Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes: Your Go-To Easy Side Dish
Prepare to elevate your side dish game with these incredibly delicious Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes! Achieving that coveted golden brown and irresistibly crispy exterior while maintaining a soft and fluffy interior has never been easier. This recipe, featuring simple ingredients like melted butter, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a few essential seasonings, transforms humble baby potatoes into a crowd-pleasing sensation. It’s a versatile side that beautifully complements a wide array of main courses, from succulent seafood to hearty chicken, beef, or pork dishes.
Here at Crumb Top Baking, we’re passionate about harnessing the power of the air fryer to create amazing potato dishes. You might already be familiar with our popular Air Fryer Baby Potatoes or the delightful Air Fryer Potato Slices. Now, we’re thrilled to introduce these Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, a fantastic addition to your culinary repertoire that brings a touch of gourmet flavor with minimal effort.
The magic truly happens with the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, which forms a mouthwatering, savory crust as it crisps up in the air fryer. This creates a delightful textural contrast with the perfectly cooked, tender potato inside, making every bite an absolute pleasure. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this simple yet spectacular side dish!
These crispy baby potatoes are incredibly versatile and pair wonderfully with a variety of meals. We often serve them alongside savory main dishes like Spicy Jalapeño Turkey Burgers, flaky Air Fryer Salmon, or tender Pulled Pork Tenderloin Sliders. Beyond being a fantastic side, they’re also absolutely delicious on their own as a standalone snack. Try dipping them in a zesty Chipotle Dipping Sauce or a creamy Jalapeño Dipping Sauce for an extra burst of flavor!
Top Reasons to Love This Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes Recipe
- Achieve Unbeatable Crispiness with Less Oil: The air fryer circulates hot air, creating incredibly crispy potatoes with just a minimal amount of butter. This method locks in flavor while giving you that satisfying crunch without deep frying.
- Irresistible Golden Parmesan Crust: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts and crisps around the potatoes, forming a golden, savory crust that’s packed with flavor and adds an amazing texture to every bite.
- Free Up Your Oven: Using the air fryer for this side dish is a game-changer, especially when entertaining or cooking multiple courses. It frees up valuable oven space for your main dish, rolls, or other roasted vegetables, simplifying your meal preparation.
- Minimal Prep for Maximum Flavor: This recipe is designed for ease. There’s no need for tedious potato peeling or scoring. Simply wash, halve, toss, and air fry for a quick and impressive side that saves you precious time in the kitchen.
- Quick and Efficient Cooking: Baby potatoes cook relatively fast in the air fryer, meaning you can have a gourmet-tasting side dish ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Versatile and Customizable: These Parmesan potatoes are incredibly adaptable. You can easily adjust the seasonings to suit your taste preferences, making them a perfect fit for any meal or occasion.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Parmesan Potatoes
Below, you’ll find a detailed overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. For the exact measurements and a complete list, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located at the end of this post.
Potatoes – You’ll need 1 1/2 pounds of baby potatoes for this recipe. I highly recommend using baby red potatoes, as their thin skin crisps beautifully, and their waxy texture ensures they remain wonderfully soft and fluffy on the inside. Baby gold potatoes are another excellent choice. If baby potatoes aren’t available, you can certainly use full-sized potatoes like Yukon Gold or even Russets. Just be sure to cut them into consistent, smaller, bite-sized pieces (roughly the size of a halved baby potato) to ensure even cooking.
Parmesan cheese – This is where the magic happens for that incredible crust! Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is absolutely essential for the best results. I suggest buying a block of high-quality Parmesan and using the smallest holes on your box grater or a microplane to shred it finely. The fresh cheese melts evenly and develops a superior crispy, nutty crust compared to its pre-shredded or powdered counterparts. Avoid pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents that hinder proper melting, and definitely skip the powdered Parmesan from the non-refrigerated aisle – it simply doesn’t offer the same rich flavor or desired texture.
Butter – Two tablespoons of melted unsalted butter play a crucial role in this recipe. It not only contributes to the potatoes’ golden crispiness but also acts as the perfect binding agent, helping the Parmesan cheese and seasonings adhere evenly to each potato piece. I opt for unsalted butter to maintain precise control over the overall salt content of the dish. However, if salted butter is all you have on hand, simply reduce the amount of added salt in the seasoning mix. While you can substitute oil for butter if preferred (such as olive oil or avocado oil), I find that butter’s rich flavor profile beautifully complements the Parmesan, enhancing both the taste and the crunch of these delicious potatoes.
Seasonings – A simple yet effective blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano is all you need to bring these potatoes to life. This classic combination provides a savory, aromatic base that perfectly enhances the potatoes and Parmesan. You have the flexibility to customize the herbs to your liking; dried basil or parsley would also work wonderfully. However, I strongly advise against using fresh herbs during the air frying process, as they tend to burn easily and can impart a bitter flavor at high temperatures.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Parmesan Crusted Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Follow these straightforward steps to create perfectly crispy and flavorful Parmesan potatoes in your air fryer:
First, thoroughly rinse your baby potatoes under cold water to remove any dirt. If you’re using pre-washed potatoes, you can skip this step. After rinsing, it’s crucial to ensure your potatoes are completely dry. Pat them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels; any excess moisture will prevent them from achieving maximum crispiness in the air fryer.
Next, cut all the baby potatoes in half. Strive for pieces that are roughly the same size to ensure they cook evenly and simultaneously. Uniformity in size is key for consistent results.
Transfer the halved potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Pour the melted butter over them and toss thoroughly until every potato piece is lightly coated. Then, add the garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and half of the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Toss again meticulously, ensuring the seasonings and cheese are evenly distributed and adhering well to the buttered potatoes.
Lightly grease the basket of your air fryer with a spray oil to prevent sticking and aid in browning. Arrange the seasoned potatoes in a single layer, cut side down, in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding, as proper air circulation is essential for crispiness. You may need to cook them in two batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Air fry the potatoes at 380°F (193°C) for 15 minutes. After this initial cooking time, carefully remove the basket, gently flip the potatoes over using tongs or a spatula, and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese evenly over them. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are beautifully golden brown, wonderfully crispy, and fork-tender throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
For this particular recipe, baby red potatoes are our absolute favorite! Their thin skins crisp up wonderfully in the air fryer, and their waxy texture ensures the interior remains delightfully soft and fluffy. If baby red potatoes aren’t available, any other variety of baby potato will work well. For extra crispiness, low-moisture potatoes like Russets or Yukon Gold are also excellent choices, just be sure to cut them into appropriate, smaller sizes if using full-sized versions.
Absolutely! You can easily substitute full-sized potatoes for baby potatoes. The key is to cut them into pieces that are roughly the same size as a halved baby potato. Aim for uniform, bite-sized chunks to ensure they cook evenly and achieve the desired crispy texture. Larger pieces will simply require a longer air frying time.
I prefer to keep the skins on the potatoes for several reasons: it saves a lot of prep time, the skins contain valuable nutrients, and they get incredibly crispy and flavorful in the air fryer, contributing to the overall texture. However, if you have a strong preference for peeled potatoes, you can certainly peel them before proceeding with the recipe without significantly impacting the cooking process, though the crispiness might be slightly different.
Soaking potatoes in cold water before cooking is a common technique to help remove excess starches, which can lead to a crispier end product. While this method can be beneficial for some potato recipes, it’s generally not necessary for these Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes. We specifically use small, waxy baby red potatoes, which have a lower starch content and naturally crisp up beautifully without the extra soaking step, saving you time and effort.
There is no need to parboil or pre-boil the baby potatoes for this particular recipe. The air fryer is highly efficient at cooking smaller potato pieces thoroughly and quickly. Parboiling is usually reserved for larger potato cuts or when you want to ensure a very soft interior before a quick crisping, but for baby potatoes, the air fryer handles both aspects perfectly in one go.
Storage and Reheating Leftovers
These Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are undoubtedly at their absolute best when served immediately, fresh out of the air fryer, while they are still hot and wonderfully crispy. However, if you find yourself with leftovers (a rare occurrence, we predict!), they can be stored quite effectively. Simply transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
To bring leftovers back to their crispy glory, reheating properly is key. I highly recommend placing them back in your air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through and have regained their desired crisp texture. Alternatively, you can spread them on a baking sheet and reheat them in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 8-12 minutes. I strongly advise against using the microwave for reheating, as it will inevitably result in soft, soggy potatoes rather than the crispy delights you started with.
Top Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
- Air Fry in a Single Layer for Maximum Crispiness: For truly exceptional results, it’s crucial to arrange the potatoes in a single layer in your air fryer basket, with the cut side facing down if possible. This ensures that the hot air circulates evenly around each piece, promoting consistent browning and crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this might mean cooking the potatoes in two separate batches. If you choose to slightly overlap the potatoes to cook them all in one batch, be sure to shake the basket vigorously several times during the cooking process to redistribute them and encourage even cooking.
- Always Use Fresh Parmesan Cheese: This is a non-negotiable tip for achieving the best flavor and crust. Opt for a block of high-quality Parmesan and grate it yourself just before adding it to the potatoes. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting and crisping properly, and powdered Parmesan simply lacks the depth of flavor needed for this dish. Freshly grated Parmesan delivers a superior taste and an undeniable golden, crunchy coating.
- Ensure Uniform Potato Size: For even cooking, it’s important that all your baby potato halves are roughly the same size. If some pieces are significantly larger than others, they will take longer to cook through, while smaller pieces might overcook. Taking a moment to cut them consistently will ensure every potato is perfectly tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Pat Potatoes Dry Thoroughly: If you’re not using pre-washed potatoes, make sure to rinse and scrub them clean, then pat them completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel before tossing them with the melted butter and seasonings. Any residual moisture on the potatoes will steam rather than crisp in the air fryer, preventing that coveted crunchy texture.
- Consider Preheating Your Air Fryer: While I personally achieve great results without preheating my air fryer for this recipe, some air fryer models perform better with a brief preheat. Check your appliance’s manual or experiment to see if preheating for 3-5 minutes before adding the potatoes yields even crispier results for your specific model.
- Adjust for Your Air Fryer Model: I developed this recipe using a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer. Air fryer brands, sizes, and models can vary in their cooking efficiency and temperatures. If you’re using a different air fryer, you may need to adjust the air frying time and/or temperature slightly to achieve perfect golden brown and fork-tender potatoes. Keep a close eye on them during the final few minutes.
More Delicious Air Fryer Potato Recipes to Try
- Air Fryer Home Fries
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Potato Cakes
If you give this irresistible Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes recipe a try, I would absolutely love to hear what you think! Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Your feedback truly helps others and inspires new recipes!
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Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4.8 from 4 reviews
- Author: Leanne
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are an effortless and delicious side dish, boasting a golden, crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. Made with simple ingredients like melted butter, fresh Parmesan, and savory seasonings, they’re perfect for any meal and incredibly easy to prepare in your air fryer.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, scrubbed clean and halved
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup finely grated fresh parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Begin by placing your clean, halved baby potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the melted butter over them, tossing gently to ensure each potato piece is lightly coated. Next, add the dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and exactly half (1/4 cup) of the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Toss vigorously until all the potatoes are fully and evenly coated with the buttery seasoning mixture and cheese.
- Lightly grease the basket of your air fryer with a thin layer of spray oil. Carefully arrange the seasoned potatoes in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they are cut side down. This positioning helps them achieve maximum crispiness. Remember to avoid overcrowding the basket, as sufficient air circulation is essential for the best results. If necessary, cook the potatoes in two batches. (For more details, please refer to Note #1 below for optimal crisping.)
- Air fry the potatoes at 380°F (193°C) for 15 minutes. After this initial cooking time, carefully remove the air fryer basket. Using tongs or a heat-resistant spatula, gently flip each potato piece over. Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the flipped potatoes. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are beautifully golden brown, wonderfully crispy on the outside, and perfectly fork-tender on the inside. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor!
Notes
- For the absolute crispiest results, it is highly recommended to air fry the potatoes in a single layer, preferably with the cut side facing down. This allows hot air to circulate freely around each piece, promoting even browning and a superior crispy texture. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the potatoes in two separate batches. If you opt to cook them all in one batch with some overlapping, remember to shake the basket thoroughly several times during the cooking process to ensure all sides get exposed to the hot air.
- The quality of your Parmesan cheese significantly impacts the final flavor and texture. For the best, most authentic flavor and a beautiful crispy crust, always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese from a block. Avoid pre-shredded or powdered Parmesan, as these often contain anti-caking agents that can prevent proper melting and crisping, and they lack the robust flavor of fresh cheese.
- To ensure that all your baby potatoes cook evenly and finish at the same time, make sure they are cut into roughly the same size. Inconsistent sizes can lead to some pieces being overcooked while others are still undercooked.
- You can certainly use regular-sized potatoes in place of baby potatoes for this recipe. Just be sure to cut them into smaller, uniform pieces, aiming for a size similar to a halved baby potato, to ensure they cook efficiently and evenly in the air fryer.
- Keeping the skins on the potatoes not only saves you prep time but also contributes to an extra layer of crispiness and adds more nutrients to the dish. However, if you prefer, you can peel the potatoes before preparing them.
- If you are not using pre-washed baby potatoes, make sure to rinse them thoroughly under cold water and scrub any dirt away. Afterward, it is crucial to pat them completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel before tossing them with the melted butter and seasonings. Excess moisture will steam the potatoes rather than allowing them to crisp up.
- While I didn’t preheat my Cosori air fryer for this recipe, some air fryer models benefit from a brief preheating period to ensure consistent temperatures from the start. Feel free to preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes if your specific model or personal preference dictates it.
- This recipe was developed using a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer. Air fryer cooking times and temperatures can vary slightly between different brands, sizes, and models. If your air fryer is different, you may need to adjust the cooking time and/or temperature slightly to achieve perfect results.
- For additional detailed advice, ingredient substitution suggestions, and further tips for making this recipe truly shine, be sure to review the sections above the recipe card.