This Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe is incredibly crispy on the outside, fluffy and creamy on the inside, and couldn’t be easier! Simply seasoned and perfect for your favorite toppings.
New to the air fryer? Check out my Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners!
Table of Contents
All right, here’s the truth.
Baked potatoes aren’t really something I crave. Give me these Roasted Potatoes, give me a big bowl of these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, give me the entire pan of these Scalloped Potatoes instead.
Baked potatoes?
They just never seemed very special, until I made them in the Air Fryer.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes have a few things going for them: they are super easy and mostly hands off (no watching or flipping or stressing).
They have the crispiest skin of any baked potatoes I’ve ever eaten, with a perfectly fluffy interior to match.
Pop it open and drop a dollop of salted butter inside with some cheese and crispy bacon?
Heaven. Especially when they’re served with this JUICY Air Fryer Chicken Breast, topped with some Crockpot Shredded Chicken and barbecue sauce, or with a pile of this Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
Let me show you how to make them!
No Air Fryer? Check out my oven Baked Potato recipe.
How to make an Air Fryer Baked Potato:
- Start with russet potatoes — they are the must-have potato for classic baked potatoes, but other potatoes cooked in this fashion will still be delicious.
- Wash and dry potatoes thoroughly — potatoes need a good scrub before you consume them, but things that are wet don’t crisp up. So we need to wash them well and then dry them thoroughly with a towel.
- Oil and season — while water won’t brown, oil is going to give us that incredibly crispy golden skin that cracks when we slice it. Rub the potatoes all over with canola oil (it has a high smoke point) and season liberally with salt and pepper.
- Preheat your air fryer if needed — I always set mine to temperature for about 5-8 minutes before I want to put the food in so it goes in hot. We don’t want our food to sit in limbo while the air fryer heats up.
- Cook — put the potatoes in the basket, slide it in and cook for about 40 minutes. The exact cook time will depend on the size of your potatoes, but the great thing about the air fryer is that you can pull the basket out and check earlier if your potatoes are small, or you can turn it on for another 5-10 minutes if you find they’re not quite done.
Should I wrap my baked potatoes in foil?
No!
Wrapping potatoes creates a steamy environment and the best part of an Air Fryer Baked Potato is that crispy skin.
Skip the foil, and save yourself a few extra minutes of prep, too!
Do I need to prick my potatoes before air frying?
It’s up to you.
When the steam in the potatoes tries to escape, it can cause your potatoes to “explode” or burst a hole out the side.
I don’t, and I haven’t had issues with mine exploding.
That being said, it’s an easy thing to do and won’t change your finished results, so if you are worried about it, you can definitely poke a hole into each one.
Baked Potato Toppings:
- shredded cheddar cheese or another favorite cheese
- sliced green onions
- salted butter
- crispy cooked bacon
- sour cream
- Minced fresh onions
- Chives and other fresh, chopped herbs
- Prepared tomato salsa
- Queso
- Steamed broccoli
- Crispy fried onions
- Prepared chili
Other things to serve with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes:
If your air fryer potatoes are a side dish, here are a few ideas for a main:
- Perfect Roast Chicken — throw it in the oven while your potatoes cook!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs — for a quick-prep meal
- Italian Beef — tender, juicy and full of flavor!
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin — cooked to perfection
Air Fryer Baked Potato
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 3 russet potatoes (mine were 300 grams)
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F according to manufacturer directions if required.
- Wash and dry potatoes thoroughly.
- Rub all over with oil and season well with salt and pepper.
- Place in the basket of the air fryer, place the basket into the air fryer and cook for 40 minutes (a little less if your potatoes are smaller than mine, a little more if your potatoes are larger than mine).
- Check doneness be inserting a knife into the center of the potatoes — if it goes in and comes out easily, they are done. If it seems to get stuck, give them 5-10 more minutes.
Nutrition Information
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Kellie says
Prepare and cook as above; except…Try rubbing them with olive oil, sprinkle all over with smoked paprika and salt. They will be the best tasting skins you’ve ever had.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kellie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Marie says
What temperature do I use to cook these potatoes? Is it at 400° for 40 minutes?
Alice says
Yes Marie .. for the air fryer
Monica Bruns says
Getting ready to remodel my kitchen and looking for recipes to eliminate going out to eat everyday. This sounds great. Thanks
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Monica! Hope you enjoy it!
Sam says
I will be trying these, yum!
My father in law had a potato explode and it’s not fun. I would suggest poking them, just to be safe 🙂
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Sam! Hope you enjoy them!
Kate Burgess says
I have the Emeral air fryer/ oven. I had to bake a bit longer but the potato was delicious!
Miranda says
We are also going to try this in ours. We have several settings. I have the pampered chef air fryer! I love my air fryer and love it! I would prefer to use it over my oven!
Clark says
so what temp. setting for 2 med/lrg potatoes would you suggest??
Ashley Fehr says
If they are more than 300 grams, increase the cook time, if they are less than 300 grams, decrease the cook time.
LIZZY says
Does it have to be a single layer? I need 5 potatoes.
Ashley Fehr says
A single layer will cook more evenly, but it should still work. I would rotate them part way through
Nikki says
I’m making these as I type this comment review… I’ll leave a real review after we eat tonight…let’s see how great these come out…..fingers crossed.lol
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Nikki!
Evelyn Hildebrand says
Do you air fry or bake control in air fryer?
The Recipe Rebel says
This is air fried.
Ron says
I just bought a Elite Platinum 3.5QT digital air fryer…….I have done pork chop, hamburgers, french fries and so far nothing has come out bad……..How did I ever get along without one of these things before
Ashley Fehr says
I love mine too!
Denise Partack says
Can you use vegetable oil instead of canola oil, for baked potato
Ashley Fehr says
Any vegetable oil will work fine
Kerrie says
I haven’t done chops or steak in my healthy choice yet what would be the best way in the tray or on the rack don’t have a basket an what temperature I’m new at this please an thankyou
Amak says
What temperature do you preheat to? TIA!
Amak says
Never mind! 4th read, there it is. How I missed it I’ll never know! Lol
Ashley Fehr says
No problem! I hope you enjoy them!
Kathy says
If you cook just 1 potatoe would you cut the time back?
Jan says
If I am in a hurry, I precook the potatoes for 5 or 6 minutes in the microwave and then finish for 10 minutes in the airfryer
Ashley Fehr says
I’ll have to try that!
Lynne Kelly says
Does the potato need to be pierced with a fork before putting it in the air fryer?
Ashley Fehr says
Nope! 🙂
sharon style says
I MADE THESE LAST NIGHT FANTASTIC!!WILL BE MAKING AGAIN!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sharon!
Geese says
I wonder if this will work with a reheated potato? Basically I’m asking because I’m doing resistant starch diet (means cooking potatoes twice).
Maybe the first time boil and then once I cycle it the 2nd reheat would be in the Air Fryer.
Ashley Fehr says
That would definitely work! It won’t need to cook as long though if you are just reheating it
Susan says
My air fryer has both a bake and an air fry function – do you use the air fry setting for this?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, always the air fryer setting
Tammy Farr says
What type air fryer do you have?
Ashley Fehr says
I have a Chefman Turbofry
David Hoffman says
I have the PowerXl toaster oven type air fryer, and found it is not the same as the round. I tried bake potato in that and the center does not come out so “fluffy”. I suggest microwaving a few minutes, than finishing with air fryer
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for those tips!
Joyce says
I need to prepare 6. How much longer do I add to the time?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Joyce, I’ve only made this with 3 so it would be hard to say. First you’d have to see if you can fit 6 in your air fryer. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Amanda says
I want to buy an air fryer. What size is this?
Ashley Fehr says
This is a 3.5 litre
Jennifer says
I do not have that type of air dryer will it work the same in other types of air fryers.?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, it should work the same in any 🙂