Air Fryer Baked Potato
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on a link and/or make a purchase, I may be paid a small commission at no additional cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my Disclosure page for more information.
We’ve got the air fryer baked potato recipe on repeat. This easy method makes a perfectly baked potato in under an hour and it keeps your kitchen cool in hot months.
Cooked in less time than the oven method, cooking your potato in the air fryer gives you a soft, fluffy center and a slightly crispy skin. And the basic baked potato can be used as a base for many meal variations.
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Baked potatoes are one of my go-to sides for meal time because they pair well with many proteins. Delicious with a classic Italian grilled chicken or steak, they also complement this tasty crockpot Mississippi roast.
And don’t forget the air fryer is an easy way to make other vegetable side dishes like fresh green beans, Air Fryer Artichokes, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Air Fried Onion Rings.
Since potatoes are so easy to add different flavor profiles to, I tend to keep them on hand. The biggest problem I’ve had in the past is cooking them without heating up the kitchen in the summer. Enter the air fryer!
Not only is the air fryer amazing for making your favorite fried foods healthier, but it is perfect for making classic sides like a baked potato.
Ingredients for Air Fried Baked Potatoes
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Clean the potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel. Poke holes in the potatoes, using a fork.
- Place potatoes in a large bowl, coat with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400 degrees F until done.
Tips for Making Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Select potatoes that are a similar size for more even cooking.
- Make sure you poke holes in the potatoes before cooking – this keeps them from exploding, which is a pain to clean up (trust me!).
- For a crispy skin coat the potatoes in oil.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. You need to leave a little room between the potatoes for air to circulate and ensure even cooking.
- Potatoes are done when you can easily pierce through with a fork or sharp knife. Continue cooking if they aren’t quite done.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in the Air Fryer?
If you are old school and wrap your potatoes in aluminum foil before baking, then this may be a question you have. You can wrap them in aluminum foil if you wish, but I don’t do that anymore when I cook them in the air fryer.
By coating your potato with a bit of oil, salt and pepper before baking, you create a savory potato skin that is delicious right alongside the creamy potato filling. Load them up with your favorite toppings, and you have a delicious meal in one bowl.
How Long Are Baked Potatoes Good For?
While air fryer baked potatoes are best if eaten in the first few days, sometimes I’ll make a few extras for future meals. Once they cool down, place them into an airtight container, or a large plastic storage bag. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I’ve also used this recipe for meal prepping. Cook a batch of potatoes, let cool and store in a freezer-safe container or ziptop plastic bag in the freezer. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
What Are the Best Baked Potato Toppings?
Even if you’re a purist potato fan, you have to admit that a few toppings are a must. Whether itโs for a party or a simple family dinner, air fryer baked potatoes are a perfect side dish or main attraction. And the best part is you won’t have to be stuck in the kitchen.
Basic toppings:
- Butter
- Sour cream or Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- Salsa, Pico de Gallo, or Hot Sauce
- Shredded cheeses – cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and mozzarella
- Chives, finely chopped
- Onions – chopped green or red
- Chopped broccoli
- Bacon crumbles or diced ham
- Ranch dressing or dip
Main meal toppings
- Taco meat – ground beef or turkey with chopped tomatoes
- Chicken – shredded seasoned (blackened is really good!)
- Chili
- Beans – black or baked
- BBQ pork
MORE EASY
Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
**Pin the Air Fried Baked Potato Recipe for Later**
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Equipment
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 4 Russet potatoes, similarly sized
- 1-2 Tablespoons oil, canola or avocado
- 1-2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Wash and scrub the potatoes and pat completely dry with a paper towel. Poke holes in potatoes with a fork.
- Add potatoes to a large bowl and coat with oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place prepared potatoes in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 30 minutes. Test for doneness by piercing the potatoes with a fork – if it easily passes through, itโs done. If itโs not done, turn potatoes and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes until fork tender. Remove potatoes with tongs or oven mitts.
- Slice the top of the potato end to end. Squeeze the ends together to open the potato. Fluff the inner potato with a fork before serving with your desired toppings.
Notes
- Donโt crowd the basket – air needs room to circulate for even cooking.
- Optional Toppings: butter, sour cream or Nonfat plain Greek yogurt, salsa, pico de gallo, hot sauce, shredded cheeses (cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Swiss, mozzarella), chives, finely chopped green or red onions, chopped broccoli, bacon crumbles or diced ham, Ranch dressing or dip
- Main Dish Toppings:
- Taco meat – ground beef or turkey with chopped tomatoes
- Chicken – shredded seasoned (blackened is really good!)
- Beans – chili, black or baked
- BBQ pork with French fried onions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Baked potatoes can be frozen for a couple months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the air fryer.
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.