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Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes

Air fried fingerling potatoes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Toss them with olive oil, spices, and fresh herbs to create a healthy and delicious side dish for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.

Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes on a plate.

What are Fingerling Potatoes?

Fingerling potatoes are known for their small, elongated, and narrow shape, resembling fingers. They are less starchy than other potato varieties, like russet potatoes, making them well-suited for roasting, grilling, steaming, boiling, and air frying! Cooking fingerling potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to achieve a crispy, tasty side to serve alongside, steak, chicken, and salmon.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Enjoy crispy fingerling potatoes with simple ingredients from your pantry. They are hassle-free and finish quicker than oven-roasted potatoes. Here’s what you need to get started.

  • Fingerling Potatoes: Cut the fingerling potatoes into wedges so they cook at the same rate.
  • Olive Oil: Coat the potatoes in extra-virgin olive oil for a crispy finish.
  • Spices: Complete the air fried fingerling potatoes recipe with a flavorful combination of garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and dried herbs like oregano, and thyme.

Additions and Substitutions

I love the spices on the potatoes, but it’s fun to switch it up. Then, follow our instructions for cooking fingerling potatoes in the air fryer. Here are some of my favorite seasonings:

Tools You’ll Need

Make the easy side dish with a mixing bowl and an air fryer. I used an Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer with a large basket.

How to Make Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Then, cut the potatoes in half and into thirds to create wedges.

Fingerling Potatoes cut into wedges.

Step 2: Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture. Then, add them to a large bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme.

Fingerling Potatoes in a mixing bowl with spices.

Step 3: Arrange the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and bake the potatoes for 15 minutes until they are golden brown, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.

Fingerling Potatoes in an air fryer basket.

Expert Tips

  • Dry the potatoes. Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture for a nice, crispy finish.
  • Cut potatoes the same size. Cut the air fryer fingerling potatoes into wedges around the same size to ensure they cook at the same rate.
  • Cook in the air fryer. Because of how the hot air circulates, the air fryer causes the outside of the potatoes to become nice and crispy while keeping the insides soft and tender.
  • Avoid overcrowding. Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. This can cause the potatoes to steam rather than roast, preventing them from becoming crispy.

If you enjoy air fried fingerling potatoes, pair them with these dinner recipes!  

Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes on a plate.

What to Serve With the Potatoes

Air fried fingerling potatoes are a delicious side dish or appetizer, especially when paired with dipping sauces like ranch dressing or lemon dill aioli.

They are a perfect side dish for the holiday table, especially when you need room in the oven for hearty meals like beef ribs, roasted chicken, tandoori turkey, or tender boneless leg of lamb. Seafood lovers can enjoy the potatoes with pesto flounder, Sriracha salmon, or baked shrimp skewers.

You can also serve the potatoes for breakfast with scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict, or Moroccan shakshuka.

What To Do With Leftovers

  • Refrigerate: Store the leftover potatoes in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
  • Freeze: Let the potatoes cool and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Air fryer fingerling potatoes freeze for three months.
  • Thaw: Before serving, defrost the potatoes in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Reheat: Use an air fryer to get the fingerling potatoes crispy. Preheat the air fryer to 350℉ (176℃) and cook them for 3-5 minutes, or warm them in a microwave, but they won’t be as crispy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to cut the potatoes in half before air frying?

I love how crispy the potato wedges are after roasting them in the air fryer, but if you prefer whole-fingerling potatoes, wash them and leave them as is. Generally, fingerling potatoes take about 20 minutes to cook, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure the potatoes cook evenly.

Why soak potatoes in water before air frying?

While some recipes call for soaking potatoes before cooking them, fingerling potatoes are excellent for roasting in the air fryer because they crisp nicely. And since they are low in starch compared to other potato varieties, they get crispy without soaking them- the air circulating in the air fryer helps!

However, leaving potatoes to soak for 30 minutes in cold water will remove some of the excess starch, which can result in crispier potatoes, but I don’t find it necessary.

How long do you air fry fingerling potatoes?

Cook the fingerling potatoes cut into wedges or diced for 15 minutes at 400℉ (204℃). However, you should increase the cooking time if you’re making whole fingerling potatoes; they will be tender after about 20 minutes.

Check the doneness of the potatoes by inserting a fork into one of the larger potatoes. Continue air frying in 1-2 minute increments until the potatoes are tender inside and crispy on the outside.

What do fingerling potatoes taste like?

The potatoes have a buttery and nutty flavor with a tender and creamy texture once they cook.

What’s the best substitute for fingerling potatoes?

Baby potatoes, Yukon golds, new potatoes, and red potatoes are all great substitutes for fingerling potatoes.

More Air Fryer Potato Recipes:

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Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes on a plate.

Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes

Tressa Jamil
Air fried fingerling potatoes tossed with olive oil, spices, and fresh herbs are a healthy and delicious side dish for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 46 kcal
Ingredients
  
Instructions
 
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Then, cut the potatoes in half and into thirds to create wedges.
  • Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture. Then, add them to a large bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and dried thyme.
  • Arrange the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and bake the potatoes for 15 minutes until they are golden brown, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
Notes
Expert Tips:
  • Dry the potatoes. Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture for a nice, crispy finish.
  • Cut potatoes the same size. Cut the air fryer fingerling potatoes into wedges around the same size to ensure they cook at the same rate.
  • Cook in the air fryer. Because of how the hot air circulates, the air fryer causes the outside of the potatoes to become nice and crispy while keeping the insides soft and tender.
  • Avoid overcrowding. Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. This can cause the potatoes to steam rather than roast, preventing them from becoming crispy.
Nutrition Disclosure:
  • The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 46 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Fat: 5 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Sodium: 388 mg | Potassium: 22 mg | Vitamin A: 171 IU | Calcium: 7 mg
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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating