Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes
Making mashed potatoes has never been easier, or more fun! With the air fryer, you can whip up these creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes in no time, freeing up oven space for the rest of your holiday feast. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight dinner or prepping for Thanksgiving or Christmas, try my method for making mashed potatoes in the air fryer!
I am all about using kitchen gadgets to make cooking easier and using them during the holiday season is where they shine most! For the holiday season, I use the air fryer to make turkey breast, pecan pie, bacon wrapped asparagus and even use it to reheat green bean casserole, stuffing, ham, and sweet potato casserole!
Making mashed potatoes in the air fryer has become one of my favorite holiday kitchen hacks. The potatoes come out perfectly tender every time! Tthe air fryer frees up my stove and oven, which is a lifesaver during the holidays when every burner and rack is in high demand.
Just chop up the potatoes, toss them with a little oil and seasoning, and let the air fryer work its magic. When they’re done, I mash them with my favorite add-ins, and quickly I’ve got creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes ready to serve!
🍴Grab These For Your Kitchen
🥔 Ingredients & Tools
- Baby potatoes – I always recommend baby potatoes (aka “new” or”early” potatoes) for mashed potatoes because they cook quickly. Also, since they’re harvested before maturity, baby potatoes are more tender and creamy, so you won’t need as much milk and butter. You can also use other types of potatoes like red, russet, or golden.
- Olive oil – Used to coat the potatoes so the skin crisps up while keeping the inside moist and tender.
- Butter – Unsalted butter is best here. Even better if it’s grass-fed! But use whatever works for you.
- Milk – Milk creates beautifully creamy mashed potatoes. You can also use heavy cream here for more rich, indulgent taste.
- Spices & seasonings – Baby potatoes are naturally more flavorful than mature potatoes, so that you won’t need much. Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper are the perfect simple blend of spices.
🥣 How To Make Mashed Potatoes In The Air Fryer
1️⃣ Prep potatoes for the air fryer. First, power on your air fryer and set it to 400F. Let it preheat while you prep the potatoes by coating them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2️⃣ Assemble foil packets. Divide the potatoes in half, then wrap both halves in a foil, creating an airtight sealed packet. Place the foil packets in the preheated air fryer basket.
3️⃣ Cook potatoes in the air fryer. Set the timer for 25 minutes. Once the time is up, pierce one of the potatoes with a fork. If they are not fork-tender, wrap them back up and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until they are fully cooked through.
4️⃣ Make mashed potatoes. Once the potatoes are cooked, add them to a bowl with the butter and milk, and mash with a potato masher until everything is smooth and thoroughly combined. Adjust the seasonings to taste and enjoy!
⏲️How Long To Air Fry Potatoes (Time and Temperature Chart)
| Weight of Potatoes | Time | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 15-20 minutes | 400°F |
| 2 lbs | 25-30 minutes | 400°F |
| 3 lbs | 35-40 minutes | 400°F |
👩🏻🍳Chef Val’s Cooking Tips
- When placing potatoes in the air fryer, make sure they are spread out evenly and not stacked. This will prevent them from being undercooked in certain areas.
- Don’t hold back on seasoning your potatoes before air frying; a generous coating of olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper enhances the flavor significantly.
- After air frying, pierce a potato with a fork to make sure they are tender and ready for mashing.
- Utilize a sturdy potato masher or ricer for a smooth and creamy texture, avoiding any unwanted lumps in your mashed potatoes.
🍠Variations
- Swap out regular baby potatoes for sweet potatoes in your air fryer mashed potatoes recipe to infuse a sweet and nutritious twist to your dish, ensuring a colorful and vitamin-rich serving.
- Make everything bagel mashed potatoes by incorporating some everything bagel seasoning into the mix.
- Add in freshly minced or roasted garlic into your mashed potato mix, infusing a warm, aromatic flavor that complements the creamy texture.
- Use homemade ranch seasoning for a comforting flavor just like in this ranch cauliflower mash.
- Mix in fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives to your mashed potatoes, enhancing the dish with a fresh and fragrant herbal note.
- Add in a bit of cream cheese for a bit of tang and thickness.
- Adapt the recipe for vegan diets by substituting dairy milk with almond, soy, or oat milk and using vegan butter for a vegan, dairy free version.
- Introduce a kick to your mashed potatoes by adding a dash of red pepper flakes or some horseradish like in these horseradish mashed potatoes.
- Serve with a variety of toppings like crispy bacon, chopped green onions, or sour cream.
🥞What To Do With Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- Potato Pancakes: Mix them with an egg, a handful of flour, and your favorite seasonings, and then pan-fry until golden and crispy. Serve with sour cream or applesauce for a tasty snack or side dish.
- Mashed Potato Balls: Roll leftover mashed potatoes into small balls, dip them in beaten egg, and coat with breadcrumbs. Air-fry or deep-fry the balls until they are golden brown for a delicious and crunchy treat.
- Potato Soup Thickener: Utilize leftover mashed potatoes as a natural thickener for soups and stews. Stir them into your simmering pot to add richness, body, and flavor, enhancing your warming meals.
🧊Storing and Reheating
How to store mashed potatoes: Transfer cooled mashed potatoes into an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. Properly stored, they will maintain the best quality for about 3 to 5 days.
How to freeze mashed potatoes: Once cooled, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, expelling as much air as possible before sealing. Frozen mashed potatoes can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 to 5 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
How to reheat mashed potatoes: To reheat mashed potatoes, use a microwave, oven, or stovetop. In the microwave, place them in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat on medium power, stirring occasionally until heated through. For oven or stovetop reheating, transfer the mashed potatoes to an oven-safe dish or pot, adding a splash of milk or butter to retain moisture, and heat at 350°F (oven) or medium heat (stovetop) until warm, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
❔FAQ
It’s up to your preference! Peeling the potatoes before air frying will give you smooth, classic mashed potatoes. However, if you leave the skins on, you’ll get a more rustic texture with added nutrients and fiber.
Yes, you can make mashed potatoes in advance and reheat them in the air fryer. To reheat, place them in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and heat at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Stir halfway through.
Cooking potatoes in the air fryer can be faster and more convenient than boiling, especially for small to medium-sized potatoes. The air fryer cooks them evenly without the need for constant attention.
🥔More Ways To Make Potatoes In The Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Crispy Diced Potatoes
- Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
- Air Fryer Frozen Diced Potatoes
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- air fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Aluminum Foil
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds baby potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup butter unsalted
- ¼ cup milk or heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F for 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add your potatoes to a bowl and drizzle with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to fully coat.
- Wrap each pound of potatoes in a sealed packet of foil making sure it is airtight. Place the foil packets in the preheated air fryer.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes. Once the time is up, check the potatoes with a fork to see if they are fork-tender. If not, wrap them back up and cook for an additional 5 minutes
- Once the potatoes are cooked, add them to a bowl with the butter and milk. Mash with a potato masher until everything is smooth and fully combined. Adjust seasonings and enjoy!
