Crispy, garlicky air fryer smashed potatoes are made with baby potatoes in an air fryer and are totally delicious. They only need 4 key ingredients and take 40 minutes so they're easy to make! Vegan smashed potatoes are great served as a snack, over the holidays or on the side of a stuffed acorn squash. Vegan and gluten free.
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🌟 Why this recipe works
Quick and easy – air fryer smashed potatoes are so easy to make. They only need a few key ingredients like baby potatoes, garlic powder, olive oil and Italian seasoning mix (dried mixed Italian herbs).
Crispy and delicious – air fryer smashed potatoes are a great alternative to french fries and even Hasselback potatoes (that can also be made in air fryer). They come out just as crispy, while retaining a creamy fluffy inside. However, these smashed potatoes don't need even a quarter of the amount of oil! Plus, the garlic powder (or granules) and Italian herbs take them to the next level of tastiness. If you love delicious potato dishes, these vegan Dauphinoise are also worth a try.
Naturally gluten free – vegan air fryer smashed potatoes are just potatoes, oil and flavorings! So they're naturally gluten free. Just like these roasted potatoes.
Air fryer – an air fryer is the gift that keeps on giving. An air fryer is all the rage right now, and for good reason. They cook items quicker than an oven or even deep frying, are economical to run (energy-wise) and uses only a fraction of the oil to get just as crispy results. This is the air fryer we have and recommend.
📋 Ingredient Notes
Baby potatoes – baby potatoes such as baby gold potatoes and small red potatoes make the best smashed baby potatoes!
We made the air fryer smashed potatoes with a range of medium potatoes, small and large in the air fryer, just to see how they came out.
The small potatoes came out the best as the bigger ones would often spread out of the skin in the smashing process, which ended up then looking more like mashed potatoes! Small potatoes smash well and end up with a great ratio of crispy outside to fluffy inside.
Garlic & herbs – we've used garlic granules and Italian herbs in this recipe. It's a classic combo! As well as garnishing them with fresh thyme.
Fresh rosemary, fresh chives or fresh parsley could also be used (we'll get to variations below). However, we recommend not to use fresh garlic, as it burns really easily in the air fryer at the temperature needed for the baby potatoes.
Olive oil – olive oil is delicious and has many health benefits and really helps to make super crispy smashed potatoes.
You can air fry without oil, but it's difficult to get the same crispiness and flavour without any. Alternatively, use melted vegan butter.
Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this article for exact measurements to make this easy air fryer smashed potatoes side dish recipe.
🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
This is a step-by-step overview with photos for making air fryer smashed potatoes. The full recipe, along with measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
1. Brush the baby potatoes with a little olive oil or oil spray, then put the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200°c / 390°f for 15-20 minutes until fork tender.
2. Remove from the basket and put on a chopping board or plate. Then use the bottom of a small glass (or another flat object that is wider than the potatoes) to firmly but cautiously press down on the potato.
3. Repeat for all the potatoes. The skin should burst and flatten without completely breaking down the structure of the potato, as seen in the photo above.
4. In a small bowl, mix the oil, garlic powder, dried herbs and a pinch of salt and ground pepper.
5. Put the newly smashed potatoes back into the air fryer and spoon or brush half of the olive oil mixture over the potatoes. Turn the air fryer back on to 200°c / 390°f for 10 minutes.
Carefully flip the smashed potatoes over and spoon or brush the remaining oil mix onto the potatoes. Put back into the air fryer for another 5-10 minutes at 200°c / 390°f until crispy and golden brown, but be careful not to burn them!
Serve hot with fresh thyme, vegan parmesan cheese and your favourite dipping sauce like vegan aioli or sour cream. They make a great side dish next to a Mushroom Wellington too.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
Picking the right potatoes – vegan air fryer smashed potatoes are best made with baby potatoes or smaller potatoes.
They all need to be similar in size so that they cook evenly. Make sure to choose small or baby potatoes – we tested medium potatoes and larger ones, but they fall apart when they're smashed.
Fresh garlic vs garlic powder – we found that crushed garlic burnt very easily during air frying.
While air fryer smashed potatoes can be made with minced garlic, for this recipe we found garlic granules or garlic powder to be much better options. They didn't burn at all during air frying.
Don’t overfill the basket – air fryers, like any product, have an optimum capacity. To get really crispy smashed potatoes, don't overfill the air fryer basket.
There should be just one layer and they shouldn't be stacked on top of each other. If the potatoes are on top of each other, they won't become as crispy.
No potato masher – you don't need to use a potato masher! We actually found that a potato masher does not work well for making smashed potatoes.
It actually forces the skin on the potato to burst too much, and then it falls apart. Using a small glass that is just a little wider than the small potatoes will yield best results.
Variations – there are many variations for these crispy smashed potatoes made in the air fryer. Try a spice mix of your own choosing, using smoked paprika, dried herbs or fresh herbs.
Serve with your favourite dipping sauces like garlic mayo, sriracha or even BBQ sauce! For super crispy potatoes, you'll definitely need to use oil, but vegan butter could also be used for similar results.
💭 FAQs
Smashed potatoes are a type of potato that aren't quite a roasted potato but aren't quite mashed potatoes either! They are cooked whole, with the skin on and make for a delicious side dish. Partway through cooking they are crushed or 'smashed' with the bottom of a glass until the potato is flat. It's then fried (or air fried) or baked again until crispy.
It's super easy to make crispy smashed potatoes in the air fryer! Take baby potatoes (with the skin on) and lightly brush with olive oil. Air fry at 200°c / 390°f for 15-20 minutes until fork tender. Then remove potatoes from the air fryer and place on a cutting board. Firmly, but carefully, using the bottom of a glass, press down on the potato until it is flat. Place back in the air fryer basket, coat with more oil and herbs, then air fry for another 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
No, smashed potatoes do not need soaking in water beforehand. This is a method used to remove starch from chopped potatoes when making french fries or chips, to prevent them from sticking together. For these crispy smashed potatoes, they're made whole with the skin on. That means the starch isn't exposed and the potatoes won't stick together.
🍛 Serving suggestions
More air fryer recipes to try
We love making air fryer recipes, so here are a selection of our favourites:
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 700 g baby potatoes ~12 potatoes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- Salt & black pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Brush the baby potatoes with a little olive oil or oil spray, then put the potatoes in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200°c / 390°f for 15-20 minutes until fork tender.700 g baby potatoes
- Remove from the air fryer basket and put on a chopping board or plate. Then use the bottom of a small glass (or another flat object that is wider than the potatoes) to firmly but cautiously press down on the potatoes. The skin should burst and flatten without completely breaking down the structure of the potato.
- In a small bowl, mix the oil, garlic granules, dried herbs and a pinch of salt and ground black pepper.3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic granules, 1 tsp Italian herbs, Salt & black pepper
- Put the newly smashed potatoes back into the air fryer basket and spoon or brush half of the olive oil mixture over the potatoes. Turn the air fryer back on to 200°c / 390°f for 10 minutes.
- Carefully flip the smashed potatoes over and spoon or brush the remaining oil mix onto the potatoes. Put back into the air fryer for another 5-10 minutes at 200°c / 390°f until crispy and golden brown, but be careful not to burn them! Serve hot with fresh thyme, vegan parmesan cheese and your favourite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Smashed potatoes will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 180°c for 5 minutes, check if they're hot and crispy enough. Air fry for a further few minutes if you'd like them hotter.
- These potatoes freeze well for up to three months in an airtight container. Reheat in the air fryer from frozen.
Sharon Saunders
Had these for lunch today with homemade aoli, delicious, def having these again!