5 from 5 votes

Easy Diced Air Fryer Potatoes

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Cooking diced potatoes in the air fryer creates a perfectly cooked salty and incredibly crispy side in just 20 minutes.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
ยฃ0.25
Makes: 5
Side
British
Freezable

Are you looking for a deliciously salty, crispy snack or side?  Then definitely try making diced potatoes in the air fryer.  They cook up fast, are extraordinarily crispy on the outside, and tenderly fluffy in the center.

Golden browned diced potatoes with some salt sprinnkled over them on a plate.

Why you’ll love this recipe 

Fantastic Texture:  Crispy outside and fluffy inside, what more could you ask for from potatoes in the air fryer?

Big flavor:  The savory salt and spices amp up the mouthwatering flavor of these delicious potatoes.

Super fast and easy:  The small size of the diced potatoes helps them cook to perfection in just about 20 minutes.

Vegan and Gluten Free:  No animal products or flour are used, so this particular recipe for potatoes in the air fryer is safe for both diets.

If you have any leftover potatoes, consider making my; Parmentier Potatoes, Tuna Fishcakes with Potato or Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Best Air Fried Potatoes

Best type of potato to use
By far, the best potatoes to use are waxy potatoes because they get the best crisp on the outside.  My favorites are fingerlings, red potatoes, and Yukon Gold potatoes.  

Now, you can still use a starchy potato if you like.  Russet, King Edwards, or Maris Piper will do, though you may want to soak the potatoes before air frying them to help remove some of the starch.

Should you soak potatoes before air frying?
Soaking is not necessary with a waxy potato, though some starchier potatoes may need to be soaked in order to remove some of the excess starch.  Too much starch can stop the potatoes from getting crispy in the air fryer.  And nobody wants a soggy potato!

So, if you find your potatoes are not getting crispy enough, you can try soaking them for 30 minutes or more in a bowl of cold water after being diced.

How do you know when potatoes are done air frying?
You will know when your air fryer diced potatoes are done when they are crispy on the outside and fork tender in the center.  But how on earth do you know that?  

No worries!  This is a simple task.  You should be able to see the golden color on the outside (meaning they are crisp), so thatโ€™s the easy part.  But to determine if they are cooked on the inside you will need to poke one of the diced potatoes with a fork.  The fork should go into the potato easily and also remove easily.

How do you keep diced potatoes from sticking to the grate?
I hate when things stick to the grate, but luckily, it is an easy fix.  If you find your potatoes are sticking to the air fryer basket or grate, spray the basket with a tiny bit of oil or cooking spray before adding the cubes.

Should you add oil?
Nobody wants a soggy potato!  So to make sure they get nice and crispy, it is a good idea to add a small amount of oil to your potato cubes.  Adding oil will help them crisp up.  It will also help keep the cubes from sticking to the basket or grate without using any additional oil or sprays.

Can you air fry potatoes from frozen?
You can absolutely air fry frozen diced potatoes.ย  Frozen potatoes make life a little easier since you donโ€™t have to dice them yourself!ย  Just follow the same instructions for the fresh potato cubes but cook the frozen cubes about 10 minutes longer in the air fryer.

Here are some other recipes, that you can also cook from frozen in the air fryer; Frozen Roast Potatoes, Frozen chicken breast in the air fryer and Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

How to make air fryer diced potatoes extra crispy and tender

If your potatoes tend to turn out soggy, there are several things you can try to make your air fryer potatoes extra crispy and tender.

  1. Make sure you preheat your air fryer.
  2. Cook the potatoes on a high heat. (All air fryers cook slightly differently, so you may need to adjust the temperature for your particular appliance.)
  3. Soak the potatoes before cooking them to remove any excess starch.  Make sure to dry them thoroughly after soaking and before air frying.
  4. Coat the diced potatoes with oil to promote browning.
  5. In extreme cases, you can try dusting the potato cubes with wheat or corn flour to help dry out the surface of the potatoes before adding oil.

Love using the air fryer to make crispy potatoes? Try these easy recipes; Airfryer potatoes, Airfryer Hash Browns and Airfryer Frozen Fries

How long do you cook potatoes in the air fryer?

This is a fantastically easy side dish, but knowing how long to cook diced potatoes in the air fryer is essential.  Too short of a time and your potatoes will be hard and not crispy at all.  Too long and they could become burnt on the outside and dry in the center.

I have found that 20-25 minutes is the sweet spot.  However, due to all air fryers being different, you should check your potatoes for doneness at around the 20 minute mark.

Pair these yummy diced potatoes with one of these protein-rich mains; Airfryer Pork Belly, Baked Pesto Chicken Recipe and Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

Ingredients to make the Air Fryer potatoes recipe laid out on a pale blue background and labelled.

Potatoes:  Waxy potatoes lend the least amount of starch and therefore create the best amount of crisp so go for red potatoes, Yukon gold, or fingerlings.

Seasoning:  Simple flavors like onion, garlic, Italian herbs, and salt create a mouthwatering blend that brings these potatoes to life.

Olive Oil:  Good olive oil with what helps bring the seasoning flavors together and also helps create the perfectly crisp potatoes we all want.

See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

Different potatoes:   Trying different potatoes can help you figure out which ones you like best.  And if you are feeling really adventurous, I recommend trying diced sweet potatoes (yams) in the air fryer using this same recipeโ€ฆthey are slightly sweeter but just as delicious!

Add cheese and bacon:  Cheesy potatoes are the best!  Add some melted cheddar or any other cheese you love for an over the top cheesy potato side dish!  Then sprinkle with bacon bits and . . . wellโ€ฆ my mouth is already watering just writing about it!

Different seasoning blends:  Cajun, Italian, and Mexican are all great spice blends you could try out to change  up these diced potatoes and use them for different meals.

Add diced onions and peppers (homefries):  I especially love homefries, which are just diced potatoes, diced onion, and diced bell peppers all cooked together.  They can be served as a dinner side or for breakfast alongside eggs and bacon.

Add a sauce:ย  Whether you dip them in tomato sauce (ketchup) or drizzle a creamy dressing over the top, adding a sauce to potatoes is always a good idea.

Try these tasty dips to serve with the crispy potatoes; Easy Tzatziki or Whipped Feta Dip with Harissa

How to make easy diced air fryer potatoes

Preheat the air fryer to 400ยฐF (205ยฐC)

  1. Start by washing the potatoes and drying them in a cloth (Image 1).
  2. Then dice the potatoes into 2cm cubes (Image 2).
2 step by step photos, the first with wet potatoes on a cloth  and the second with sliced potatoes on a chopping board.

3. Then soak the cubed potatoes and ensure cleaned (Image 3).

4. Strain the potato cubes in a colander and dry with a tea towel (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with potatoes in water in a metal bowl and the second with diced potatoes in a cloth with 2 hands covering.

5. Toss cubed potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian herbs and salt (Image 5).

6. Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single layer (or as evenly distributed as possible) in the air fryer basket. I have a dual airfryer so I spread the potatoes across two baskets to maximize crispiness (Image 6).

2 step by step photos, the first with potatoes in a metal bowl with seasoning with red spoon and the second with diced potatoes in a 2 air fryer trays.

7. Cook for 20-25 minutes (Image 7).

8. Shake the basket halfway through, until crispy and golden brown. Serve with additional flakey salt and an optional crack of black pepper (Image 8).

2 step by step photos, the first with  almost cooked potatoes in a 2 air fryer trays and the second with diced potatoes fully browned  in a 2 air fryer trays.

Need inspiration for a tasty main and side dish to accompany these crispy potatoes? Try my; Soy Garlic Chicken Breast with Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Parmesan

Golden browned diced potatoes with some salt sprinnkled over them on a plate on a pale blue background with a small bowl of salt on a wooden board and a pepper mill below the plate.

Tips for the best results

  • Make sure to cook just one layer of diced potatoes at a time in the air fryer basket.  Overcrowding could cause soggy potatoes.
  • Preheat the air fryer so it is good and hot when you add those potato cubes.
  • Shake the basket half way through to promote even browning.
  • For extra crispy potatoes make sure they are very dry before air frying.  
  • Dicing the potatoes all the same size helps them all finish cooking at the same time.

Make this a high protein meal and serve with; Air Fryer Chicken Bites, Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer and Turkey Steak Recipe

What do air fryer diced potatoes go with?

Diced potatoes in the air fryer are a quick side dish that can be paired with any protein or vegetable.  Think grilled chicken and potatoes, an easy steak dinner with potatoes, or possibly a potato bowl with veggies.

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator Storage: Store leftover potatoes in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer Storage:  Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months in a regular freezer and up to 1 year in a deep freezer.

Reheat Instructions:  Leftover potatoes that have been cooked in the air fryer tend to get a bit soggy when stored in the refrigerator or freezer unless you know how to reheat them properly.  The best method for reheating air fried diced potatoes is in the air fryer.  Just set the air fryer to โ€œreheatโ€ and pop your leftover potatoes in for a delightful leftover meal.

FAQs

Can I make these diced potatoes in the oven?

Yes, for sure!ย  If you donโ€™t have an air fryer, then making these potatoes in the oven is the next best thing. Preheat the oven to 220โ„ƒ (425โ„‰) and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Should I parboil the potatoes?

Parboiling for this particular recipe is not necessary.ย  However, sometimes when air frying larger potatoes, parboiling may be essential for getting the potatoes to finish cooking on the inside.

How long do you cook potatoes in the air fryer?ย 

For diced potatoes in the air fryer, I like to cook them at 200โ„ƒ (400โ„‰) for 20-25 minutes.

Can I use sweet potatoes in this recipe?

ย YES!ย  Sweet potatoes in the air fryer are delicious!ย  Even the same seasoning blend will work!

If you tried this Diced Air Fryer Potatoes recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐Ÿ’› Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x

Easy Diced Air Fryer Potatoes

Print
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
ยฃ0.25
Side
British
Freezable
Servings: 5
Cooking diced potatoes in the air fryer creates a perfectly cooked salty and incredibly crispy side in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg potatoes, sliced into 2cm cubes (ยฃ1.25)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp Italian herbs
  • 1 tsp flakey salt

Method

Preheat the air fryer to 400ยฐF(205ยฐC)

  • Toss cubed potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian herbs and salt.
  • Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single layer (or as evenly distributed as possible) in the air fryer basket. I have a dual airfryer so I spread the potatoes across two baskets to maximize crispiness.
  • Cook for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until crispy and golden brown. Serve with additional flakey salt and an optional crack of black pepper.

Notes

  • Cook one layer of diced potatoes at a time to avoid sogginess.
  • Preheat the air fryer for the best results.
  • Shake the basket halfway through for even browning.
  • Ensure potatoes are very dry for extra crispiness.
  • Dice potatoes uniformly for consistent cooking.

Nutrition

Servings: 5 servings
Fat: 7g
Calories: 238kcal
Carbohydrates: 36g
Protein: 4g
5 from 5 votes

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Thank you so much for trying my recipe! I hope you loved it. Iโ€™d be so grateful if you could leave a comment/rating - it makes my day hearing your feedback!

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Comments

  1. Crispy, quick and yummy!5 stars

  2. Joanna Howard | 4 months ago

    Yummy, crispy and so easy. These diced potatoes cook perfectly in the airfryer.5 stars

  3. Loving these diced potatoes and using the airfryer makes cooking so quick. Great side and so easy .5 stars

  4. Gemma Meehan | 5 months ago

    Perfect way to cooked diced potatoes. They came out crispy and we loved the seasoning. Served with the belly pork recipe for our Sunday roast.5 stars

  5. Simple and delicious crispy potatoes with ingredients I have in my cupboard. Definitely making this recipe on rotation!5 stars

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