Air Fryer Roast Potatoes: How to Get Them Crispy
Air fryer roast potatoes are one of those things that sound incredibly simple until you actually make them. Potatoes, a little oil and an air fryer – what could possibly go wrong? Yet somehow you can end up with gorgeous crispy roasties one day and rather pale potatoes that look like they gave up halfway through the next.
I love a proper roast potato with a golden outside and fluffy middle, and using the air fryer is particularly handy when I don’t want to put the big oven on just for a tray of potatoes. It’s also useful when the oven is already full, which is usually the bigger problem here if I’m making a roast dinner.
The method I’ve used here cooks the potatoes at 200°C for around 20–25 minutes, giving the basket a good shake halfway through. The exact time will depend on how large you’ve cut your potatoes and, as I’ve found with pretty much everything I’ve cooked in an air fryer, your particular machine can make a difference too.
If you’re still experimenting with yours, you can find plenty more ideas in my air fryer recipes collection.
What temperature should you cook roast potatoes in the air fryer?
I cook these air fryer roast potatoes at 200°C. The high temperature helps the outside brown while the potato cooks through in the middle.
Preheating can help, although this is one of those areas where air fryers differ quite a bit. Some machines preheat automatically, some manufacturers recommend it and others don’t seem to need it at all, so I would follow the instructions for your own model rather than assuming every air fryer works exactly the same way.
More important is giving the potatoes enough room for the hot air to circulate around them. If you’ve crammed twice as many potatoes into the basket, they’re unlikely to cook in exactly the same way.
How long do roast potatoes take in the air fryer?
For the method I’ve used here, allow around 20–25 minutes at 200°C, shaking or turning the potatoes about halfway through.
Treat that as a guide rather than setting a timer for 25 minutes and assuming they’ll definitely be done. A small piece of potato will obviously cook more quickly than one you’ve cut to almost jacket-potato proportions!
Try to cut the potatoes into roughly similar-sized pieces before you start. They don’t need to be measured with a ruler, but keeping them reasonably consistent means you’re less likely to have burnt little pieces alongside potatoes that are still hard in the middle.
Which potatoes are best for air fryer roast potatoes?
A floury potato is generally what I reach for when I want roast potatoes with a fluffy centre. In the UK, varieties such as Maris Piper and King Edward are easy ones to look out for.
That doesn’t mean the recipe is ruined if the bag in your cupboard contains something else. I’ve never been someone who thinks dinner needs abandoning because you’ve bought the ‘wrong’ potato! The finished texture can vary between varieties, though, so it is worth experimenting if you’re particularly fussy about your roasties.
You can peel them or leave the skins on depending on what you prefer. If you’re leaving the skins on, give the potatoes a good scrub first.
Do you need to parboil potatoes before air frying?
For the simple method on this page, I’ve cooked the potatoes directly in the air fryer rather than parboiling them first.
Parboiling and roughing up the edges is another way of making roast potatoes and it’s something I’m experimenting with separately because I want to compare the results properly rather than pretending I’ve tested something I haven’t.
If you’re making these today, you don’t need to add that extra stage. Prepare the potatoes, coat them with oil and seasoning and cook them using the method below.
How much oil do air fryer roast potatoes need?
You don’t need the potatoes swimming in oil, but I do prefer using enough to give them a light, even coating. Oil isn’t something I’m frightened of adding to a recipe simply because I’m trying to make something ‘healthy’; I’d rather use the amount that gives me roast potatoes I actually enjoy eating.
Tossing the potatoes in a bowl before putting them into the air fryer makes it much easier to distribute the oil than trying to drizzle it over them once they’re already in the basket.
I’m going to measure the precise amount I use the next time I make this recipe so I can add a fully tested recipe card here rather than telling you vaguely to use ‘a tablespoon or two’. For now, use enough to lightly coat the quantity of potatoes you’re cooking.
How to make air fryer roast potatoes
Start by peeling the potatoes if you prefer them without their skins, then cut them into reasonably even pieces.
Dry them if they’re particularly wet, then put them into a bowl and toss with enough oil to give them a light coating. Season with salt and any additional herbs or spices you’re using.
Arrange the potatoes in the air fryer basket without packing them in too tightly. They don’t have to be positioned like they’re posing for a photograph, but leaving some room for the hot air to move around them will help them brown more evenly.
Cook at 200°C for approximately 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket or turning the potatoes halfway through.
Check them towards the end rather than relying entirely on the clock. You’re looking for potatoes that are cooked all the way through with browned, crisp edges.
Why aren’t my air fryer roast potatoes crispy?
Overcrowding would be the first thing I’d check. If you’ve got a huge pile of potatoes in a small basket, there’s less opportunity for the hot air to reach all those surfaces.
The size of the potatoes matters too. Very large chunks may need longer before the middle is properly cooked, while tiny pieces can brown before you’ve got the fluffy roast-potato centre you were hoping for.
Giving them a shake or turn during cooking exposes different sides to the circulating air and helps them colour more evenly.
Finally, don’t be afraid to cook them for another few minutes if yours aren’t ready when mine are. Air fryers aren’t identical, and neither are potatoes.
Seasoning ideas for roast potatoes
Salt is absolutely fine if you want traditional roasties, but this is an easy recipe to play around with.
Garlic and rosemary are probably the combination I’d choose first, especially alongside a roast dinner. Garlic granules are particularly convenient because there’s no chopping involved and they distribute easily over the potatoes.
Smoked paprika is lovely when the potatoes are going alongside something less traditional, while a little curry powder or Cajun seasoning can completely change them without requiring a different cooking method.
Parmesan can also work well added towards the end of cooking if you want cheesy roast potatoes, although keep an eye on it because cheese obviously behaves rather differently from a potato at 200°C!
What can I serve with air fryer roast potatoes?
Pretty much anything you’d usually eat roast potatoes with. They work with a Sunday dinner, chicken, sausages or a vegetarian roast, but I don’t think roast potatoes need to be reserved for Sundays.
They’re also useful when you’re cooking for fewer people and don’t want a huge roasting tray of potatoes taking up the oven.
For a completely different potato side, try my air fryer sweet potato fries or air fryer salt and pepper chips. The sweet potato fries are quicker and softer in the middle, while the salt and pepper chips are much more of a fakeaway option.
Can I reheat roast potatoes in the air fryer?
If you’ve got cooked roast potatoes left over, cool them and refrigerate them promptly rather than leaving them sitting around at room temperature.
The air fryer is useful for reheating them because the circulating hot air can help bring some of the crispness back. How long they’ll need depends on their size, how cold they are and your air fryer, so check them regularly and make sure they’re piping hot throughout before eating.
More things to cook in your air fryer
Once you’ve got potatoes sorted, there are plenty of other sides worth trying. My crispy air fryer cauliflower is quick and easy, while air fryer aubergine gives you timings for cubes, slices and halves. My crispy air fryer chickpeas are another good one if you fancy something crunchy rather than another potato dish.
You can find all of those alongside chicken recipes, snacks, vegetables, baking ideas and cooking guides in my air fryer recipes and cooking tips hub.
As for these roast potatoes, I’m going to keep experimenting with them because I want to compare this straightforward method with parboiling and roughing the potatoes up first. If one version wins by a mile, I’ll update this page with exactly what I did rather than telling you that every method produces the ‘perfect’ roast potato. That isn’t usually how cooking works in my kitchen!
