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Easy Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes! Ready in about 30 minutes this simple side dish is made with seasoned and smashed baby Yukon gold potatoes, and a layer of crispy cheese. This recipe is great for summertime, since the air fryer won’t heat the house up!

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Easy, cheesy smashed potatoes in the air fryer!

If you’re like me, and you’re obsessed with your air fryer- you’ll love this easy air fryer baby potatoes recipe! Making crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer is my new favorite way to make this classic side dish, mainly because it doesn’t heat up my kitchen and apartment. It also cuts down on dishes, as you won’t need to boil them or get a sheet pan all crusty. They cook and crisp in the air fryer!

This dish is super low maintenance, and full of flavor, making it a great candidate for a busy weeknight side dish. Topped with either grated parmesan or asiago cheese, these potatoes are a real treat.

Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

Looking for more great side dishes?

Try my Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Gouda and Rosemary, Microwave Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, or Stuffed Pattypan Squash.

Air fryer baby potatoes

What goes into the crispy smashed potatoes?

To make these crispy smashed potatoes, you will need:

  • Small/baby Yukon gold potatoes, red bliss potatoes, purple potatoes or fingerlings. Use your preferred potato- just make sure it’s small.
  • A bit of extra virgin olive oil.
  • Some melted butter.
  • Seasoning: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, coarse sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
  • Grated parmesan or asiago cheese. Warning- asiago is delicious, but also stinky. If you’re not down with the funk, I’d go with the parmesan.
smashed potatoes

How to make crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer

Cook the potatoes

To make the crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer, you’ll start by cooking the washed and dried potatoes in the air fryer for 20 minutes, until they are tender and easily pierced with a fork.

Smash and season

Once the potatoes are cooked through, you’ll transfer them to a sheet pan or large platter, and “smash” them gently, with either a glass or the back of a measuring cup. Coat them well in seasoned melted butter, give them a generous sprinkle of coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper, and put them back into the air fryer.

Cook the potatoes, again (this time, with cheese)

Cover the potatoes evenly with grated cheese, and cook for 10-15 minutes more, until the cheese and potatoes are crisp!

Crispy smashed potatoes air fryer

What goes well with the smashed potatoes?

These smashed air fryer baby potatoes make a great side to just about any protein. I love to serve them alongside some juicy grilled steak, chicken, or a broiled white fish. If you’ve got leftovers, they are make great breakfast potatoes!

Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

What kind of potatoes are best for the air fryer?

You want to use small, baby potatoes for this recipe. Make sure the potatoes are relatively uniform in size. I love the creaminess of a baby Yukon gold potato, but you can use small red potatoes, purple potatoes, or fingerlings for this recipe as well. if using the super tiny “petite” potatoes, give them a check at around the 15 minute mark to make sure they don’t overcook.

Arranging the potatoes in the air fryer

For the first cook, you can just throw the potatoes right into the air fryer, and they’ll cook evenly. When doing the second cook/crisping the potatoes, be sure to space your potatoes evenly, so that each potato is in contact with the air fryer basket. This will ensure all the potatoes crisp evenly.

bowl of Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

Want more air fryer recipes?

Air Fryer Croutons

Garlic Parm Wings in the Air Fryer

Sausage Breakfast Taquitos

Air Fryer Turkey Bacon Grilled Cheese

Air Fried Scotch Quail Eggs

Mongolian Beef Egg Rolls

Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Print Recipe

Air Fryer Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: air fryer, potato
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • air fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs Small/baby Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese
  • coarse salt
  • fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  • 1. Clean, dry and cook potatoes at 400 for 20 minutes (no need to preheat!) until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
    2. Transfer potatoes to large sheet pan, platter or cutting board, and smash gently with the back of measuring cup or glass.
    3. Whisk together olive oil, melted butter, garlic powder, smoked paprika.
    4. Brush potatoes generously with butter mixture, and season with coarse sea salt and black pepper.
    5. Add back to air fryer (seasoned side up) and top evenly with grated cheese.
    6. Cook at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes more, until crispy.

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