Move those French fries aside and welcome a delicious side of small red potatoes made in the air fryer. The perfect side dish is an easy one with only three ingredients. The best part? No need to peel the potatoes and the cooking time is short. Plus, you can have them ready to eat in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

Baby red potatoes
Olive oil
Dry ranch seasoning
Optional: Garlic powder, onion powder, parmesan cheese, fresh rosemary, Italian seasoning (or add your favorite seasonings).

A full printable recipe with measurements and instructions is listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Add some delicious air fryer pork belly from Joy Filled Eats to go along with the potatoes.

What We Love About This Recipe

Convenience Meets Flavor: The use of an air fryer means less oil and less mess, making this a healthy and easy recipe for busy weeknights. It also gives the potatoes that crispy skin that we all love.
Versatility at Its Best: This method is great not just for small red potatoes but also for larger potatoes, offering a variety of options for every meal.
A Family Favorite: The crispy edges, tender insides, and customizable seasonings make this simple side dish a hit with the whole family, ensuring a delicious side dish that complements any main dish.

How To Make Small Red Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer: While cutting and prepping the potatoes, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
Prep Time: Dice the baby red potatoes and toss them in olive oil in a large bowl, making sure each piece is well-coated.
Season: Next, sprinkle in the ranch seasoning and toss the potatoes.
Cook: Place the seasoned potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees. After 12 minutes, give them a toss and continue cooking for another five minutes until you achieve that irresistible crispy potatoes that are fork tender inside. That hot air will circulate around the potatoes, getting them all nice and crispy.

Golden brown red potatoes in an air fryer tray.

Tips

Cutting the potatoes into small, even pieces ensures they cook evenly.
Preheating the air fryer helps achieve a crispy exterior on the potatoes.

Variations

Potato Types: Experiment with Russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, Yukon gold, or even fingerling potatoes for varied textures and flavors.
Seasonings: Swap ranch seasoning for a mix of sea salt, black pepper, fresh rosemary, and Italian seasoning for a different flavor profile.

Ingredient Substitutions

Replace olive oil with avocado oil for a healthier fat option.
Toss some broccoli into the potatoes and have some air fryer broccoli, as well.

Storage Instructions

Cool any leftover potatoes before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. They can be reheated in the air fryer to maintain their crispy texture.

Dish Pairings

Chicken wings or chicken tenders are a great dish to serve with the potatoes. You can add some sour cream dip on the side and slice up some cornbread to go along with your potatoes.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Air fryer salmon burgers from Year Round Recipes – this is another simple recipe that goes with any classic side dish.
Air fryer turkey tenderloin – want some turkey for dinner without all the fuss? This is the one.
Air fryer juicy hamburgers – keep the kitchen cool by air frying the entire meal.
Air fryer candied pecans – there’s nothing like easy, crunchy candied pecans for dessert.

The air fryer baby potatoes recipe is so easy to make and is a great choice for a side with just about any meal. So, grab your ingredients and air fryer and get those potatoes cooking!