Rich, buttery, and firm, fingerling potato recipes are a family favorite for us. If you feel the same way, you might like our Fingerling Smashed Potatoes as well.
Ingredients
Air-frying fingerling potatoes require only a handful of basic ingredients to achieve their tasty texture and incomparable flavor. Below is what you’ll need:
- Fingerling potatoes: As the name suggests, you will need fingerling potatoes for this air fryer potato dish. Though you don’t need to peel your potatoes before using, be sure to remove any blemishes from the potato skin and cut the potatoes evenly—preferably halved lengthwise. While we used the yellow (one color) variety, this recipe would also work with colorful fingerling potatoes, which are usually sold at grocery stores during the holiday season.
- Oil: I use olive oil to give my fingerling potatoes their thorough seasoning and crisp outsides. However, any other neutral-flavored vegetable oil, like avocado oil, will also work.
- Parsley: Both fresh and dried parsley will give this fingerling potato recipe a five-star presentation and a pop of bright, garden-fresh taste.
- Seasonings: I’ve found that the best seasoning mix for this dish is garlic powder, salt, and pepper—a simple, balanced, and savory combination. However, you can use other spices like paprika, ground cumin, and ground coriander if they match the flavor profile of the dish you are serving them with.
Substitutions and Other Seasoning Options
- Garlic butter: My buttery Garlic Butter Sauce is an easy way to take these air-roasted fingerling potatoes to the next level and turn them into a restaurant-quality side. If you happen to have some on hand, simply use a tablespoon of it instead of using olive oil.
- Parmesan cheese: Who can say “no” to the nutty, rich, cheesy taste of garlic parmesan fingerling potatoes? While I don’t recommend adding the cheese to the potatoes before air frying them, I highly recommend sprinkling them with cheese right after removing them from the air fryer. The residual heat will melt the cheese without burning it, allowing the potatoes to absorb its buttery flavor.
- Lemon juice or vinegar: Give your fingerling potatoes an authentic English spin by drizzling them with lemon juice or vinegar. This simple addition adds a bright tang that immediately lightens the potatoes’ heartier base.
- Spice mixture: The best way to customize this air-fried potato recipe is to use a spice mixture that matches the other dishes on your menu. Try flavoring your fingerling potatoes with my Blackening Seasoning for smoky, spicy, and bold Cajun flavors. Or, use Italian Seasoning or Mediterranean Spice Mix for a more herbaceous, zesty finish.
- Fresh herbs: Sprinkling your air fryer fingerling potatoes with fresh rosemary or chopped thyme is an easy way to give this dish a sophisticated, herbal finish. However, many different herbs (i.e., fresh parsley, chives, sage, or cilantro) would also work if they match the flavors in your other dishes.
How to Cook Fingerling Potatoes in the Air Fryer?
Once you learn how to air fry fingerling potatoes, you’ll likely never go back to cooking them in the oven. These hassle-free instructions will show you how to get perfectly tender-crisp potatoes in six steps.
- Prepare the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Mix the seasonings: Add the olive oil, dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
- Coat the potatoes: Add the fingerling potatoes to the olive oil mixture and toss them until they have an even coating.
- Layer the basket: Arrange the coated potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
- Cook: Air fry the fingerling potatoes for 12-15 minutes, shaking the air fryer tray halfway through. When done, the potatoes should be tender when pierced with a knife. If they need more time after 15 minutes, cook them in one-minute increments until fork tender.
- Serve: Transfer the air-fried fingerling potatoes to a serving platter, and—if desired—sprinkle it with fresh or dried herbs.
How to Store and Reheat?
After making fingerling potato recipes in the air fryer, you don’t have to sacrifice a single bite of leftovers. Though I recommend enjoying this recipe on the day you make it, these storage tips will keep your potatoes ready to eat days after preparation.
- Store: You can store your cooked fingerling potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- Reheat: To reheat, place your fingerling potatoes in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through.
How to Serve Air Fried Fingerling Potatoes?
Air-frying fingerling potatoes is a great way to add a tender, savory taste to any meal, whether it be a weeknight dinner, a simple snack, or a feast for a special occasion. Below are a few serving suggestions to help you with menu planning:
- Main proteins: Few combinations are as tasty as this simple yet delicious side dish and a hearty, protein-packed main course. For a light, zesty Mediterranean menu, I recommend serving your potatoes alongside perfectly portioned Chicken Skewers in the Oven or my tangy Greek Yogurt Chicken. Or, for a more decadent spread, my Baked Chicken Parm is a crisp, rich, and cheesy dish guaranteed to impress any dinner guest.
- Seafood: Inspired by the classic fish-and-chips pairing, this easy side dish makes a great addition to dozens of seafood menus. I love balancing the hearty savor of these air fryer potato wedges with fan-favorite recipes, like my smoky and light Baked Blackened Cod and zesty Baked Sockeye Salmon Fillet.
- Snack: Making roasted fingerling potatoes in the air fryer is a quick, simple way to please the whole family with a tasty snack, appetizer, or game-day finger food. To brighten their hardier taste, serve these crispy potatoes with your favorite tomato-based sauce, like ketchup or Basil Tomato Sauce. Or, serve them with creamy sauces, like Ranch Dressing with Greek Yogurt or Blue Cheese Sauce Without Cream, for a tangier, richer flavor.
- Potato Salads: If you are a fan of roasted potato salads, consider trying your crispy air fryer fingerling potatoes as an innovative twist. These potatoes can not only elevate your potato salad with their crunch but also serve as a crunchy addition when chopped and sprinkled over salads.
Expert Tips
While making this fingerling potato recipe is quite easy and straightforward, during our recipe testing, we learned a few important things to help you get crisp, tender, and flavorful potatoes on your first try. Below are a few helpful tips for success:
- Dry and clean: Begin by giving your potatoes a good scrub and thoroughly patting them dry with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Damp potatoes won’t coat well with the seasoning mixture, and this oiled exterior is necessary to help the potatoes crisp up in the air fryer.
- Single layer: When cooking fingerling potatoes in the air fryer, it’s essential not to overcrowd them in the basket. Air frying only works if the hot air can evenly circulate throughout the chamber, so if not all of your potatoes fit in the basket, I recommend cooking them in batches.
- Shake the basket: I suggest shaking your air fryer basket halfway through air frying your fingerling potatoes to ensure even cooking. This step will also help you ascertain how much more time your potatoes will need before eating.
- Size matters: It is important to note that the size of the potatoes and air frying time are directly correlated. If your fingerling potatoes are larger (or smaller), you may have the adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Air fryer brand: Every air fryer is different, so depending on which brand you own, you may have to adjust your potatoes’ cooking time and temperature accordingly.
- No need to soak: Some recipes suggest soaking the potatoes first to remove excess starch, but you do not need to do that for the recipe.
FAQs
Have more questions about air-fryer fingerling potatoes? Don’t stress! Below, you’ll find everything you need to know, from how long to cook fingerling potatoes to master tips for maximum crispiness.
I recommend air frying your fingerling potatoes for 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees F. However, depending on your air fryer brand and potato size, you may have to adjust the timing. To test whether your potatoes are ready to serve, try piercing them with a knife. If the blade easily enters and exits the potatoes’ flesh, you can remove your potatoes from the heat and serve. If the blade still encounters resistance, continue cooking your potatoes in one-minute increments until ready.
Though both are buttery, rich, and firm, fingerling potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes have several critical differences. First, Yukon Golds are larger potatoes that are more spherical than fingerling potatoes, which are smaller and more elongated. Furthermore, fingerling potatoes have a slightly nuttier profile, a less creamy texture, and thin skins. However, both are versatile and popular in many traditional recipes.
Suppose that your potatoes don’t come out as crisp as desired. In that case, there are two main possibilities: Either you didn’t thoroughly dry your potatoes before coating them in your olive oil mixture, or you may have overcrowded the pan, thereby constricting airflow throughout the air fryer chamber.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Also Like
Air fryer veggies strike the ultimate balance between crisp, tender, and nutritious flavors. These quick sides are just what you need to fill your cookbook (and dinner table!) with perfectly customizable flavors.
If you try this air fryer fingerling potatoes recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound fingerling potatoes, washed, blemishes removed and halved lengthwise (no need to peel)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, or 2 teaspoons of freshly chopped parsley plus more for sprinkling on top
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the fingerling potatoes and toss to combine.
- Place the potatoes in a single layer without overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- Cook the potatoes until tender when pierced with a knife, 12-15 minutes, shaking halfway through. If not tender after 15 minutes, continue to cook in 1-minute increments until done.
- Transfer onto a serving platter. If desired, sprinkle it with fresh herbs.
Notes
- Yields: This recipe makes 1 pound of fingerling potatoes, which is about 3 cups. It is ideal for serving 4 people. The nutritional information below is per serving.
- Dry them thoroughly: It is important to make sure that the potatoes are dry before tossing them in the olive oil mixture to ensure that the potatoes are evenly coated and can crisp up during the cooking process.
- Adding parmesan: I initially tested this recipe by adding the shredded parmesan cheese to the oil and garlic mixture, but then we found out that the quick air frying process burned the cheese before fully cooking the potatoes. Therefore, I recommend sprinkling them with cheese right after removing them from the air fryer. The residual heat will melt the cheese without burning it, allowing the potatoes to absorb its delicious umami flavor.
- Size matters: It is important to note that the size of the potatoes and air frying time are directly correlated. If your fingerling potatoes are larger (or smaller), you may have the adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Store: Air fried fingerling potatoes are best right after they are fried. However, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Reheat: To reheat, place them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
