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Air fryer fingerling potatoes are the move when you want crispy, deeply golden edges without turning on the oven. A quick trip through the air fryer gives them that irresistible contrast of crisp outsides and creamy, buttery centers.
These crispy little potatoes are tossed with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and a few pantry staples before the air fryer works its magic. There’s no soaking or parboiling involved, and because fingerlings are naturally creamy inside, you get plenty of texture without a whole lot of fuss.
I’m always here for a potato side that can hold its own, and these fit right in alongside my Greek roasted potatoes, Parmesan crusted potatoes, and crispy homemade home fries. These air fried fingerlings are especially handy when you want something golden and crispy on the table without giving up precious oven space.
✳︎ Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
- Crispy edges, creamy centers. The outsides get beautifully browned while the middles stay soft, buttery, and fork tender.
- No soaking or parboiling. A good dry and the right amount of breathing room in the basket do the heavy lifting here.
- Pantry seasonings bring plenty of flavour. Garlic, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning give every bite a savoury, slightly smoky finish.
- Minimal prep, maximum potato payoff. Fingerlings need very little fuss before they’re ready for the air fryer.
- They play well with dinner. Chicken, steak, fish, veggies…these crispy potatoes are ready for pretty much whatever else is hitting the plate.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a handful of pantry seasonings to give these potatoes plenty of flavour. Here are the ingredients worth a closer look:
- Fingerling Potatoes: These little potatoes have a naturally buttery flavour and creamy, waxy texture that works especially well in the air fryer. Leave the tiniest ones whole and halve medium and larger fingerlings lengthwise so they cook more evenly and get plenty of golden surface area.
- Olive Oil: Two tablespoons is enough to lightly coat the potatoes, help the seasonings stick, and encourage those crispy, browned edges.
- Garlic Powder + Onion Powder: An easy savoury base that coats the potatoes evenly without the risk of fresh garlic scorching in the air fryer.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a subtle smokiness along with a little extra colour as the potatoes brown.
- Italian Seasoning: A quick way to bring some herby flavour without overpowering the naturally buttery fingerlings. My homemade Italian seasoning is great here if you have a batch on hand.
- Salt + Pepper: The classics. Salt is especially important here for bringing all those savoury seasonings to life.
- Parsley: Added at the end for a pop of freshness and colour against the warm, crispy potatoes.
- Parmesan: Totally optional, but freshly grated Parmesan over the hot potatoes adds a salty, nutty finish that’s hard to argue with.
Find the full ingredient list and exact measurements in the recipe card below.
✳︎ Why Fingerling Potatoes Are Perfect for the Air Fryer
Fingerlings have a creamy, almost buttery interior that stays tender as the outside gets crisp and deeply golden. Their thin skins also mean there’s no peeling required, and halving the larger potatoes gives you even more exposed surface area for browning.
Fingerling and baby potatoes aren’t technically the same thing, but another small, waxy potato can work in a pinch. Just keep in mind that size and thickness can change the cooking time.
Tips for Crispy Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Getting fingerling potatoes crispy in the air fryer comes down to a few small details. Nothing complicated, just the things that make the difference between beautifully browned potatoes and ones that come out a little too soft.
Dry the Potatoes Thoroughly
Don’t rush the drying step after washing your potatoes. Surface moisture creates steam, which works against that crisp, golden exterior we’re after. Give the fingerlings a really good pat with paper towels before adding the oil and seasonings.
Give Them Enough Room to Crisp
Air circulation is your friend here. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer with a little breathing room rather than packing the air fryer basket full. Overcrowding traps steam and makes it harder for those edges to crisp up. If your basket is on the smaller side, cooking in batches is worth it.
Cut for Even Cooking and Better Browning
Fingerlings can vary quite a bit in size, so don’t treat every potato exactly the same. Very small ones can stay whole, while medium and larger fingerlings are better halved lengthwise. This helps everything cook at a similar pace and, bonus, gives you a flat cut side that can develop some seriously good browning. Place those cut sides down whenever possible.
Use Visual Doneness Cues, Not Just the Clock
Potato size and air fryer models vary, so use the 18 to 22 minute cooking window as a guide rather than a hard rule. At 375°F, the finished potatoes should be deeply golden, crisp around the edges, and easily pierced with a fork, with creamy, tender centers. Want a little more colour and crunch? Bump the air fryer up to 400°F for the final 2 to 3 minutes.
Easy Flavour Variations
The savoury seasoning blend works beautifully as is, but fingerlings are basically little buttery sponges for flavour. Here are a few easy ways to switch things up:
Garlic Parmesan
Toss the hot potatoes with about ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan and an extra pinch of garlic powder. The cheese melts into all those crispy edges for a salty, garlicky finish.
Lemon Herb
Finish with fresh parsley, chopped chives, and the zest of half a lemon. The fresh herbs and citrus brighten up the buttery potatoes and make this variation especially good alongside chicken or fish.
Cajun
Swap the Italian seasoning for about 1 teaspoon of my homemade Cajun seasoning for a smoky, slightly spicy kick. Store bought Cajun seasoning works just as well if that’s what you have on hand.
Rosemary
Replace the Italian seasoning with about 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh rosemary. Its woodsy, aromatic flavour is a natural match for golden potatoes and especially good when steak is on the menu.
Try a Homemade Seasoning Blend
Fingerling potatoes are a great blank canvas for whatever seasoning mood you’re in. Swap the Italian seasoning for my homemade bbq seasoning for a smoky kick, blackened seasoning for something bolder, or ranch seasoning for a herby, savoury twist. My all-purpose seasoning also works when you want to keep things classic.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
These crispy fingerlings are an easy sidekick for just about any protein, especially anything with a good sauce or pan juices for those creamy centers to soak up. Pair them with air fryer boneless chicken thighs for an easy air fryer dinner, or serve them alongside my reverse seared steak when steak and potatoes are calling your name.
For something a little lighter, they’re great with white wine sautéed shrimp or this Parmesan crusted fish. Add a green veggie or salad and dinner is pretty much handled.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover fingerling potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Let them cool before sealing them up so excess condensation doesn’t soften those crispy edges.
For the best texture, reheat the potatoes in the air fryer at 375°F for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until hot and crisp again. The microwave works in a pinch, but you’ll lose some of that golden crunch.
I don’t recommend freezing these potatoes. Their creamy texture can turn mealy once frozen and thawed, so they’re much better enjoyed fresh or reheated from the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
more air fryer favourites to try next
Loved these crispy fingerlings? Keep that air fryer working with a few more easy favourites that fit right into weeknight dinner territory.
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges. Crispy outside, fluffy inside.
- Air Fryer Broccolini. Crisp and tender with beautifully charred edges.
- Breaded Pork Chops in the Air Fryer. Crunchy outside, tender, and juicy.
- Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs. Juicy, flavour packed weeknight chicken.
- Air Fryer Drumsticks. Crispy skin, juicy chicken every time.
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Crispy Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds fingerling potatoes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat to 375°F (190°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Wash the fingerling potatoes and pat them completely dry. Leave very small fingerlings whole and cut medium and large ones in half lengthwise.
- Add the potatoes to a large bowl and toss with the olive oil. Add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
- Place the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cut side down whenever possible. Avoid overcrowding and cook in batches if necessary.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 375°F. Shake the basket or flip the potatoes, then cook for another 8 to 12 minutes, until deeply golden, crisp around the edges, and fork tender.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh parsley and Parmesan, if using. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Don’t skip the good stuff —
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And there you have it, perfectly golden fingerling potatoes in the air fryer with crispy edges for days! If you make them, tag me @HipHipGourmet so I can see what’s cooking in your kitchen.
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