Air Fryer Baby Potatoes (Just 4 Ingredients!)

Name: Air Fryer Baby Potatoes (Just 4 Ingredients!)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes (halved); 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; Chopped fresh parsley to garnish

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These Air Fryer Baby Potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle! They’re easy to prep and roast up quickly in the air fryer. All you need is some oil, salt and Italian seasoning, then toss together and air fry. Prep time is 5 minutes and these little potatoes roast up to perfection in just 20 minutes! What I love most is that you can change up the seasonings with different dried herbs and spices (I’ve included options below), and using the air fryer frees up valuable oven space, especially when feeding a crowd!

Close up of air fried baby potatoes with parsley and salt in the background.

This recipe was originally published in February 2019. I’ve tweaked it over the years, and changed the type of air fryer I use. So, I thought it was time to give this recipe a little refresh. Below you’ll find updated photos, along with new text and adjustments to the recipe.

Ingredients and substitutions
How to roast baby potatoes in the air fryer
Recipe variations
Storage and reheating
Key recipe tips
Recipe FAQs
More air fryer potato recipes

Ingredients and substitutions

Below is a brief overview of the ingredients and recommended substitutions. The recipe card at the end of this post includes the exact quantities used.

Ingredients to make air fryer baby potatoes arranged in individual bowls.

Baby potatoes – You’ll need 1 1/2 pounds (or 680 grams) of baby potatoes for this recipe. That’s usually the size of a small bag at the grocery store. I prefer red baby potatoes, but you can also use baby gold. You can also use fingerling or full-sized potatoes and just cut them into smaller pieces.
Oil – This helps crisp up the potatoes. I used olive oil, but avocado oil or canola oil works too. You can also use melted butter.
Seasonings – I decided to keep it simple with just some salt and Italian seasoning. Feel free to substitute with different herbs and spices. (I’ve included suggestions below).
Fresh herbs – I usually don’t add fresh herbs to the air fryer as they burn quickly, but I like to serve these potatoes with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley.

How to roast baby potatoes in the air fryer

Below is a brief overview of the steps to make this recipe along with photos. For further details, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

Potatoes cut in half and placed in a glass bowl with oil, seasonings and salt on the side. — **Step 1:** Clean and dry the potatoes. Cut them in half and add to a large bowl.

Seasoned potatoes mixed together in a bowl with a spatula. — **Step 2:** Toss with oil and seasonings until well coated.

Seasoned baby potatoes in the air fryer basket. — **Step 3:** Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if they’re overlapping, just don’t overcrowd the air fryer.

Air fried baby potatoes in the air fryer basket. — **Step 4:** Air fry on 400F for 18-20 minutes stopping, to shake the basket a few times.

Recipe variations

Keep it simple with salt and pepper.
Add 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder.
For a smoky flavor, use a mix of smoked paprika and cumin.
To spice it up, use 2 teaspoons of chili powder.
For extra heat add a dash of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
Add some grated parmesan cheese during the last few minutes of air frying or just before serving.
Serve with chopped fresh rosemary.

Storage and reheating

These potatoes are best served immediately, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To heat them up and get them crispy again, air fry on 400F for 3-5 minutes.

Potatoes served in a white bowl with sea salt and chopped parsley on the side.

Key recipe tips

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. It’s okay if these small potatoes are overlapping, but you don’t want to fill the basket.
Shake the basket. To ensure even cooking and to rotate the potatoes around, you’ll need to stop and shake the air fryer basket a few times.
Pre-washed baby potatoes. Buying pre-washed is a definite time saver.
Pat potatoes dry. If you don’t have pre-washed potatoes, make sure you wash and scrub your potatoes and then pat them dry with a towel before seasoning them.
Type of air fryer. I used a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer for this recipe. If you have a different size, brand or model of air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and/or air frying time slightly.

Recipe FAQs

What type of baby potatoes are best for this recipe?

We usually prefer baby red potatoes as their thin skin gets nice and crispy in the air fryer and they stay creamy and fluffy in the middle. Baby Yukon gold potatoes also work well and are great for roasting in the air fryer.

Can you air fry whole baby potatoes?

I like to cut the baby potatoes in half, but you can also air fry them whole. Just note that you will need to increase the air frying time by about 5 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes.

Can you use regular sized potatoes for this recipe?

If you don’t have baby potatoes, you can use regular-sized potatoes and cut them into roughly 1-inch cubes.

Do you need to parboil baby potatoes before air frying?

Save yourself time and skip parboiling! You just need to season the raw potatoes and air fry.

Do you need to soak the potatoes in cold water before air frying?

Soaking potatoes in cold water helps release starches and achieve a crispy texture when roasted or air fried. Since red potatoes are waxy and low in starch, there is no need to soak them for this recipe. Even if you’re using a more starchy Yukon gold, I would skip soaking them.

More air fryer potato recipes

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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