Potatoes & Fries
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes (Crispy Outside, Creamy Inside)
Crispy air fryer baby potatoes at 400°F: 15–20 minutes halved or 20–25 whole, shaken halfway. For mini, small, petite, creamer and new potatoes.
Quick answer
Cook baby potatoes in the air fryer at 400°F205°C. Halved baby potatoes take 15–20 minutes and whole ones about 1–1½ inches across take 20–25 minutes. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of oil and seasoning first, and shake the basket halfway. They're done when they're golden outside and a knife slides easily into the center.
- Time
- 15–20 min halved, 20–25 whole
- Flip
- Shake halfway
- Done when
- Knife slides in easily
Garlic Herb Air Fryer Baby Potatoes air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby potatoes, halved | 400°F205°C | 15–20 min | Cut side down first |
| Whole baby potatoes, 1–1½ inch | 400°F205°C | 20–25 min | Prick each one with a fork |
| Petite or creamer potatoes, under 1 inch, whole | 400°F205°C | 15–18 min | Shake halfway |
| Baby potatoes, quartered | 400°F205°C | 12–15 min | Crispiest edges |
| Smashed baby potatoes (boiled first) | 400°F205°C | 15–18 min | Brush with oil before cooking |
| New potatoes, halved | 400°F205°C | 15–20 min | Same as baby potatoes |
| Reheating roasted baby potatoes | 375°F190°C | 4–6 min | Shake once |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Baby potatoes are the easiest potatoes to air fry. There’s no peeling and barely any chopping: just halve them, toss with oil and seasoning, and they come out golden and crisp outside and creamy inside in about 20 minutes. This works for any small potatoes, whether they’re labeled baby, mini, petite, creamer or new.
How to cook baby potatoes in the air fryer
- Halve the potatoes, or leave very small ones whole.
- Toss with oil and seasoning. A tablespoon of oil is enough for 1½ pounds.
- Air fry at 400°F205°C, cut side down, in a single layer.
- Shake halfway, then cook until a knife slides in easily: 15–20 minutes halved, 20–25 minutes whole.
Halved or whole?
- Halved: the best texture. The cut side gets golden and crisp, and they cook in 15–20 minutes.
- Whole: good for very small potatoes under about 1 inch. Prick each one with a fork so steam can escape, and allow 15–25 minutes depending on size.
- Quartered: the most crispy edges, in about 12–15 minutes. Good for larger “small” potatoes.
Whatever you choose, keep the pieces about the same size so they finish at the same time.
Seasoning ideas
- Garlic herb: the recipe below, with rosemary and parsley.
- Garlic parmesan: add 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan for the last 2 minutes.
- Ranch: 1 tablespoon of dry ranch seasoning instead of the rosemary and paprika.
- Lemon dill: cook with salt, pepper and garlic, then toss with lemon zest and fresh dill.
- Cajun: 1–2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning.
Smashed baby potatoes
Boil whole baby potatoes for 12–15 minutes, until tender. Drain, let them steam-dry for a few minutes, then press each one flat with the bottom of a glass. Brush with oil, season, and air fry at 400°F205°C for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are deep golden and crispy.
What to serve them with
Baby potatoes go with almost anything: pork chops, pork tenderloin, salmon, burgers or garlic parmesan green beans. For bigger potatoes, cut into chunks or wedges, see our guide to air fryer potatoes.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Reheat at 375°F190°C for 4–6 minutes, shaking once, and they’ll crisp up again. See our reheating guide for more.
Garlic Herb Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Total
- 23 min
- Air fryer
- 400°F205°C
- Makes
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 150 per serving
Ingredients
- 1½ lb baby potatoes (gold, red or a mix)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, to serve (optional)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan, to serve (optional)
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Prep. Wash and dry the potatoes. Cut them in half, or leave the smallest ones whole and prick them with a fork.
- Season. Toss the potatoes in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, rosemary, smoked paprika, salt and pepper until evenly coated.
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F205°C for 3 minutes.
- Air fry. Spread the potatoes in the basket in a single layer, cut side down. Cook for 8 minutes, shake the basket, and cook another 7–12 minutes, until golden and crisp.
- Check. They're done when a knife slides easily into the center of the largest potato. Give them a few more minutes if they're firm.
- Serve. Sprinkle with parsley and parmesan, if using, and serve hot.
Notes
- Potatoes that are all about the same size cook evenly. Halve any larger ones.
- Drying the potatoes well after washing helps them crisp.
- For a 3–4 qt air fryer, cook 1 lb at a time so they fit in one layer.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook baby potatoes in the air fryer?
At 400°F205°C, halved baby potatoes take 15–20 minutes and whole baby potatoes about 1–1½ inches across take 20–25 minutes. Very small petite or creamer potatoes take 15–18 minutes whole. Shake the basket halfway.
Do you need to boil baby potatoes before air frying?
No. Baby potatoes cook through in the air fryer from raw, as long as large ones are halved. Boil them first only for smashed potatoes, where you flatten them before air frying.
Should I cut baby potatoes in half for the air fryer?
Halving them is best for most baby potatoes. The cut side gets golden and crisp, and they cook in 15–20 minutes. Leave very small ones, under about 1 inch, whole.
What temperature do you air fry small potatoes at?
400°F205°C works best for baby, mini and small potatoes. It crisps the outside while the inside turns soft and creamy.
What's the difference between baby, new, petite and creamer potatoes?
They're all small potatoes. New potatoes are harvested young and have thin skins. Baby, petite and creamer potatoes are small potatoes of any variety, often gold or red. They all cook the same way in the air fryer, so go by size.
How do you make smashed baby potatoes in the air fryer?
Boil or microwave whole baby potatoes until tender, about 12–15 minutes in boiling water. Press each one flat with the bottom of a glass, brush with oil and seasoning, and air fry at 400°F205°C for 15–18 minutes until the edges are crisp.
Why aren't my air fryer potatoes crispy?
Usually the basket is too full, or the potatoes were wet. Dry them well, use a little oil, cook in a single layer and shake halfway. Crowded potatoes steam instead of crisping.
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