.
- Take the potatoes out of the air fryer at about halfway through and turn them to prevent undercooking or overcooking one side, and allow for even cooking on both sides.
FAQs
Are Air Fryer Potatoes Healthy?
Yes, they are a healthier option than the deep-fried ones. They are rich in vitamins, like vitamin C and vitamin B6, and minerals such as phosphorus, manganese, niacin, and fiber. They also have a crispy texture without the high fat or calories.
Do You Need to Boil the Potatoes First? Can You Air Fry Raw Potatoes?
No, there’s no need to boil the potatoes. Boiling can cause some loss of soluble nutrients like vitamin C; thus, you are better off placing them raw in the air fryer.
Do You Need to Peel the Baby Potatoes?
No, the baby potatoes have incredibly soft and thin skin full of nutrients, so you don’t need to peel them. Just cut them into bite-sized pieces and enjoy all they have to offer.
Are New Potatoes Gluten-Free?
Yes, new potatoes, and potatoes in general, are free from gluten. Gluten is primarily found in rye, barley, wheat, and other grains, and since potatoes are a type of starchy vegetable, they do not contain gluten.
Does It Matter What Kind of Air Fryer I Use?
As far as the outcome and how the potatoes cook, it doesn’t matter which air fryer you use; they will all yield the same delicious result. The only difference is in their sizes and the number of potatoes you’ll be able to cook at a time.
Are Baby Potatoes the Same as New Potatoes?
Yes, “new potatoes” is just another name for baby potatoes. They are also sometimes referred to as creamers because they are usually the earliest to crop on the farm.
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb baby potatoes
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash and dry potatoes, then cut them into bite-sized pieces
- Place the cut baby potatoes in a bowl and add olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley. Toss to coat evenly.
- Add potatoes to the air fryer. Set the temperature to 400°F (205°C), timer to 20 minutes, and press start.
- At the 10-minute mark, remove the basket and shake. Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook for 10 more minutes. Serve immediately.
