Looking for a real crowd pleaser for your next cookout or dinner party? Let me introduce you to these crispy air fryer red potatoes with herby Dijon sauce. It's a quick, foolproof, and absolutely delicious recipe that’ll truly impress any time of the year.
During the summer, I put my air fryer to work to keep my kitchen cool, and one of the meals my air fryer has come to know well is crispy red potatoes!
If your mouth is watering just from reading that, you’re in for a real treat today. These air fryer red potatoes are so incredibly good, you’ll be reaching for seconds, and even thirds. They’re crispy on the outside with a soft, tender middle, and seasoned with garlic and herbs – potato perfection. I like to take it to the next level and dress them up with herby Dijon for a boost of flavor. Mmm!
But the best part of this recipe? It’s so easy to make. With our beloved air fryers doing most of the heavy lifting and only a few ingredients needed, you’ll have the perfect side dish to bring to your next BBQ or to serve at family dinner alongside homemade dinner rolls or crispy Brussels sprouts in what feels like no time at all.
Need more air fryer potato recipes in your life? They're always a good idea! Check out my BBQ smashed red potatoes and cheesy potato fritters,
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Why You'll Love It
With only a few simple ingredients and your air fryer doing the bulk of the work, it’ll feel like you snapped your fingers and crispy, garlicky potatoes appeared!
- Healthy comfort food. Potatoes are the definition of comfort food, and with lighter ingredients (no butter), you can dig in with zero guilt.
- Quick and easy. This recipe is foolproof and takes less than 45 minutes to put together. The only thing putting in any real muscle is your air fryer.
- Enjoyed year-round. I find myself reaching for this recipe more in the warmer seasons. Still, air fryer potatoes can be enjoyed every month of the year, especially as a hearty, seasoned side dish during the holiday season.
🥂Make it A Rosy Moment
These golden, crispy red potatoes are the versatile star of any spread. Here are three elevated-yet-effortless ways to serve them, no matter the occasion:
- Sunday Football Side Dish: Skip the soggy fries and serve these crisp air fryer potatoes hot with toothpicks in a warm skillet or parchment-lined tray! Pair with a thermos of hot cider (spiked or not), and keep the herby Dijon sauce in a squeeze bottle for drizzling.
- Backyard BBQ: Dress up your cookout by serving these in mini enamel bowls alongside grilled sausages or burgers. Add fresh thyme and a sprinkle of sea salt just before serving! Bonus: offer a dip trio—herby Dijon, garlic aioli, and spicy ketchup.
- Savory Brunch Board: Build a brunch board with crispy red potatoes, soft-boiled eggs, sliced avocado, prosciutto, and toasted sourdough. Serve the Dijon sauce in a tiny ramekin, garnished with chives, and pour a round of mimosas or some Peach Bourbon Smashes!
Important Ingredients
From the best potatoes to use to all the seasonings and herbs you’ll need for the sauce, find the ingredients for this recipe below.
- Baby Red Potatoes - Red potatoes are the best type of potatoes for boiling and roasting because they hold their shape and get extra crispy and crusty. Plus, they come bite-sized!
- Olive oil and seasonings - A coat of olive oil gives the potatoes their crispness in the air fryer, while sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika give them a savory flavor.
- Dijon mustard - For a bold and tangy flavor to complement the seasonings from the roast potatoes.
- Lemon zest and juice - The juice and zest of one lemon add bright flavor to the sauce, complementing the Dijon.
- Dill, parsley, and chives - Dill for the sauce, fresh parsley, and chives to garnish the finished product.
Swaps and Substitutions
Don’t have all the above ingredients on hand? Don’t worry! These red potatoes air fryer edition are super easy to modify. Here are some tips:
- Yukon Gold potatoes. If you don’t have red baby potatoes on hand, you can use Yukon or golden potatoes instead; however, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time, as they don’t cook as quickly. Keep a close eye on them in the air fryer and add extra cooking time if needed.
- Add some cheese. Cheese and potatoes are a match made in heaven. Toss the potatoes in a layer of parmesan cheese before air frying, or sprinkle with your favorite cheese as a final touch.
- Switch out the spices. Enhance the flavor with various spices and seasonings, such as fresh rosemary, thyme, Italian seasonings, Cajun seasoning, or even one cup of chopped onions or a dash of onion powder. For a kick of heat, a half teaspoon of chili or chipotle powder can be used in lieu of smoked paprika on the potatoes. Dried tarragon or celery leaves can be used as a substitute for dill in the sauce.
Full Recipe Below
Find the full list of ingredients & measurements below!
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Add the red potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 10 minutes until fork-tender.
- Step 2: Drain the potatoes and set them aside on a plate or cutting board. Then gently smash them with the bottom of a cup or the back of a spoon just until they break open a bit..
- Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, toss the potatoes with the olive oil, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Step 4: Add the seasoned red potatoes to the preheated air fryer in a single layer in the basket.
- Step 5: Air fry the red potatoes for 6 minutes. Then flip the potatoes over. Continue air frying for an additional 6-8 minutes until they look golden brown and crispy.
- Step 6: While the potatoes are air frying, whisk together the Dijon, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Step 7: When the potatoes are done, plate them, then garnish with chopped parsley and chives. Finish with a drizzle of the dijon sauce. Enjoy.
Top Tip
Parboil the potatoes. Boil the potatoes partially before roasting them in the air fryer. This process is known as parboiling, which removes excess starch, resulting in a crisp, crunchy, and thoroughly roasted potato.
Tips for the Perfect Air Fryer Roasted Red Potatoes
Whenever you’re making the roasted red potatoes in the air fryer, these tips will keep you and your guests coming back for more.
- Air fry red potatoes in a single layer. An overcrowded air fryer basket is no good. Keeping the potatoes in a single layer ensures unobstructed airflow, even cooking, and the crispiest potatoes possible.
- Flip the potatoes halfway through. This is essential for evenly roasted potatoes. Flipping or giving them a gentle shake halfway through gets all sides evenly cooked, on the inside and the outside.
- Add a touch of honey or maple syrup to the Dijon sauce. Dijon has a bit of tang and pepper. For a milder sauce, balance the flavor with a touch of honey or maple syrup to add a note of natural sweetness.
Recipe Variations
Get creative with variations of air fried red potatoes — they’re a truly versatile vegetable!
- Classic — Toss the potatoes with the seasonings included in the sauce recipe before air frying to keep the herby, earthy flavor, and omit the Dijon sauce.
- Add bacon or chicken — Cut 3 slices of bacon into large chunks, or 1-2 chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces, and add them to the air fryer with the potatoes, flipping them halfway through. Pair with a side salad for a complete meal. Yum!
💡Recipe FAQ
This is called parboiling, like mentioned above. This method removes excess starch, which makes the potatoes softer and creamier on the inside while keeping the exterior extra crispy.
Yukon Gold potatoes are appropriate substitutes for red potatoes. The two potatoes have similar textures and flavor, but Yukon Gold potatoes typically take longer to cook through, so adjust the cook time accordingly.
Yes, soaking the potatoes instead of parboiling them does remove excess starch. However, boiling before cooking them removes even more. Soaked potatoes also need more cooking time.
Air-fried potatoes are best enjoyed fresh when they are crispy and warm, but you can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing them.
To reheat, warm the potatoes in the air fryer for 5 minutes when you’re ready to enjoy them again!
Related Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Red Potatoes Recipe or any other of the delicious recipes on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Red Potatoes with Herby Dijon
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs baby red potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespooons chives chopped
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for 10 minutes until fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes and set them aside on a plate or cutting board then gently smash them with the bottom of a cup or back of a spoon just until they break open a bit.
- In a large mixing bowl toss the potatoes with the olive oil, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F degrees and add the seasoned potatoes to the basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 6 minutes then flip the potatoes over. Continue air frying for an additional 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- While the potatoes are air frying whisk together the Dijon, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- When the potatoes are done, plate them then garnish with chopped parsley and chives.
- Finish them with a drizzle of Dijon sauce and enjoy.
Notes
- Air fry red potatoes in a single layer. An overcrowded air fryer basket is no good. Keeping the potatoes in a single layer ensures unobstructed airflow, even cooking, and the crispiest potatoes possible.
- Flip the potatoes halfway through. This is essential for evenly roasted potatoes. Flipping or giving them a gentle shake halfway through gets all sides evenly cooked, on the inside and the outside.
- Add a touch of honey or maple syrup to the Dijon sauce. Dijon has a bit of tang and pepper. For a milder sauce, balance the flavor with a touch of honey or maple syrup to add a note of natural sweetness.
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