Smashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes Recipe

I don’t think I’ve ever met a potato recipe I didn’t like – have you? From basil pesto potatoes grilled in foil to cheesy potato waffles to air fryer potato chips, plus everything in between, the humble tater is just a perfect canvas for flavor blasting. But, potatoes are also scrumptious when they’re simply cooked with minimal ingredients. The naturally satisfying taste of the root veggie doesn’t need much to shine. And, when they’re air-fried until crispy? Forget about it. That’s why I love these crispy smashed potatoes, made quickly and easily in the air fryer. They’re fun, flavorful, and perfectly balanced!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Before you start on these fantastic garlic smashed potatoes in your air fryer, let’s gather all the essentials, from the creamy Yukon gold potatoes to the butter.

• Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes are my favorite for this recipe—just like in my buttermilk mashed potatoes—but you could use red potatoes as well.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted is fine. If you use salted butter, you may want to add less salt to the dish.
• Garlic: Minced or pressed – or use garlic powder if you like! 
• Parsley: Finely chopped fresh parsley for the garlic butter, plus more for garnish.
• Salt and Black Pepper: A simple seasoning that enhances the flavors and taste.

How to Make Smashed Potatoes in The Air Fryer

This easy recipe has two parts: boiling the potatoes to soften them up and air frying them to a crisp.

• Boil the Potatoes. Scrub the potatoes and place them in a pot of water, enough to cover the potatoes by one inch. Bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until fork-tender.
• Cool the Potatoes and Make the Garlic Butter. Next, drain the potatoes and dump them onto a cutting board. Let them rest for a few minutes to cool while you stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley in a small bowl.
• Smash. Now, you can use a potato masher or the back of a fork to carefully smash down the potatoes until they’re about 1-inch thick. Don’t push down too hard because they can break apart. Gently press down and release once they are as thick as you like.
• Butter. Brush the potatoes generously with the garlic butter and arrange them in the air fryer basket, leaving about an inch between each one.
• Air Fry the Smashed Potatoes. Air fry at 400˚F for about 10 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of crispiness. When they’re done, transfer them to a serving platter and serve.

Serving Suggestions

This crispy smashed potatoes recipe makes easy taters to go with just about everything. A succulent cut of beef like a bourguignon is so easy to cook and makes a mouthwatering meal you could serve anytime, from a random Wednesday to Christmas dinner. Or check out this in-depth tutorial for oven roasted tri-tip to get all the details.

Also, around here, these air fryer smashed potatoes are always a welcome side dish to my delicious broccoli cheese casserole! Try them with black bean burgers, salmon burgers, cheeseburgers, or serve them with one of my favorites, juicy grilled turkey burgers. Bulk up your meal by adding hearty smashed potatoes alongside this easy recipe for vegetarian mushroom fajitas.