Air Fryer Baked Potato

If you want a perfect baked potato, you have got to make an air fryer baked potato! They're soft inside and crisp outside - a versatile side dish or vessel for delicious fillings. Bonus? Air fryer baked potatoes cook faster and use less energy than oven baked potatoes!

Why Baked Potatoes in the Air Fryer are SO Good

Baked potatoes are pretty amazing in and of themselves, but since I bought my air fryer, I've grown partial to making my baked potatoes there. Why?

• Perfect baked potato texture: they get perfectly crisp on the outside, but soft and tender inside.
• Energy-saving: because an air fryer is a smaller appliance, it uses less energy to heat and cook than the oven.
• It's a time-saver: the air fryer is like a small convection oven, so you'll find reduced cook times compared to traditional oven baked potatoes.
• Minimal ingredients: nothing fancy needed here!
• Little hands-on cooking time required: all you need is a couple of minutes of prep work, then you can go about your business while they cook.

Recipe Ingredients

To make an air fryer baked potato, you just need three basic ingredients:

• Potatoes: you can use this method with any potato, but for a classic baked potato choose Russet potatoes
• Oil: you want to use a neutral flavored oil, like avocado oil or olive oil.
• Salt: while optional, I love to rub the potatoes with a coarse salt before baking. You can use whatever type of salt you prefer, or if you're salt-sensitive, you can omit entirely.

Recipe Equipment - Air Fryer Notes

Now obviously for an air fryer recipe, you need an air fryer! The good news is, that's all you need to make these air fryer baked potatoes, but let's chat air fryers for a sec.

If you want to make four baked potatoes at once, like this recipe calls for, you need to make sure all four can fit in your air fryer basket without touching - I recommend at least a 5 quart or 6 quart air fryer.

Another important air fryer note, is that the larger your air fryer, the longer the cook time. So if you have a larger 10-quart plus air fryer, you may need to add up to an additional few minutes of cook time.

All in all, use whatever air fryer you have access to! I have and like the 6 quart Instant Pot Vortex air fryer.

How to Make This Recipe, Step-by-Step

1. If you air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 400°F.
2. Wash and dry potatoes, then lightly rub with oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.
3. Place in the fryer basket, careful not to overcrowd them. (If your basket has a smaller capacity, you may only be able to do 2 or 3 potatoes at a time.)
4. Air fry for 30-45 minutes depending on their size.
5. Potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced. Carefully remove, allow to cool slightly, cut a slit on the top, then use a fork to fluff the potato flesh. Top with any baked potato garnishes desired (butter, chives, Greek yogurt or sour cream, etc.).

How long to cook baked potatoes in air fryer?

Air fryer baked potato time will depend on the size of your potatoes:

• Small Potatoes: 30 minutes
• Medium Potatoes: 40 minutes
• Large Potatoes: 45+ minutes (it will depend on how large your potato really is!)

If you feel like your potato isn't quite done, just add 2-5 more minutes at a time until your baked potato is fork tender.

Recipe Troubleshooting Tips

1. Not sure when your potatoes are done? When your potatoes are done you will be able to easily pierce the center of the potato with a fork.
2. Potatoes not super crispy? Don't overcrowd the basket. If the potatoes are crammed together and touching, the skin won't get as crisp and they'll take longer to cook. Also be sure you're not leaving the baked potatoes in the air fryer basket or out for too long before serving.
3. Using a different type of potato? Start on the low end of cooking times and check periodically if you're using different types of potatoes (i.e. Yukon gold or red skin), as different variations may cook differently.
4. Have leftovers and need to reheat? The crispy skin will go away as leftovers are refrigerated. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes until heated through and this is the best method to re-crisp the skin, too!

Is this recipe healthy?

Sure thing! Air fryer baked potatoes can absolutely fit into a balanced, healthy diet. Potatoes are naturally low in fat and cholesterol and contain fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 - all which support potatoes as part of any healthy, and even a heart healthy diet.

Know, too, that “healthy” is subjective. The foods that help one maintain their health may or may not work for you - and that’s okay! Honor the body you have. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I suggest eating a variety of nourishing foods that help you feel good and achieve or maintain your health, balanced with the foods you love. Remember - an election isn’t won with every vote, but the majority. Your health is the same way - the overall dietary pattern is what matters most.

Related Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
• Air Fryer Broccoli

Related Potato Recipes

• Healthy Instant Pot Potato Soup
• Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes
• Hasselback Baby Potatoes with Orange Basil Pesto
• Greek-Inspired Lemon Skillet Potatoes

Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more healthy recipes and tips to create your own balanced relationship with food and health, be sure to follow Nutrition to Fit on Instagram!