Crispy air fryer home fries are the perfect addition to your morning breakfast! They are quick and easy to make with a handful of ingredients. This simple brunch side dish is a must!

My family loves potatoes with breakfast. Growing up in the midwest, it’s almost a must, whether it’s tater tots, hash browns, or my favorite, home fries! Making breakfast potatoes in the air fryer makes it that much easier and faster to enjoy a side of potatoes with your favorite scramble or omelet.
What are home fries?
Home fries differ from hash browns, potato wedges, or french fries in the way that they are cut and seasoned. Home fries are often cut into small 1-inch chunks and browned in a skillet. Sometimes vegetables will be added such as sautéd onions and bell peppers. They are simply seasoned with salt and pepper. You can be as creative as you like with your seasoning. For a smoky flavor, add a touch of smoked paprika. For extra heat, add some cayenne pepper. This air fryer home fries recipe is as simple as it gets. A must-make side dish!
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Home Fries
- Vegan and Dairy-Free
- Gluten-Free
- Easy and Quick
- Simple Ingredients
- Perfect side dish for breakfast, brunch, or dinner!
Ingredients and Notes
Russet Potatoes: Use russet potatoes if possible. Russet potatoes are starchy and have soft flesh when cooked. They crisp up nicely. Yukon gold potatoes also work well.
Olive Oil: I recommend using olive oil to coat the potatoes. You could also use avocado oil or another neutral-flavored oil if you prefer.
Seasoning: These home fries are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. You can add other seasonings such as rosemary or thyme for an herbal flavor. Or cayenne pepper for extra heat.
How to Make Air Fryer Home Fries
Step 1: Peel the potatoes. Cut them into ½-inch chunks. Add the potatoes to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add the olive oil and toss to evenly coat the potatoes. Add the salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Toss once again to evenly distribute the spices.
Step 3: Add the potatoes to the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 8 minutes. Toss the basket, and cook for an additional 8 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and golden brown.
Expert Tips
- Peel the potatoes for a crispier texture all around.
- Cut the potato chunks into equal sizes. This will ensure even cooking throughout.
- Use aluminum foil or parchment paper inside the basket for easy clean-up.
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking on all sides.
- If your basket can’t hold all of the potatoes in a single layer, cook one batch at a time.
- Toss the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure the potatoes are crispy on all sides.
- Add ½ a cup of diced onion, and one diced red pepper for a different texture and more flavor.
- Season with rosemary and thyme for more of a dinner side dish.
- Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for added heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have extra time after you cut the potatoes, soak them in water for 30 minutes, and pat them dry. Soaking potatoes in water helps to draw out the extra starch which helps to ensure they are extra crispy.
If your potatoes did not come out crispy from the air fryer there are two main reasons why this occurred. The first reason is that the air fryer was overcrowded. If the potatoes are stacked on top of one another they won’t cook evenly and will come out soggy. The other reason is if your air fryer temperature is not high enough. If it’s not high enough it will not brown the potatoes. Some air fryers need a pre-heat time of 5 minutes. Read your air fryer manual to check if your air fryer needs to be preheated. When cooking potatoes use a temperature of at least 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
I recommend using oil or an olive oil spray. Without the use of oil, your potatoes will not get a golden brown and crisp finish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these air fryer home fries with scrambled eggs and omelets and a side of ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce for breakfast
These potatoes can also be served at dinner as the starch beside your protein and vegetables.
Storage Instructions
Fridge: Allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature. Transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: When ready to reheat, toss the potatoes back into the air fryer to crisp back up for about 5 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
More Air Fryer Potato Recipes!
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Recipe
Air Fryer Home Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash, scrub and peel the potatoes (if desired). Cut into ½-inch chunks.
- Add the potatoes to a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil and toss to evenly coat the potatoes. Add the salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Toss once again to evenly distribute the spices.
- Add the potatoes to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set the temperature to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 8 minutes. Toss the basket, and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and golden brown.
Video
Notes
- Peel the potatoes for a crispier texture all around.
- Cut the potato chunks into equal sizes. This will ensure even cooking throughout.
- Place the home fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking on all sides.
- Toss the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure the potatoes are crispy on all sides.
- Add one diced onion, and one diced red pepper for more of a hash.
- Season with rosemary and thyme for more of a dinner side dish.
- Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for added heat.
- Serve at breakfast or dinner as a potato side dish.
- Allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature. Transfer them to an airtight container. Store int he fridge for up to 3 days.
- When ready to reheat, toss the potatoes back into the air fryer to crisp back up for about 5 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
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