Air fryer breakfast potatoes are easy to make and they will come out crispy and flavorful without soaking the potatoes.

Could you imagine an air fryer recipe taking hours to make?
It’s crazy, the air fryer is for quick, easy and simple and doing things like soaking potatoes takes a long time.
That’s where this air fryer breakfast potatoes recipe comes in at. You do not need to soak the potatoes for them to be crispy. The secret is in something much simpler.
Air fryer breakfast potatoes should be crispy and flavorful because that’s the heart of breakfast potatoes recipes. I am going to show you below how to make them and any tips and tricks I have learned along the way.
Let’s make sure you have the ingredients need, continue below.

How To Make Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Do you have these ingredients already
- Potato (Yukon gold, red or russet potatoes)
- Vegetable oil
- Salt & black pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Air fryer
Read these tips to avoid mistakes before starting
- You do not have to soak the potatoes before to remove the excess starch. When making air fryer breakfast potatoes the secret is in the heat. We are going to use the starch in the potatoes mixed with the oil to create that crispy skin around the potatoes.
- I suggest using vegetable oil (canola, soybean) in this recipe because the way it is made, makes things very crispy.
Making the breakfast potatoes in the air fryer
- To start, dice up the potatoes. The seasoning is for one pound of diced potatoes so double if you are making more.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Now, while the air fryer is heating. Toss the diced potatoes in oil and the seasoning mix.

- When the air fryer is up to temp, add the potatoes but do not crowd them. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. The potatoes can be close but you should still be able to see a path that allows the air to travel around them for the crispiness.
- Air fry for 10 minutes then give the bin a nice shake to move the potatoes around. Place them back and cook a remaining 10 minutes. Times will vary depending on the wattage of your air fryer.
- Lastly, remove from the bin and serve. You may need to lets them cool a bit because the fluffy, potato inside will be really hot.

Reheating leftovers
You can place the leftover breakfast potatoes back in the air fryer if you have some remaining. Simply place back on 400F and reheat for about 3-5 minutes. Depending on the wattage of your air fryer times may need to be adjusted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do you soak potatoes before air frying?
You do not have to soak these air fryer breakfast potatoes. They are not like French fries and the moisture can leave the skin of the potatoes much fast to create that crispy effect. Another idea is the water washes away the excess starch from the potato. I think for this recipe the starch helps with making the potatoes crispy at the right temperature.
Is it healthier to air fry potatoes?
Yes, compared to standard frying*. The little oil used here is no where near the amount of aft you would eat from drenching the potatoes in oil and allowing them to cook.
Do I need to peel the potatoes first?
No, but I recommend you wash the potatoes then dry the outside before cutting. The skin has a different crispy texture than the potato itself and is a nice touch with texture.
What to serve with air fryer breakfast potatoes?
- Sausage
- Bacon
- Pancakes
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Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounce potatoes (Yukon, red or russet potatoes)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Seasoning Mix
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- To start, dice up the potatoes. The seasoning is for one pound of diced potatoes so double if you are making more.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Now, while the air fryer is heating. Toss the diced potatoes in oil and the seasoning mix.
- When the air fryer is up to temp, add the potatoes but do not crowd them. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. The potatoes can be close but you should still be able to see a path that allows the air to travel around them for the crispiness.
- Air fry for 10 minutes then give the bin a nice shake to move the potatoes around. Place them back and cook a remaining 10 minutes. Times will vary depending on the wattage of your air fryer.
- Lastly, remove from the bin and serve. You may need to lets them cool a bit because the fluffy, potato inside will be really hot.