What are the best potatoes to use for air fryer parmesan potatoes?

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.

Can you use full sized potatoes instead of baby potatoes?

Yes, just make sure you cut them into roughly the same size as halved baby potatoes.

Do you need to peel the potatoes?

I like to keep the skins on as it saves time and they get super crispy in the air fryer. If you prefer to peel the potatoes, you can also do that.

Should you soak the potatoes before air frying?

Sometimes I like to soak potatoes in cold water before air frying to help release the starches so they crisp up better. There is no need to do that for this recipe as we are using small red potatoes that are less starchy.

Should you boil the potatoes before air frying?

There is no need to parboil the baby potatoes for this recipe as they roast up quickly in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes

Description

Golden brown and crispy, these Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are easy to make with melted butter, freshly grated parmesan and a few simple seasonings.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, scrubbed clean and halved
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely grated fresh parmesan cheese, divided

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Instructions

Add the potatoes to a large bowl and toss with melted butter. Mix in the oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper and 1/4 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 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and air fry for another 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden brown and fork tender.

Notes

For the crispiest results, I like 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 halving the recipe. If you want to air fry them all in one batch, you can overlap the potatoes. Just make sure you shake the basket a few times during cooking.
For the best flavour, use grated parmesan cheese instead of pre-shredded or the powdered parmesan cheese.
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.
You can use regular sized potatoes instead of baby potatoes, just cut them into smaller pieces.
I like to keep the skins on so they get extra crispy, but you can peel the potatoes if you prefer.
If you’re not using pre-washed baby potatoes, rinse them first and scrub clean (if necessary) and then pat dry before tossing with melted butter and seasonings.
I didn’t preheat my air fryer, but feel free to do so if your air fryer model requires it.
I used a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer for this recipe. If you have a different size, brand or model, you may need to adjust the air frying time and temperature slightly.
Be sure to check out the other sections above the recipe card for more detailed advice and suggestions for making this recipe.