This amazingly easy Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe makes everyone's favorite side dish in less than 30 minutes. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside air fryer baked potatoes are perfect for loading with lots of toppings and enjoying with nearly any main dish. Or stuff them with extra goodies and make these air fried baked potatoes the main star of your meal.
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What Makes This Recipe Great
Fast. Oven baked potatoes take an hour or more to cook. However, air fryer baked potatoes are ready in less than 30 minutes, including prep time.
Easy. There are no special tricks or extra cooking tools to make this recipe. You just need an air fryer and to follow a few simple steps, and you'll soon be enjoying hot and fresh air fryer baked potatoes made with barely any effort.
Delicious. While baked potatoes on their own aren't necessarily exciting, a well-cooked air fryer baked potato is perfect for loading with lots of scrumptious toppings.
Double It. You can easily increase the number of potatoes to serve 4, as long as they fit in the air fryer without overlapping.
Make Ahead. Air fry the baked potatoes a day or so before you plan to serve. Keep cooled potatoes stored in the refrigerator without any toppings until you are ready to reheat and eat.
Great Leftovers. Like making the potatoes ahead of time, leftover potatoes without toppings can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Reheat for 3 to 5 minutes or until hot in the air fryer or microwave.
Steps For Perfection
An air fryer baked potato require a fraction of the cooking time of traditional baked potatoes to cook, and are made in just a few simple steps. These are my best recommendations on how to air fry a baked potato:
- Prepare the Air Fryer and Potatoes. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Scrub the potatoes under running water, and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Season Well. Rub the outside of each potato with olive oil to coat. Sprinkle the potato skin generously with kosher salt. This will help make air fried potatoes that are lightly crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside.
- Air Fry the Potatoes. Once the air fryer is preheated, place the prepared potatoes in the air fryer. Be sure they are not touching so that they cook properly. Use a knife to make a small slit in the top of each potato so that steam is able to escape. Air fry the potatoes for 25 minutes, until fork-tender.
- Check for Doneness. The air fried baked potatoes should have a crispy skin and feel a bit soft to the touch. Stick a fork into the slit and check to see if it easily slides through the potato. If not quite done, cook for another 5 to 10 minutes as needed.
- Open Your Air Fryer Baked Potato. Use tongs to transfer the air fryer baked potatoes to a plate or clean work surface. Cut a deep slice into each potato longways, and then cut a smaller slice across the width. Once cool enough to touch, use your fingers to squish the four sections of the baked potato together so it "pops" open.
- Load Your Air Fryer Baked Potatoes with your favorite toppings while warm, or serve plain along with topping options for guests.
Suggestions for Baked Potato Toppings
You can stuff each air fryer baked potato before serving, or set out with any number of toppings to let people put together their own loaded baked potatoes.
Serve air fryer baked potatoes with classic toppings like:
- Butter. Be sure the butter is room temperature so that it melts easily onto the hot potato.
- Sour Cream. A terrifically tangy option. You can use Greek Yogurt, too, if preferred.
- Shredded Cheese. Sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby shredded cheeses are always popular.
- Bacon. 2 or 3 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon is just about perfect for 2 air fryer baked potatoes.
- Onions. Thinly sliced green onions add a great bit of refreshing flavor.
- Chives. Fresh snipped are best.
Baked Potato Bar Ideas
In addition to the toppings above, below are ingredient ideas to make a full-fledged Air Fryer Baked Potato Bar. Or, turn your air fryer baked potatoes into a main dish by adding any (or all!) of the following:
- Diced Ham.
- Chili.
- Broccoli Florets. Blanched and cut into smaller florets.
- Air Fried Green Beans. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Taco Meat. Cooked ground beef taco meat.
- Finely Chopped Tomatoes.
- Cheese Sauce. Melted Velveeta or Queso.
- Finely Chopped Roasted Red Peppers.
- Beans. Cooked black beans or pinto beans.
- Diced Avocado.
- Sliced Black Olives.
Serving Suggestions for Enjoying Baked Potatoes as a Side Dish
- Sweet Smoky Slow Cooker Ribs
- Delicious Lean and Tender Rump Roast
- Roasted Chicken Thighs (Family Friendly)
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 russet potatoes
- Pure olive oil
- Course kosher salt
- Optional Toppings (see Notes)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400℉.
- Wash potatoes. Using a paper towel, pat the potatoes dry.
- Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and rub oil all over the potato. Generously sprinkle kosher salt all over the potato.
- Arrange potatoes in the air fryer. Using a knife, make a slit in the top center of the potato. Air fry the potatoes for 25 minutes. The potatoes should be fork tender. If more cooking time is needed, continue air frying for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Using tongs or oven mitts, transfer the potatoes to a work surface. Cut the potatoes across the top lengthwise and crosswise. Using your fingers, carefully squeeze in and up until the potato opens up.
- Serve potatoes hot with your choice of toppings.
Cooks Tips
- The nutritional value and calories of the baked potatoes was calculated before adding any toppings.
- The cooking time of your baked potato can vary depending upon the total size and thickness of your potato.
- Air fryers can vary in temperature. Once you know how yours works, you will have a better idea of more or less timing than indicated in a recipe.
- Butter. Make sure the butter is room temperature.
- Sour Cream.
- Shredded Cheese. Sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby or a Mexican combination are always winners.
- Bacon. 2 to 3 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled for 2 potatoes. 1 slice cooked and crumbled will yield approximately 1 tablespoon.
- Onions. Sliced green onions.
- Chives. Freshly snipped.
- Diced Ham.
- Chili.
- Broccoli Florets. Blanched and cut into smaller florets.
- Air Fried Green Beans. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Taco Meat. Cooked ground beef taco meat.
- Finely Chopped Tomatoes.
- Cheese Sauce. Melted Velveeta or Queso.
- Finely Chopped Roasted Red Peppers.
- Beans. Cooked black beans or pinto beans.
- Diced Avocado.
- Sliced Black Olives.
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