These air fryer baked potatoes are one of the most iconic barbecue dishes. They make a delicious side dish, or they can be made into a full meal, stuffed full with all sorts of delicious goodies. You don’t need to turn on your oven to bake a few potatoes. These air fryer baked potatoes take less time than your oven, and they are just as good. They are crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and absolutely delicious.

Why this recipe works

You can cook a potato much faster in your microwave but the interior of the potato will never get light and fluffy and the skin will never get crisp.  These air fryer baked potatoes have everything going for them.

• Crispy on the outside
• Light and fluffy on the inside
• Easy to make
• Take less time than an oven
• More energy efficient than an oven

This is the way you need to make baked potatoes every time!

Tips to perfect this recipe

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. 
• Pierce the potatoes with a fork.
• Different sizes will take different cook times.
• Use tongs to grab the hot potatoes.

Our air fryer will fit 4 medium-sized potatoes in the basket. If you have a smaller air fryer you should select smaller potatoes or cook only 2 or 3 at a time. If you use a different size potato then start checking them for doneness at about 20 to 25 minutes and cook them longer if needed. 

The best toppings for your potato

I’m not a minimalist when it comes to my baked potato toppings. I can turn a simple spud into a main course meal with the right toppings. 

Every baked potato should start with some butter, salt and pepper. But from there you can go crazy. Here are some ideas for perfect air fryer baked potato toppings. 

• Sour cream
• BACON!! (Of course)
• Cheese 
• Chives or green onions
• Chili with beans 
• Salsa and guacamole 
• BBQ pulled pork
• Chicken fajita toppings 
• Marinara sauce and pizza fixings 

Your turn! Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite spud toppings are. 

Air Fryer Baked Potatoes FAQ

How long does it take to make an air fryer baked potato?

It will take 25 to 30 minutes to make a medium-sized air fryer baked potato. The same-sized potato takes 45 to 55 minutes in a standard oven. Obviously, larger potatoes take longer and smaller potatoes take less time. But all things equal, you will save about 20 minutes if you use your air fryer to bake potatoes. 

How does an air fryer work?

An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air throughout the device. As the hot air circulates around the food in the basket it will carry oils and fats and coat the food helping you to get MORE flavor and CRISPIER food. With an air fryer, you can fry, grill, bake, or roast making it a must-have in your kitchen!

Do you need to poke holes in potatoes before cooking?

YES! Please remember to poke holes in the potatoes before baking them.  Even a baked potato in the air fryer needs to have the skin poked. Don’t believe anyone that tells you otherwise. 

Potatoes have the potential to explode if you don’t poke holes in them. The skin traps steam inside the potato. If enough pressure builds up then the potato will explode. A small prick in the skin allows steam to escape and prevents a huge mess.

Not every potato will explode but if you cook enough potatoes without poking holes in them, you will eventually have an explosion. The odds are in your favor. 

Can I wrap the potatoes in foil?

You can wrap air fryer baked potatoes in aluminum foil if you want but you won’t get a crispy skin. Aluminum foil will shield the hot air from having direct contact with the potato skin. It will also hold in some steam which results in softer skin. 

• Want soft skin? Wrap them in foil. 
• Want crispy skin? Don’t wrap them in foil.

What kind of potato should you use?

You can bake any potato in the air fryer, but if you want a  light and fluffy tater, I recommend using a Russet. 

Yukon Golds have a creamier texture, and red potatoes have a slightly waxy center. They all taste great, and it just depends on your preference. 

How do you reheat baked potatoes in the air fryer?

If you want to re-heat the baked potatoes, it will only take about 10 minutes. Just stick the baked potato in at 400°F and set the air fryer timer for 10 minutes. Check the potato after 10 minutes. If the center isn’t hot enough, then stick it back in for 3 to 5 minutes. 

What else is cooking?

If you loved these baked potatoes, you have gotta try these air fryer baked sweet potatoes! You can load them up with all the fixings, or keep it simple with some butter and sour cream.

Make some of these Traeger smoked beef back ribs and pile the meat from them onto your air fryer baked potatoes. These are ribs are packed full of flavor and are the ultimate barbecue dish.

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