Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

Name: Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes (scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces); 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (or avocado oil or grapeseed oil); 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; Avocado oil spray (for the air fryer basket)

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These Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and ready in about 30 minutes. The air fryer makes it easy to get beautifully browned potatoes without turning on the oven, making them perfect for a quick breakfast or brunch.

white plate of air fryer breakfast potatoes with bowl of salt

These air fryer potatoes are also versatile enough to serve beyond breakfast. Pair them with roasted green beans with garlic or oven roasted cauliflower for dinner, or serve them with horseradish aioli or carrot top chimichurri sauce for dipping.

For breakfast or brunch, I especially like serving these potatoes alongside my vegan Southwestern tofu scramble. If you're looking for another crispy potato side, try my Roasted Sweet Potato Fries.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Substitutions & Variations
How to Make Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Expert Tips
Serving Suggestions
Storage & Reheating
Recipe FAQs
More Vegan Side Dishes
Recipe
Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Crispy with less oil - The air fryer gives the potatoes golden, crispy edges while using much less oil than traditional frying.
Ready in 25 minutes - From prep to serving, these breakfast potatoes come together quickly enough for busy mornings or an easy weeknight side.
Simple to make - Give the air fryer basket a few shakes during cooking to help the potatoes brown evenly - no frequent stirring or babysitting required.
Versatile - Serve them for breakfast or brunch, as a dinner side, or with your favorite dipping sauce.

These air fryer potatoes turned out so good. It came out nice and crispy! Thanks for the easy recipe! They were perfect in our breakfast tacos this morning.

- Anaiah

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make crispy air fryer breakfast potatoes.

Yukon Gold potatoes - These have a naturally creamy interior and crisp up beautifully in the air fryer. There's no need to peel them - just scrub them well and cut them into evenly sized pieces. Russet potatoes also work well and will give you a slightly fluffier interior.
Extra virgin olive oil - You only need a small amount to help the potatoes brown and crisp, Avocado or grapeseed oil can also be used.
Avocado oil spray - I lightly spray the air fryer basket before adding the potatoes to help prevent sticking. I use a spray made with 100% avocado oil and no additives.

See the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list and exact measurements.

Substitutions & Variations

Potatoes - Substitute Russet potatoes for the Yukon Golds for potatoes with a fluffy interior and crisp exterior.
Change the seasonings - Add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, or Italian seasoning. For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Add a fresh garnish - Garnish the cooked potatoes with chopped fresh rosemary, parsley, or green onions.
Change the shape - Instead of cubes, cut the potatoes into small wedges. Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on their size and thickness.

How to Make Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

These breakfast potatoes are easy to make, even if you're new to air frying. For the best results, cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces so they cook at about the same rate.

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Season the potatoes. Toss the chopped potatoes with olive oil until lightly coated. Add the sea salt, smoked paprika, and freshly ground black pepper, and toss again to distribute the seasonings evenly.
Step 3: Air fry the potatoes. Lightly spray the air fryer basket lightly with avocado oil. Arrange the seasoned potatoes in the basket and air fry for about 20 minutes. Shake the basket after 10 minutes and again about 5 minutes before they're done to help the potatoes brown evenly.
Step 4: Check for doneness. The potatoes are ready when they're golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender when pierced with a fork. If the centers are still firm, continue air frying for about 5 minutes, then check them again.

Serve the potatoes right away for the crispiest texture. If you're making a large amount, cook them in batches rather than overcrowding the air fryer basket.

plate of air fryer breakfast potatoes with small bowl of salt

Expert Tips

Cut the potatoes evenly. Keep the potato pieces similar in size so they cook at the same rate and you don't end up with some pieces tender while others are still firm.
Don't overcrowd the basket. I use a 3-quart air fryer and cook larger amounts of potatoes in batches. If you're using a larger capacity air fryer, you may be able to cook more at once. Either way, leave enough room for hot air to circulate around the potatoes so they brown and crisp evenly.
Shake the basket during cooking. Shaking the potatoes a couple of times helps expose different sides of the potatoes to the circulating hot air for more even browning.
Use doneness cues rather than relying only on the clock. Air fryers vary, and so do the size of your potato pieces. The potatoes should be golden and crisp on the outside and easily pierced with a fork.
Serve them right away. Air fryer potatoes have the best crispy texture while they're hot and fresh out of the air fryer.

plate of air fryer breakfast potatoes with beige napkin

Serving Suggestions

Breakfast or brunch - Serve these air fryer breakfast potatoes with my Vegan Southwestern Tofu Scramble or Vegan Mushroom Egg Scramble. You can make the scramble while the potatoes cook in the air fryer, or combine the two for a hearty breakfast burrito. I love to make breakfast burritos with potatoes and tofu scramble.
Add a dipping sauce - Serve the potatoes with hot sauce, vegan sour cream, vegan horseradish aioli, or carrot top chimichurri.
For dinner - Pair them with my Vegan Meatloaf and a vegetable side for an easy, comforting meal.
For Sunday brunch - Serve these savory breakfast potatoes alongside my JUST Egg Vegan French Toast with Grand Marnier for a sweet and savory brunch.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover breakfast potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
For the crispiest texture, reheat the potatoes in the air fryer until they're hot and crisp again. Since air fryers vary, check them frequently to avoid overcooking.

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to soak potatoes before air frying?

No, you can make these air fryer breakfast potatoes without soaking them first. Simply scrub the potatoes, cut them into evenly sized pieces, season, and air fry according to the recipe.

Do I need to peel the Yukon Gold potatoes?

No. Yukon Gold potatoes have thin skins, so there's no need to peel them for this recipe. Scrub the potatoes well before cutting them into 1-inch pieces.

Why aren't my air fryer potatoes crispy?

Overcrowding the air fryer basket can prevent the potatoes from browning and crisping evenly. Cook large amounts in batches and shake the basket during cooking. Keep in mind that cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer and the size of the potato pieces.

More Vegan Side Dishes

If you try this recipe or any other recipe here on Resplendent Kitchen, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

Recipe

top view of plate of air-fried breakfast potatoes with flakey salt

Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

Author: Emily Miller

These easy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes are golden and crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned with smoked paprika. They're an easy side dish for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.

5 from 160 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Calories: 185.4kcal

EQUIPMENT

INGREDIENTS

▢ 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces
▢ 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil or grapeseed oil
▢ ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢ Avocado oil spray for the air fryer basket

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil. Add the sea salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper and toss again until evenly coated.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil. Add the potatoes and air fry at 400°F for about 20 minutes, shaking the basket after 10 minutes and again after another 5 minutes.
Check the potatoes for doneness. They should be golden and crispy on the outside and tender when pierced with a fork. If needed, continue air frying for a few more minutes.
Serve immediately for the crispiest texture.

NOTES

Cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces so they cook at approximately the same rate.
Air fryers vary, so use the cooking time as a guide. The potatoes are done when they're golden and crisp on the outside and tender when pierced with a fork.
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. If you're making a large amount, cook the potatoes in batches.

NUTRITION

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 185.4 kcalCarbohydrates: 41.4 gProtein: 4.2 gFat: 2.2 gSaturated Fat: 0.3 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.6 gSodium: 592.3 mgPotassium: 3.8 mgFiber: 4.2 gSugar: 2.1 gVitamin A: 201.6 IUVitamin C: 7.4 mgCalcium: 166.2 mgIron: 2.3 mg

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Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.

Comments

5 from 160 votes (149 ratings without comment)