Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

5 from 8 votes

Sep 27, 2021, Updated Oct 05, 2021

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The perfect potatoes, pronto! Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are fast and tasty, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and deliciously seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper.

three air fryer baked potatoes cut open on top and a pat of butter served over it.

Easy Baked Potatoes with Crispy Skin

Have you ever eaten a baked potato and left the skin just kind of… sitting there? In the foil? No judgment, I definitely have, too! But, with this air fryer recipe for baked potatoes, the skin may just be your favorite part!

Lightly brushed with oil and seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper, the freshly-scrubbed potato skins come out super crispy, like the outside of the very best potato wedges!

On the inside, these potatoes are perfectly fluffy, exactly right for topping with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, broccoli, or whatever you want! They make the perfect easy dinner, quick lunch, or versatile side dish.

Why Bake Potatoes in the Air Fryer?

You might be wondering why this recipe is specifically for air frying, as opposed to just baking in the oven. The reason is that air fryers reduce the time needed to cook the potatoes.

Thanks to convection heat, food generally cooks much faster in the air fryer. In this case, the potatoes can be done in about half the time, compared to baking in a conventional oven. ?

baked potato loaded with bacon, broccoli, and cheese.

What You’ll Need

To make this easy dish, you’ll need baking potatoes, oil, and a few simple seasonings. From there, you can serve the potatoes with just a bit of butter, or with any other toppings you like.

Potatoes: This recipe makes four medium baked potatoes. I typically use Russet; see below for more about the best potatoes for baking!
Olive Oil: For brushing on the potato skins.
Garlic Powder: While you can definitely make a tasty potato without any garlic powder, I think it really puts the taste over the top.
Kosher Salt: To taste.
Black Pepper: Freshly ground is best.

What kind of potatoes are best for baking?

Most people agree that Russet potatoes are best for baking, hands-down. White potatoes are also great, as are Yukon gold. All of these potatoes have a relatively high starch content, which makes them bake up light and fluffy.

Red potatoes and other waxy varieties aren’t as good for making a classic baked potato, although they’re lovely in potato salads because that’s where they belong. ?

overhead shot of three russet potatoes with a fork and a pastry brush positioned next to them.

How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Make sure to scrub the potatoes well to remove dust and any loose dirt. A vegetable scrubber or clean tea towel, plus warm running water, will work just fine.

Prep the Air Fryer and Potatoes. Preheat the Air Fryer to 400˚F. Scrub the potatoes under running water. Dry the potatoes thoroughly, then pierce them all over with a fork.
Season the Potatoes. Brush or rub each potato with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, and black pepper over the potatoes evenly.
Bake the Potatoes. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer and your potatoes, you might have to cook them in batches. I usually do two potatoes at a time. Cook the potatoes for 30 minutes, flip them over, and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until baked through.
Cut, Top, and Serve. Remove the cooked potatoes from the air fryer. Cut a cross-shape into the very top of the potatoes. Don’t cut all the way through, just half an inch or so into the potato. Gently push the edges of the potato so that the cross shape opens up. Fill with your favorite toppings, and serve.

air fryer baked potatoes cut open on top.

Tips for Success

Are you excited to try this recipe out? I’m sure you’re going to love it! But, before you get started, let me share a couple of helpful tips for making the perfect air fried potatoes.

Cooking Time May Vary: Depending on the size of the potatoes you are baking, bigger ones might need more time to cook, and smaller potatoes will cook in a shorter period of time.
Check for Doneness: Potatoes are cooked through when a fork slides easily down the middle of the potato.
Topping-Tastic! Season away! This recipe keeps it simple with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, but you can also season your crispy potato skins with Italian seasoning, rosemary, onion powder, salt-less seasoning blends, steak seasoning, or anything that you like. Play around with the seasonings – it’s fun and delicious. ?

Serving Suggestions

You can serve so many wonderful toppings and dishes with baked potatoes! Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy a classic baked spud.

Loaded Baked: Make a classic loaded potato with sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, steamed broccoli, and even jalapeno!
Chili: Pair your potatoes with this Texas No Beans Chili for a festive and easy meal! White chicken chili is also a great idea!
Sloppy Potatoes: Love sloppy joes? Me too! And that same sloppy joe topping that is so insanely good on a bun? Yeah… it’s fabulous on a baked potato. ?
Steak and Potatoes: ‘Nuff said. ?
Potacos: Similar to chili, taco meat goes wonderfully on a baked potato, along with sour cream, taco sauce, and shredded lettuce. Awesome!
Barbecue: A batch of barbecue chicken is perfect for topping baked potatoes, or try serving them with some Easy Baby Back Ribs.
Meatloaf: My Easy Meatloaf Recipe pairs wonderfully with a baked potato and some salad. It’s a classic American dinner the whole family will love.

air fryer baked potato cut open on top and a pat of butter served over it.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store leftover baked potatoes in the refrigerator, in airtight containers or food storage bags. They will keep for 3 – 4 days.
Reheat potatoes in the oven or air fryer, at 350˚F. They should take 4 to 7 minutes in the air fryer, or 10 to 15 minutes in the oven.

ENJOY!

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5 from 8 votes