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5 from 2 votes

Crispy Smashed Potatoes (Oven or Air Fryer)

Crispy Smashed Potatoes that are golden-brown on the outside and creamy and flavorful on the inside for an easy side dish or appetizer everyone will love! You can cook them in the oven or an air fryer (just like our air fryer potato wedges)!
Course:Side Dish
Cuisine:American
Keywords:air fryer recipes, baking recipes, crispy smashed potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories224 kcal
Cost $ 1.00 per person

Equipment

  • 1 oven OR
  • 1 baking sheet
  • 1 pot
  • 1 Colander

Ingredients

  • 2.2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes 12-16 count, 1 ½ to 2" diameter (Best substitute: Carola You may use baby/new potatoes, red or fingerling instead but be aware they will take longer to brown and won’t be as crispy)
  • 1 tablespoon salt for water (plus more to season)
  • Olive oil to drizzle (oil is for browning and crispness). Use about 2-4 tablespoon if cooking in the oven or 1-2 tablespoon if cooking in the air fryer!
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (butter is for flavor. Do NOT use only butter or you’ll get burned-flavor potatoes). Use ½ tablespoon if cooking in the air fryer!
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder or to taste, or minced fresh garlic but they will burn a bit
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked to taste (you can also add a sprinkle of smoked paprika if you want)
  • 2 tablespoon fresh chives finely chopped, to garnish
  • 2 tablespoon Chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

Oven Method:

  • Boil: Place the potatoes inside of a pot with enough water to cover the potatoes by 1-inch. Add 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Once the water has boiled, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook them until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes depending on potato size.
  • Drain: Drain them in a colander!  Let them sit there for about 5 minutes to dry and cool down. This will also help to smash them without breaking them apart.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C). Transfer drained potatoes to a dark-rimmed baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
  • Smash: Use a potato masher or the flat bottom of a drinking glass to smash the potatoes to about ½" thickness. NOTE: Please, press them gently in order to not break the potatoes apart.
  • Season: Drizzle their tops with enough olive oil (about 1-2 TBSP) PLUS brush them with half of the melted butter. Sprinkle them generously with a mixture of salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to taste.
  • Bake: Bake for 15 min. Flip the potatoes over with a metal spatula, drizzle the second side with more olive oil (about 1-2 TBSP) PLUS brush with the remaining melted butter. Season with more salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Bake another 12-15 minutes, or until the smashed potatoes are crisp and have golden brown edges. Your oven may take longer to crisp them up.
  • Serve: Sprinkle more pepper and then garnish their tops with chopped chives and also a little of chopped parsley. Serve them warm.

Air Fryer Method:

  • Follow all the steps above (from boiling to seasoning).
  • Then preheat your air fryer at 400° F (205° C) for 5-10 minutes.
  • Position your smashed potatoes in the basket leaving plenty of space in between each one for proper hot airflow. You may have to air fry smashed potatoes in batches.
  • Air fry smashed potatoes for 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through (for making them crispier), or until desired crispiness is reached.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Crispy smashed potatoes make cook faster in the air fryer, but you’ll have to cook them in batches. So it will wind up being faster to roast them in the oven.
  2. Choose potatoes of similar size for even cooking!
Storage
Store leftover crispy smashed potatoes in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Freeze them for up to 2 months. Just be aware they won’t be as crispy after thawing.
Reheat in the oven or air fryer just until hot.  

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 1761mg | Potassium: 1080mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

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