Name: Crispy Air Fryer Diced Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes (scrubbed and peeled (optional)); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste); ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

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Recipe Snapshot

PREP + COOK TIME: 25 minutes
METHOD: Air fryer
OTHER TOOLS: knife, cutting board, potato peeler (optional)
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 8

Crispy Air Fryer Diced Potatoes are golden-brown, lightly seasoned, and ready in under 25 minutes! This quick and easy side dish is a simple yet delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

Russet potatoes are the best choice for a golden-brown side made in the air fryer. They turn out perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside!
You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a great side dish. Just potatoes, seasonings, and olive oil complete this recipe – an excellent choice for when you need to whip something up with what’s on hand and no extra trips to the grocery store.
I love the texture of russets for a classic crispy potato, but this method also works with other varieties. It’s very flexible!
It might be convenient to grab a bag of frozen, seasoned potatoes, but once you try this recipe, you’ll see how much better you can make the potatoes at home. Not only are they fresh and use minimal ingredients, but the texture is so much better, too.
The simple seasoning in this recipe goes well with a variety of dips and sides. Make them spicier if you like with extra cayenne pepper.
Dice some potatoes for an easy side that’s delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With dipping sauces, a side of potatoes would even be especially tasty as an after-school snack!

Ingredients Needed

Russet potatoes – Use about 1 ½ pounds of medium-to-large russet potatoes. Scrub them well and peel them if you prefer. I like to leave a little bit of peel on mine for texture. Russet potatoes crisp up best in the air fryer due to their high starch content and low water content.
Olive oil – Use olive oil to drizzle over the potatoes and give them a light coating. This helps with browning and crispiness and also allows the seasonings to adhere to the potato cubes.
Smoked paprika – This adds a smoky, earthy element that deepens with browning in the air fryer. It’s a nice touch for added depth.
Garlic powder and onion powder – Add extra flavor with garlic powder and onion powder. These additions replicate a true seasoned potato blend.
Salt and ground black pepper – Add salt and pepper to the seasonings and adjust to taste. Try adding more salt and pepper before serving as well.
Cayenne pepper – This is an optional spice, but a little extra heat is delicious! Adjust the amount as preferred.

ingredients to include russet potato, bottle of olive oil, wooden bowls with spoons of salt and pepper, and white bowl of seasonings

How To Make Air Fryer Diced Potatoes

Dice potatoes into ½-inch cubes.

parchment paper on wooden cutting board with one potato and one partially peeled potato with peelings on side

Optional: Soak the potato cubes in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
Add potatoes to a large bowl and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using), then toss to coat evenly.

closeup of hand holding white bowl of seasonings with diced potatoes and olive oil bottle in background

white bowl of diced potatoes, surrounded by wooden spoon, bottle of olive oil and small white bowl of seasonings

Preheat the air fryer to 400 ℉ for 3 minutes.
Arrange potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook in batches if needed.

overhead view of black air fryer containing seasoned diced potatoes, with white bowl of diced potatoes in background

Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

overhead view of black air fryer containing air fried seasoned diced potatoes, with white bowl of diced potatoes in background

Serve with Yum Yum Sauce, ketchup, or ranch for dipping.

overhead view of white bowl containing air fried diced potatoes with containers of ketchup and ranch, surrounded by wooden spoon, parsley sprig and white and blue striped dish towel

Pro Tips

You can peel or leave the skins on, depending on your preference.
Soaking in cold water before air frying is an optional step, but you can do this for up to 30 minutes for extra crispiness.
Pat the potatoes completely dry before seasoning so that it sticks better.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow even heat circulation. Cook in batches if needed.
Be sure to shake the basket halfway through cooking for even browning.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Other potato varieties will work, too! Try Yukon Gold or red potatoes with the same method. These options will be slightly less crispy on the outside and denser on the inside, but still yield good results.
Customize the seasoning to fit your meal. These are all tasty ideas for seasoning swaps:
1. Cajun Seasoning
2. Ranch
3. Garlic and herb
4. Lemon pepper
5. Parmesan and Italian herbs
Frozen diced potatoes are also an option, but they won’t be quite as flavorful and tasty. Adjust the cooking time per the package directions.

How To Serve Air Fryer Diced Potatoes

This is one of those recipes that works with everything! Serve them for breakfast with a side of eggs, breakfast burritos, or with Skillet Biscuits and Gravy Casserole. Add Crispy Air Fryer Bacon for an extra hearty meal to start your day!

For a lunch or dinner option, serve with Grilled Turkey Burgers, grilled chicken, or cold sandwiches.

Dipping sauces instantly elevate the flavor! Whether on the side with your burger or sandwich, or as a snack, enjoy the potatoes with options like Yum Yum Sauce, Easy Dairy-Free Ranch, or spicy aioli.

closeup of black fork with potato dipping into ketchup, with bowl of air fried potatoes and ranch dressing, with air fryer, potato and blue striped dish towel in background

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. (Freezing is not recommended due to texture breakdown.)

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat leftover potatoes in the air fryer at 375 ℉ for 5-7 minutes, or in the oven at 400 ℉ for 10 minutes.

Crispy Air Fryer Diced Potatoes

Crispy Air Fryer Diced Potatoes are golden-brown, lightly seasoned, and ready in under 25 minutes! This quick and easy side dish is a simple yet delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Jennifer Draper

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Serving Size

Equipment

Air Fryer
Potato peeler (optional)

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes scrubbed and peeled (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for heat

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Instructions

Dice potatoes into ½-inch cubes.
Optional: Soak potato cubes in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
Add potatoes to large bowl and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using), then toss to coat evenly.
Preheat air fryer to 400 ℉ for 3 minutes.
Arrange potatoes in a single layer in air fryer basket and cook in batches if needed.
Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Serve with Yum Yum Sauce, ketchup, or ranch for dipping.

Notes

Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and do not freeze.
Reheat in the air fryer at 375 ℉ for 5-7 minutes, or in the oven at 400 ℉ for 10 minutes.
Potato skins can be peeled or left on, depending on your preference.
Optional: Soak the diced potatoes in cold water for up to 30 minutes before air frying for extra crispiness.
Pat potatoes completely dry before seasoning.
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket and cook in batches if needed.