These air fryer breakfast potatoes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and ready in about 20 minutes. They’re one of the easiest side dishes you can make for breakfast.
The seasoning mix gives them a smoky, savory flavor that goes perfectly with eggs, bacon, or really anything you like to eat in the morning.
I also add bell pepper and onion for some extra color and flavor. They get slightly charred in the air fryer, which makes everything taste even better.
The trick to getting the potatoes really crispy is making sure they’re dry before they go in. That one small step makes a huge difference.
If you’ve been looking for a simple and reliable way to make breakfast potatoes, this is it. Let me show you how I make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Crispy Without Deep Frying – These potatoes get seriously golden and crunchy using just 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the air fryer.
The Spice Blend Is Perfect – Smoked paprika and dried thyme give these breakfast potatoes a warm savory flavor you will crave every morning.
Better Than Diner Home Fries – These come out crispier and more evenly cooked than most restaurant breakfast potatoes ever do.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/2 medium Red Bell Pepper, diced
- 1/2 medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
How To Make
Step 1
Dice the potatoes into even half-inch cubes. Rinse them briefly under cold water to remove excess starch, then pat them very dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Dry potatoes are the secret to getting them crispy in the air fryer.
Step 2
In a large bowl, toss the dried potato cubes with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Make sure every piece is evenly coated.
Step 3
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single layer in the basket. Avoid overcrowding so the potatoes crisp up rather than steam.
Step 4
Air fry the potatoes for 10 minutes, then shake the basket well. Add the diced red bell pepper and yellow onion, toss everything together, and spread the mixture back into an even layer.
Step 5
Continue air frying for another 8 to 10 minutes, shaking once more halfway through, until the potatoes are golden brown and fork-tender and the peppers and onions are softened with lightly charred edges.
Step 6
Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately alongside eggs, toast, or your favorite breakfast items.
Tips
Dry the Potatoes Really Well
This is the biggest thing that will make or break your breakfast potatoes. After you rinse them, spread the cubes out on a clean kitchen towel and pat them dry, then let them sit for a couple minutes so any remaining moisture evaporates.
If the potatoes go into the air fryer even a little wet, they’ll steam instead of crisp up. You’ll end up with soft, pale potatoes instead of that golden, crispy outside you’re going for.
It takes an extra minute or two but it makes a huge difference in the final result.
Keep the Potato Cubes the Same Size
Take your time cutting the potatoes into even half-inch cubes. If some pieces are big and some are small, the small ones will burn while the big ones are still undercooked in the middle.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to keep them roughly the same size. This way everything finishes cooking at the same time and you get an even golden color across the whole batch.
Don’t Add the Peppers and Onions Too Early
The recipe has you add the bell pepper and onion after the first 10 minutes, and there’s a good reason for that. Peppers and onions are much softer than potatoes and cook way faster.
If you toss everything in at the start, the peppers and onions will be burnt and mushy by the time the potatoes are done. Adding them later lets them get those nice charred edges while still holding their shape.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Crispy Breakfast Potatoes with Peppers
- Air Fryer Home Fries
- Air Fryer Sausage & Pepper Breakfast Hash
- Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Patties
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use Yukon Gold potatoes, or can I use another type?
Yukon Golds are ideal because they have a creamy inside and crisp up beautifully on the outside in the air fryer. They hold their shape really well too, so you get that perfect bite every time.
Russet potatoes will also work and get even crispier, but they can be a bit drier and more crumbly. Red potatoes are another decent option since they hold their shape well, though they won’t get quite as golden. Just avoid waxy baby potatoes that are too small to dice evenly.
Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- air fryer
- 1.5 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/2 medium Red Bell Pepper, diced
- 1/2 medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Dice the potatoes into even half-inch cubes. Rinse them briefly under cold water to remove excess starch, then pat them very dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Dry potatoes are the secret to getting them crispy in the air fryer.
- In a large bowl, toss the dried potato cubes with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Make sure every piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single layer in the basket. Avoid overcrowding so the potatoes crisp up rather than steam.
- Air fry the potatoes for 10 minutes, then shake the basket well. Add the diced red bell pepper and yellow onion, toss everything together, and spread the mixture back into an even layer.
- Continue air frying for another 8 to 10 minutes, shaking once more halfway through, until the potatoes are golden brown and fork-tender and the peppers and onions are softened with lightly charred edges.
- Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately alongside eggs, toast, or your favorite breakfast items.