Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe

If you've ever thought baked potatoes were on the boring side, you need to think again. As a matter of fact, you need to try our best air fryer baked potato recipe, because you may never go back to baking them in an oven again. At least that's how recipe developer Miriam Hahn of YouCare-SelfCare feels about them. Spuds cooked in an air fryer are so darn tasty, she explains, and we'd definitely have to agree. "The skin gets crispy and with the oil and the sprinkle of salt it is absolutely delicious," she says. She also notes an added plus is not needing to heat up the oven for this recipe.

This air fryer baked potato recipe is super simple, and it will inspire you to add potatoes as a side to more of your meals. Within an hour, you can have these spuds on your table ready to dig into. Potatoes also pack quite a bit of nutrition. Potatoes offer plenty of nutrients all on their own, including potassium, vitamins B and C, and fiber (via Healthline). So, now that you know there's a better way to bake a potato, let's get started!

When we said this recipe is simple and easy, we totally meant it! This potato dish only calls for three ingredients, and you probably won't have to leave the house to get any of them. Of course, you will need russet potatoes, and this recipe calls for three of them. In addition, you will also need a tablespoon of avocado oil, which Hahn says is her "go-to" oil for cooking in high heat. Moreover, the oil has a neutral flavor, so you won't have to worry about it leaving behind any kind of aftertaste. You will also need ½ teaspoon of sea salt. Hahn says that a coarse sea salt adds a "stronger" flavor, and she prefers coarse celtic sea slat for this recipe.

The first step you'll want to do is scrub your potatoes and dry them. Once they are dry, pierce them with a fork several times. It's important not to leave out this step, because if you don't add some kind of holes or slits to the sides of the potatoes, they could explode. Potatoes contain water, so when you warm them up, the water builds up pressure, which the potato wants to release in the form of steam. Hence the need for holes to allow steam to escape. If the pressure is not released, they could bust open (via Southern Living).

Next, pour the oil in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to coat all sides of each potato with the oil. Then, sprinkle them with salt.

When the potatoes are coated and salted, place them in a single layer in the air fryer. Hahn says you won't need to let the fryer pre-heat, because it will heat up quickly. Set the temperature to 400 F and the timer for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, remove the air fryer basket, and use a pair of tongs to turn each potato. Replace the basket, and cook the potatoes for an additional 15 minutes.

When the timer goes off, test the potatoes with a fork to check if they are thoroughly cooked. An easy way to do this is to slide a fork in them. If the fork slides in and out easily, then the potato is done.

If you have larger potatoes, you may need to cook them for a little bit longer. Hahn recommends cooking large potatoes for an additional five minutes and checking them with a fork. Keep in mind that smaller potatoes will take less time to cook.

When your potatoes are ready, it's time to load them up with your favorite toppings. This might be the best part of preparing the potato, because the choices for toppings are endless. You can go with classic toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and chives, or you can try something different like beans or avocado. Baked potatoes are excellent side dishes for so many meals, including burgers, wraps, and sandwiches, but you can also serve them as a main dish. Hahn says her favorite way to eat them is with black beans, fresh tomatoes, red onion, salsa, avocado, and jalapeños.  She also loves them with a cashew cheese sauce and steamed broccoli. The creative possibilities are endless, so feel free to have some fun with this recipe!