Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

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Learn how to make baked potatoes in the air fryer! These air fryer baked potatoes are ultra easy to make and come out perfectly fluffy in the middle - ready for the toppings of your choice.

We love the crispy, salty outside skin of the potatoes, which is why we love to use the air fryer to cook these baked potatoes (and these air fryer sweet potatoes or air fryer breakfast potatoes too!). Plus, it's one of the easiest recipes ever.

Air fryer cooking has become one of our go-to weeknight cooking methods. It is so easy to use, super easy to clean, and the food comes out nice and crisp and just perfect!

Plus, when it's hot out you don't have to turn on your oven which saves energy! Especially if you make this air fryer whole chicken to go along with these potatoes.

Like this air fryer baked potato recipe...they are crisp on the outside and fluffy in the middle. Just the way potatoes are supposed to be (like these air fryer tater tots, air fryer frozen meatballs, air fryer pierogies or air fryer potstickers)!

And the topping options are endless! We love ours with sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon (of course - ALWAYS bacon) and green onions. And butter.

But you can use any topping you want! Got some leftover carnitas? How about some leftover braised pork belly or even these braised beef short ribs?

Chop it up and put it on this air fryer baked potato! Keep it vegan with this chimichurri sauce or this homemade marinara sauce.

Check out the air fryer baked potato story!

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Use a good quality spray oil (not PAM or equivalent) to avoid damaging the air fryer. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill with my favorite oil.

Ingredients

The recipe calls for russet potatoes because they work the best for baked potatoes. Other types will come out too soft and creamy.

I highly recommended using avocado oil or coconut oil (or even vegetable or canola) as I find olive oil can get bitter when cooked at higher temperature for longer periods of time.

Step By Step Instructions

Scrub the outside of the potatoes with water very thoroughly.

Use a knife or fork and pierce the potatoes several times around the outside of the potato.

Rub the oil on the outside of each potato and sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400F degrees for 40 minutes. Start checking doneness with a knife at 30 minutes - time will depend on the size of the potato.

Flip the potatoes halfway through (at 20 minutes) to make sure the skin browns evenly.

Remove, slice down the center and serve with butter, bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...or any topping of your choice!

Topping Ideas

• I'm always a huge fan of a LOT of butter on my baked potatoes
• A sharp Cheddar cheese adds a delicious umami element
• Sour cream adds a cool tang and extra creaminess
• Make them a main dish and top with this Instant Pot beef chili or Instant Pot turkey chili
• Baked potatoes and bacon are a classic combo - crisp up some bacon and serve it crumbled on top of the potatoes
• Top with shredded beef, air fryer steak tips or chicken and this tomato salsa or my favorite green salsa for a Tex Mex twist

Expert Tips

1. Make sure the outside of the potatoes have been cleaned thoroughly so you can eat that crispy, salty skin!
2. Flip the potatoes halfway through to make sure the skin browns evenly.
3. Start checking potato doneness with a knife at 30 minutes. Once the knife easily pierces through the center of the potato, it is done.
4. I recommended using avocado or coconut oil as I find the olive oil can impart a slightly bitter taste cooked at higher heat.
5. Be careful when removing the potatoes from the air fryer basket as they will be very hot.
6. Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - 2 potatoes is typically all I can fit in one row.

You may also want to try some of these amazing air fryer breakfast recipes or these air fryer carrots!

Did you make this recipe? Rate and and leave a comment below to let me know how you liked it!