These Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are perfectly golden brown, crispy on the outside, and incredibly soft and fluffy on the inside. Made with baby potatoes, rich melted butter, fresh parmesan, garlic powder and oregano, the cheese creates an irresistible crunchy crust!
Serve these potatoes with burgers, like these turkey jalapeno burgers, or add them to your brunch menu alongside this sausage frittata recipe.
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Quick Look: Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🏻🍳 Air Fry Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🥔 Servings: 4
- ⚡ Calories: 237 per serving
- 🍽 Diet: gluten-free
- 🔥 Flavor/texture: soft and fluffy in the center, crunchy on the outside.
- 👌 Difficulty: easy, just 7 ingredients needed.
- ❤️ Why you'll love: double parmesan, super crunchy, minimal butter.
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The secret to these incredibly crunchy parmesan potatoes
Their signature crunch comes from three key factors:
- The air fryer: Circulating hot air crisps every side using just a tiny bit of butter.
- Smart placement: Cooking the potatoes in a single layer prevents overcrowding, while starting them cut side down gives the flesh the absolute best chance to crisp up perfectly. (There's also no need to score these potatoes!)
- Double parmesan: Finely grated cheese coats the potatoes initially, and a second layer is added after flipping for maximum coverage and a crispy crust.
If you love crispy little potatoes cooked in the air fryer, you'll also love this air fryer baby potatoes recipe or these rosemary parmesan fingerling potatoes!
Table of Contents
- Quick Look: Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
- The secret to these incredibly crunchy parmesan potatoes
- Ingredient notes
- How to make parmesan crusted potatoes in the air fryer
- Expert tips for making these parmesan potatoes
- Storage and reheating leftovers
- Air fryer parmesan potatoes FAQs
- More air fryer potato recipes
- 📖 Recipe
Ingredient notes
You only need 7 ingredients for this recipe!
- Potatoes - You'll need 1 ½ pounds of baby potatoes that have been cut in half. I like to use red baby potatoes, but you can also use baby gold potatoes. You can also use full-sized potatoes (like I do with these air fryer home fries) and just cut them into smaller pieces.
- Parmesan cheese - For the best results, use freshly grated parmesan cheese. Buy a block and shred it using the finest holes on a box grater. Avoid pre-shredded or shelf stable powdered options as they just don't melt well and lack flavor. (Side note: using fresh and finely shredded is one of the reasons my air fryer parmesan chicken wings turn out so crispy)!
- Butter - Two tablespoons of melted butter will help crisp up the potatoes and allow the parmesan cheese and seasonings to stick to the potatoes. I used unsalted butter in order to control the amount of salt in the recipe, but if only have salted butter, just reduce the amount of salt you add.
- Seasonings - You only need a simple mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano. You can change up the herbs and use dried basil or parsley if you like. I don't recommend using fresh herbs as they will burn easily in the air fryer.
How to make parmesan crusted potatoes in the air fryer
Step 1: Cut the baby potatoes in half and add them to a large bowl and toss with the melted butter. Then, mix in the garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper and half of the grated parmesan. Toss until fully coated.
Step 2: Grease your air fryer basket with spray oil and add the potatoes cut side down in a single layer.
Step 3: Air fry on 380F for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Carefully flip the potatoes over, sprinkle on the remaining parmesan cheese and air fry for another 5-7 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown and fork tender.
Expert tips for making these parmesan potatoes
- Air fry in a single layer. For the best results, you'll want to air fry the potatoes cut side down in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this may mean air frying the potatoes in two batches or you can half the recipe.
- Size of potatoes. Make sure your baby potatoes are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly and at the same rate. Larger potato pieces will take longer to cook.
- Pat potatoes dry. If you're not using pre-washed potatoes, rinse them first and scrub clean (if necessary) and then pat them dry before tossing with melted butter and seasonings.
Storage and reheating leftovers
I think these parmesan potatoes are best served immediately when they're hot and crispy. (And, if you're feeling extra, with some chopped chives and dairy-free chipotle sauce)! If you have leftovers, however, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat the potatoes, place them on a baking sheet in the oven or pop them back in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 400F. I don't recommend reheating them in the microwave as they will not get crispy.
Air fryer parmesan potatoes FAQs
We love baby red potatoes for this recipe as they stay soft and fluffy in the middle, and the thin skin gets nice and crispy in the air fryer. If you don't have baby reds, you can use any other type of baby potato. Low moisture potatoes like russets or Yukon gold are also great for the air fryer as they get extra crispy. If they're full sized potatoes, just cut them into smaller pieces.
I recommend keeping the skins on as it saves time and they get super crispy in the air fryer.
Sometimes I like to soak potatoes in cold water before air frying to help release the starches so they crisp up better. (I do that when I make my air fryer sliced potatoes). But, there is no need to do that for this recipe as we are using small red potatoes that are less starchy.
There is no need to parboil the baby potatoes for this recipe as they roast up quickly in the air fryer.
More air fryer potato recipes
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If you make this recipe, please leave a review and rating below to let me know what you think. If you have a question, drop that below too!
📖 Recipe
Golden and Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds (680 g) baby red potatoes, scrubbed clean and halved
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup (40 g) finely grated fresh parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Add the potatoes to a large bowl and toss with melted butter. Mix in the oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper and ¼ cup grated parmesan. Toss until the potatoes are fully coated.
- Grease your air fryer basket with spray oil and add the potatoes cut side down in a single layer. (See note #1 below).
- Air fry on 380F for 15 minutes, then carefully flip the potatoes over, sprinkle on the remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese and air fry for another 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden brown and fork tender.
Notes
- Air fry in a single layer. For the best results, you'll want to air fry the potatoes cut side down in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this may mean air frying the potatoes in two batches or you can half the recipe.
- Size of potatoes. Make sure your baby potatoes are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly and at the same rate. Larger potato pieces will take longer to cook.
- Pat potatoes dry. If you're not using pre-washed potatoes, rinse them first and scrub clean (if necessary) and then pat them dry before tossing with melted butter and seasonings.
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Enter your email address and I'll send it straight to your inbox. You'll also receive new recipes from me regularly!
Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
Did you make this recipe or have any questions?
I love reading your comments and addressing your questions, so please leave your comments and ratings or questions below!
Lynn says
These are excellent. I confess I doubled the parmesan llol.
Leanne says
Thanks Lynn! Love that you doubled the parmesan. Glad you enjoyed them!
Polina G says
Parmesan cheese got mixed with all the spices and potatoes were only covered in butter. But I used that mixture instead of sprinkling parmesan cheese and it was fine. Cheese would’ve burned anyways, so it’s all good. I used my own mix of spices that my family likes.Overall recipe is good.
MRS MARILISE BOSHOFF says
Can you pre cook the potatoes?
Leanne says
Hi Marilise. I don't recommend using pre-cooked potatoes for this recipe. I haven't tested it, but if you were looking to reduce some of the air frying time, you could try parboiling the potatoes first.
Terry says
I have been loving your air fryer recipes so keep them coming! These look so easy to make and will be perfect to add to meals this summer. I really like the idea of adding the parmesan to them.