My air fryer baby potatoes are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and packed with flavor! I make this recipe when I want a quick side dish with basic ingredients that still elevates any meal.

My Favorite Way to Make Baby potatoes in the Air Fryer

A few summers ago, my husband Ben was grilling chicken for dinner, and I knew I wanted to serve baby potatoes on the side. So, of course, I decided to try making air fryer baby potatoes!

I didn’t want to turn on the oven and heat up the whole kitchen, but boiling or microwaving potatoes doesn’t give me that crispy skin I love.

I tossed the potatoes in butter to get that crunchy skin that reminds me of French fries and added a little salt and oregano. I knew the taste would be perfect

The potatoes were ready in 20 minutes, and they were so good, my kids ate every bite on their plates while dipping them in ketchup, and asked for more! Even my husband devoured his air fryer mini potatoes before he finished his chicken.

For more delicious air fryer potato recipes, be sure to check out my diced potatoes in the air fryer, air fryer baked potatoes, sliced potatoes in the air fryer, or air fryer red potatoes!

Small Potatoes in the Air Fryer Ingredients

• Baby potatoes – I usually grab yellow or colored baby potatoes since they cook evenly and hold their shape. They’re naturally buttery and full of flavor.
• Butter – I make sure the butter is melted before coating the potatoes to get the skins crispy and help the seasonings stick.
• Oregano – This adds great herby depth to the potatoes.
• Salt – Don’t skip this! It brings all the flavors together.

How to Cook baby Potatoes in the Air Fryer

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.

STEP TWO: Toss the potatoes, melted butter, oregano, and sea salt together in a large bowl and mix everything to coat. 

STEP THREE: Place the baby potatoes in the air fryer and cook them for 13-15 minutes, turning the potatoes halfway through the cooking time.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

• Cut larger baby potatoes in half to keep the sizes consistent. I usually halve anything bigger than a golf ball so everything cooks at the same rate.
• Preheat the air fryer for the best baby potatoes. I’ve found starting with a hot air fryer helps the baby potatoes get extra crispy on the outside.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. I put baby potatoes in the air fryer in a single layer so the potatoes get crispy instead of steaming and cook them in batches if necessary.
• Turn the potatoes halfway through the cooking time for even browning. I just give mine a little toss after about 10 minutes.
• I test my air fryer roasted potatoes with a fork to see if they’re done. I take them out when they can be easily pierced with a fork.

Air Fryer Small Potatoes Variations and Substitutions

• If I only have baby red potatoes, I’ll use them instead and follow the same directions for air frying yellow baby potatoes.
• I sometimes use olive oil instead of melted butter to help the skin crisp up in the air fryer and give the seasoning something to stick to.
• For even more flavor, I’ll add garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper when I’m tossing the baby potatoes in the salt, oregano, and butter.
• Replace the oregano with Italian seasoning for a herby version that pairs with just about anything. I do this a lot with grilled chicken.
• Toss potatoes with smoked paprika instead of oregano for a fun flavor twist. I love this version when we do BBQ-style meals.

What to serve with Air Fryer Mini Potatoes

My air fried baby potatoes pair perfectly with big, hearty dishes like air fryer sirloin steak, air fryer chicken legs, or easy meatloaf.

This side dish is also elegant enough that I’ll serve it with air fryer salmon, honey garlic pork chops, or bacon wrapped pork tenderloin.

Air Fryer Baby Potatoes FAQs

How to store air fryer small potatoes

I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I reheat them in the air fryer to get them crispy again.

How long to cook baby potatoes in the air fryer

In my air fryer, baby potatoes take about 14-16 minutes. I give them a turn halfway through cooking and check for doneness with a fork. If it slides in easily, the potatoes are ready!

How to reheat baby potatoes in the air fryer

To reheat leftover baby potatoes, I preheat my air fryer to 400 degrees, then air fry the potatoes for 3-4 minutes until heated through. They crisp up again beautifully!

Why are my air fryer baby potatoes soggy?

If I don’t dry my potatoes after rinsing them or overcrowd the basket, the baby potatoes can steam instead of getting crispy. I always make sure to pat them dry thoroughly and cook in a single layer.

Do I need to soak my mini potatoes before air frying?

No soaking needed here! Since baby potatoes are already small, they cook through quickly and get crisp without any extra prep. I just give them a rinse and pat them dry before tossing with oil and seasoning.

More Easy Air Fryer Side Dishes

• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer carrots
• Air fryer squash
• Air fryer biscuits
• Air fryer baked sweet potato