Air Fryer Roast Potatoes – Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary

Who doesn’t love a roast potato? but have you tried making them in an air fryer?
No need to parboil these beauties and the result – crispy and delicious and done in 20 minutes, which means it makes a great side to a speedy meal.

A tall shot of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, all crispy and golden and sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.
Jump to:

I’ve been experimenting with my air fryer to find the best way to make air fryer roast potatoes without having to par boil them in water first.

I’ll jump to it with the three methods I tested and the results:

  1. Doing the parboiling/steaming stage in the airfryer in a foil parcel, then removing the foil and air frying with oil.
    • FAIL – the potatoes didn’t steam in the foil, they just stayed hard (and went a bit dry) with a thick chewy skin.
  2. Air frying the potatoes directly in the air fryer basket, drizzled in oil (no parboiling/steaming stage).
    • These were OK. Not hugely crispy, but they had a nice browned skin, that was slightly chewy. The interior was nice and fluffy.
  3. Air frying the potatoes in a shallow tray insert in the air fryer basket, drizzled in oil (no parboiling/steaming stage).
    • WINNER! – Fluffy interior, crunchier skin. Not quite as crispy and crunchy as my oven roast potatoes, but a great swap when you’re short on time.
An overhead image of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, all crispy and golden and sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.

šŸ‘©ā€šŸ³PRO TIP Use a shallow tray insert, so the potatoes are in contact with the oil (instead of the oil draining through the air fryer basket holes) – this will result in crispier potatoes.Type of Air FryerYour Attractive Heading

Type of Air Fryer

I use theĀ Ninja MaxĀ (<– affiliate link) air fryer, but these instructions apply to any drawer-style air fryer (not grill style or air fryers with a paddle. I haven’t tested with these. If you have, please let me know in the comments :-))

Tray Insert

I use the 8″ pizza pan insert from this accessories set (<– affiliate link) from Amazon. This is compatible with my Ninja Max.

Close up shot of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.

FAQS

Why use a tray insert for air fryer roast potatoes?

Roasting potatoes in the oven requires you to roast the potatoes in a roasting tray with fat in. The potatoes are sitting in the hot fat. This is what helps to give the potatoes that ‘crunchy shell’.If you try to roast potatoes in an air fryer in the regular basket (with holes in) any excess fat you add will drain through the holes, so the potatoes aren’t in contact with the hot fat. They’ll only have the small amount of fat you poured on coating the skin.This will result in roast potatoes that are browned, with only aĀ very thin skinĀ of crispness that’s also a little chewy.If they’re sitting in the hot fat, you’ll get a thicker skin of crunch, as the hot oil absorbs deeper into the skin.

Can I skip the tray insert and add directly to the air fryer basket?

Yes, of course. The skin will be less crunchy, but the potatoes will be browned. They will also have absorbed less fat, so they’ll be lower in calories and fat content.

Shouldn’t you par-boil the potatoes first?

This recipe is about makingĀ quick roast potatoes. I’ve prioritised speed and simplicity over getting the ultimate crunch. If you have more time, then yes, you can parboil the potatoes. See the notes section of the recipe card below for information on this.


šŸ² More fantastic potato recipes

Stay updated with new recipes!
Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

Square image of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, sprinkled with salt and parsley, on a dark blue background.

Air Fryer Roast Potatoes

No par-boiling required for these quick, crisp air fryer roast potatoes. Only 5 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking time.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Course side dish

Cuisine British

Servings 4

Calories 252 kcal

IngredientsĀ 

Optional for extra crunch

INSTRUCTIONSĀ 

  • Peel and chop potatoes into 2.5cm (1 inch) chunks. Rinse under cold water and pat dry.

    700 g (1 ½ lbs) floury potatoes

  • Place a shallow tray insert into your air fryer basket. *see note 1

  • Add the potatoes to the tray. Drizzle on the oil and give a good shake or stir – so the potatoes are fully covered in oil.

    2 tbsp neutral oil

  • Cook for 5 minutes in air fryer at 200C, then turn the potatoes and cook for a further 5 minutes.

  • Turn the potatoes again and give them a bit of a bash with the back of a spoon – to ruffle the edges slightly.

  • Drizzle on a further tbsp of oil. Cook for another 10 minutes (so it will be 20 minutes cooking time altogether), until the potatoes are crisp and golden.

    1 tbsp neutral oil

  • Sprinkle with salt and thyme before serving.

    1 tsp Maldon salt, 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

āœŽ Notes

Note 1: Why use a tray insert for air fryer roast potatoes?
Roasting potatoes in the oven requires you to roast the potatoes in a roasting tray with fat in. The potatoes are sitting in the hot fat. This is what helps to give the potatoes that ‘crunchy shell’.
If you try to roast potatoes in an air fryer in the regular basket (with holes in) any excess fat you add will drain through the holes, so the potatoes aren’t in contact with the hot fat. They’ll only have the small amount of fat you poured on coating the skin.
This will result in roast potatoes that are browned, with only a very thin skin of crispness that’s also a little chewy.
If they’re sitting in the hot fat, you’ll get a thicker skin of crunch, as the hot oil absorbs deeper into the skin.

Can I skip the tray insert and add directly to the air fryer basket?
Yes, of course. The skin will be less crunchy, but the potatoes will be browned. They will also have absorbed less fat, so they’ll be lower in calories and fat content.
Shouldn’t you par-boil the potatoes first?
This recipe is about making quick roast potatoes. I’ve prioritised speed and simplicity over getting the ultimate crunch. If you have more time, then yes, you can parboil the potatoes.

  • Par-boil the peeled and choppedĀ  potatoes for 8-9 minutes – until softened at the edges.
  • Drain and give good shake to fluff up the edges further.
  • Add to the air fryer tray insert and place in the airfryer with the oil. Cook as per the recipe above, but reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes.

Nutritional information is per serving – this recipe serve 4.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gSodium: 645mgPotassium: 842mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 33715IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 2mg

Keywords air fryer cooking, crispy potatoes, potatoes

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

Hi I’m Nicky

I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

Read More



#Air #Fryer #Roast #Potatoes #Nickys #Kitchen #Sanctuary

Who doesn’t love a roast potato? but have you tried making them in an air fryer?
No need to parboil these beauties and the result – crispy and delicious and done in 20 minutes, which means it makes a great side to a speedy meal.

A tall shot of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, all crispy and golden and sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.
Jump to:

I’ve been experimenting with my air fryer to find the best way to make air fryer roast potatoes without having to par boil them in water first.

I’ll jump to it with the three methods I tested and the results:

  1. Doing the parboiling/steaming stage in the airfryer in a foil parcel, then removing the foil and air frying with oil.
    • FAIL – the potatoes didn’t steam in the foil, they just stayed hard (and went a bit dry) with a thick chewy skin.
  2. Air frying the potatoes directly in the air fryer basket, drizzled in oil (no parboiling/steaming stage).
    • These were OK. Not hugely crispy, but they had a nice browned skin, that was slightly chewy. The interior was nice and fluffy.
  3. Air frying the potatoes in a shallow tray insert in the air fryer basket, drizzled in oil (no parboiling/steaming stage).
    • WINNER! – Fluffy interior, crunchier skin. Not quite as crispy and crunchy as my oven roast potatoes, but a great swap when you’re short on time.
An overhead image of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, all crispy and golden and sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.

šŸ‘©ā€šŸ³PRO TIP Use a shallow tray insert, so the potatoes are in contact with the oil (instead of the oil draining through the air fryer basket holes) – this will result in crispier potatoes.Type of Air FryerYour Attractive Heading

Type of Air Fryer

I use theĀ Ninja MaxĀ (<– affiliate link) air fryer, but these instructions apply to any drawer-style air fryer (not grill style or air fryers with a paddle. I haven’t tested with these. If you have, please let me know in the comments :-))

Tray Insert

I use the 8″ pizza pan insert from this accessories set (<– affiliate link) from Amazon. This is compatible with my Ninja Max.

Close up shot of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, sprinkled with parsley and salt, on a dark blue background.

FAQS

Why use a tray insert for air fryer roast potatoes?

Roasting potatoes in the oven requires you to roast the potatoes in a roasting tray with fat in. The potatoes are sitting in the hot fat. This is what helps to give the potatoes that ‘crunchy shell’.If you try to roast potatoes in an air fryer in the regular basket (with holes in) any excess fat you add will drain through the holes, so the potatoes aren’t in contact with the hot fat. They’ll only have the small amount of fat you poured on coating the skin.This will result in roast potatoes that are browned, with only aĀ very thin skinĀ of crispness that’s also a little chewy.If they’re sitting in the hot fat, you’ll get a thicker skin of crunch, as the hot oil absorbs deeper into the skin.

Can I skip the tray insert and add directly to the air fryer basket?

Yes, of course. The skin will be less crunchy, but the potatoes will be browned. They will also have absorbed less fat, so they’ll be lower in calories and fat content.

Shouldn’t you par-boil the potatoes first?

This recipe is about makingĀ quick roast potatoes. I’ve prioritised speed and simplicity over getting the ultimate crunch. If you have more time, then yes, you can parboil the potatoes. See the notes section of the recipe card below for information on this.


šŸ² More fantastic potato recipes

Stay updated with new recipes!
Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

Square image of a bowl filled with Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, sprinkled with salt and parsley, on a dark blue background.

Air Fryer Roast Potatoes

No par-boiling required for these quick, crisp air fryer roast potatoes. Only 5 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking time.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Course side dish

Cuisine British

Servings 4

Calories 252 kcal

IngredientsĀ 

Optional for extra crunch

INSTRUCTIONSĀ 

  • Peel and chop potatoes into 2.5cm (1 inch) chunks. Rinse under cold water and pat dry.

    700 g (1 ½ lbs) floury potatoes

  • Place a shallow tray insert into your air fryer basket. *see note 1

  • Add the potatoes to the tray. Drizzle on the oil and give a good shake or stir – so the potatoes are fully covered in oil.

    2 tbsp neutral oil

  • Cook for 5 minutes in air fryer at 200C, then turn the potatoes and cook for a further 5 minutes.

  • Turn the potatoes again and give them a bit of a bash with the back of a spoon – to ruffle the edges slightly.

  • Drizzle on a further tbsp of oil. Cook for another 10 minutes (so it will be 20 minutes cooking time altogether), until the potatoes are crisp and golden.

    1 tbsp neutral oil

  • Sprinkle with salt and thyme before serving.

    1 tsp Maldon salt, 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

āœŽ Notes

Note 1: Why use a tray insert for air fryer roast potatoes?
Roasting potatoes in the oven requires you to roast the potatoes in a roasting tray with fat in. The potatoes are sitting in the hot fat. This is what helps to give the potatoes that ‘crunchy shell’.
If you try to roast potatoes in an air fryer in the regular basket (with holes in) any excess fat you add will drain through the holes, so the potatoes aren’t in contact with the hot fat. They’ll only have the small amount of fat you poured on coating the skin.
This will result in roast potatoes that are browned, with only a very thin skin of crispness that’s also a little chewy.
If they’re sitting in the hot fat, you’ll get a thicker skin of crunch, as the hot oil absorbs deeper into the skin.

Can I skip the tray insert and add directly to the air fryer basket?
Yes, of course. The skin will be less crunchy, but the potatoes will be browned. They will also have absorbed less fat, so they’ll be lower in calories and fat content.
Shouldn’t you par-boil the potatoes first?
This recipe is about making quick roast potatoes. I’ve prioritised speed and simplicity over getting the ultimate crunch. If you have more time, then yes, you can parboil the potatoes.

  • Par-boil the peeled and choppedĀ  potatoes for 8-9 minutes – until softened at the edges.
  • Drain and give good shake to fluff up the edges further.
  • Add to the air fryer tray insert and place in the airfryer with the oil. Cook as per the recipe above, but reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes.

Nutritional information is per serving – this recipe serve 4.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gSodium: 645mgPotassium: 842mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 33715IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 2mg

Keywords air fryer cooking, crispy potatoes, potatoes

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

Hi I’m Nicky

I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

Read More


, Air Fryer Roast Potatoes – Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary

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