These air fryer baked potatoes have such a crispy skin and always turn out fork tender. You’ll wonder why you ever used the oven!

Air fryer baked potatoes are so simple to make you can hardly call this a recipe. With an ultra crispy skin and tender center, they’re just as good (if not better) than baked potatoes made in a conventional oven.
Whether you’re looking for a quick side dish or laying out a ton of toppings for a baked potato bar, these baked potatoes come together in nearly half the time they do when made in the oven. On busy weeknights, they are the perfect recipe to lean on to get dinner on the table faster.
Let’s get to it!
How to Make Baked Potatoes in an Air Fryer
Making baked potatoes in the air fryer is as easy as it gets. Below, find a quick hitter overview of the process.
- Prep the Potatoes: Wash potatoes, pat dry them with a towel, and poke a few holes in each with a sharp knife. Rub the potato skins with oil and sea salt.
- Air Fry the Potatoes: Arrange the potatoes in the air fryer basket, leaving at least an inch of space between each one. Bake the potatoes at 390°F for at least 30 minutes, or until you can pierce them easily with a fork.
- Split the Potatoes: After you remove the potatoes from the air fryer, split them down the middle with a knife. Serve with sour cream, butter, chives, bacon bits, or any other of your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Below, find a couple of pro tips to help you make the best baked potatoes in the air fryer.
- Pat the potatoes dry. For the crispiest possible skin, pat the potatoes dry of any moisture leftover from washing them.
- Season the potatoes with flakey salt. Use a flakey salt like Maldon to coat the potatoes. This will give them that signature steakhouse feel!
- Leave room between the potatoes. Leave at least an inch between the potatoes to allow the hot air to make them 360 degrees crispy.
- Slice the potatoes immediately. To prevent the flesh from overcooking and becoming gummy, slice the potatoes down the center immediately after you take them out of the air fryer basket.

Serving Baked Potatoes
Air fryer baked potatoes are the perfect side dish for so many different dishes. Pair them with a grilled ribeye and air fryer asparagus for a full blown steakhouse dinner or top them with chili and cheese for a quick lunch.
Storing Baked Potatoes
Store leftover baked potatoes in the refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped in foil. They should keep for up to 5 days. Refrain from freezing baked potatoes, as they do not thaw well and will turn gritty upon reheating.
FAQ
How long does it take to cook baked potatoes in an air fryer?
Baked potatoes take anywhere from 30-45 minutes to make in the air fryer depending on their size. To check their doneness, test them with a fork to see if they’re tender before removing.
Should I wrap the potatoes in foil before air frying them?
No, you should no wrap the potatoes in foil before air frying them. The foil will prevent the skins from turning crispy.
Do I need to flip the potatoes halfway through cooking?
No, you do not need to flip the potatoes halfway through cooking. Unlike most food made in the air fryer, you can truly “set it and forget it” with whole baked potatoes.
Why did the skin on my baked potatoes not get crispy?
The skin on your baked potatoes likely didn’t crisp if you didn’t dry them after washing. Any moisture left on the skin will prevent them from crisping.
What are the best kind of potatoes for baked potatoes?
Russet potatoes are the best kind of potatoes to use for baked potatoes.
Tasty Baked Potato Toppings
- Easy Pickled Onions Recipe – Tangy pickled red onions
- Air Fryer Bacon (Perfectly Crispy) – No-mess bacon
- 5 Minute Garlic Avocado Spread – Creamy avocado spread
- Pickled Jalapeños (10 minutes) – Quick pickled jalapeños
Recipe
Instructions
- Wash, pat dry, and poke holes in all the potatoes.
- Cover the potatoes with oil and salt. Place them in the air fryer basket, leaving at least an inch of space between each. Air fry them at 390°F for at least 30 minutes, or until you can pierce them easily with a fork.
- Using a knife, split the potatoes in the center. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Great recipe tasty and easy. I also add garlic powder to the skin with the salt and oil . Love to try various toppings.
Hi Cathie, I'm so happy to hear you love the recipe and get creative with delicious toppings!
First time making baked potatoes in the air fryer went well! Thanks for the detailed recipe.
best in the west
Hey Johan- you're welcome! I'm glad it was helpful and easy to follow.
I can’t wait to try out my New Air Fryer and Your delicious recipes! 😋
Yay. Congrats on your new air fryer. We are so obsessed with ours. Please do try any and all of our recipes for it - it's been a labor of love for us when it comes to creating them.
Looking forward to eating these delicious foods 😋
Enjoy, Libby. So happy you found out little corner of the internet. 🙂
I love your recipes, Natalya! I do not have an air fryer - could you recommend one? Thank you!
We have two that we like, I linked both of them in our amazon shop. https://www.amazon.com/shop/m…
Why is the sodium so high on the baked potato? 3499 that's more than soy sauce?
Hey Jody, its coming from the salt. The nutrition calculations are not always 100% accounrate. You can cut down on salt and it would reduce the sodium.
I love my air fryer makes the best chicken wing ,french fries
Yes, I am so with you. I preach Airfryer everywhere I go lol 🙂
'Bake potatoes at 390F for at least 30 minutes. '
THIS information must be added to the recipe that Print Recipe prints.
Thank you Len! Great tip!
Girl you're on roll with air fryer recipes. Love it! Never thought of air fryer baked potatoes...but wow...they look so easy and delicious.
Thank you! Yes, it made my life so much easier. 🙂
I can't believe how easy it is to make these! What? I love how crispy the skin looks - so good!
Yes, Freaking awesome! The airfryer has been a game changer! 🙂
Ok this is a genius air fryer recipe! Those potatoes look so good! and that crispy looking potato skin! YUM! Awesome recipe Natalia 🙂
Thank you! I am excited to discover Air Fryer, life changer for sure!
These baked potatoes is another great recipe idea, Natalia! I am putting them on my menu this week. We've done a lot of healthy fries in our air fryer but haven't thought of whole potatoes. Yum!
I make a few of them and later on just reheat them quick on a busy day. So good!