Crispy & Buttery Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes: Your New Favorite Easy Side Dish

Prepare to elevate your side dish game with these incredible Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes. Imagine potatoes expertly sliced into thin, accordion-like fans, allowing them to absorb all the rich buttery goodness and crisp up to perfection in your air fryer. The result is a delightful contrast: incredibly soft and tender on the inside, with an irresistible crisp and flavorful exterior that will have everyone reaching for more. These aren’t just potatoes; they’re a culinary experience, transforming a humble vegetable into a show-stopping accompaniment for any meal.

Looking for more mouth-watering potato side dishes? You’ll love my Twice Baked Potatoes, the simple yet flavorful Buttery Parsley Potatoes, the comforting Funeral Potatoes Recipe, or my addictively Crispy Baked Potato Wedges! Each offers a unique way to enjoy this versatile root vegetable.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hasselback Potato Recipe

• Gourmet Presentation, Easy Execution: These air fryer hasselback potatoes truly offer a “fancy French fry” experience. The unique fanned slices not only look impressive but also create more surface area for maximum crispiness and flavor absorption. It’s a fun and elegant side dish that tastes incredibly indulgent without requiring complex culinary skills.
• Effortless Air Fryer Cooking: Forget constantly turning potatoes in a hot oven or tending to them over a stovetop. The air fryer makes this recipe an incredibly easy and mostly hands-off side dish. Once prepped, simply place the potatoes in your air fryer and let the circulating hot air do all the work, ensuring even cooking and perfect texture every time.
• Unmatched Buttery & Flavorful Taste: The secret to their exquisite taste lies in the generous butter and spice mixture. Applied twice during cooking, this rich concoction seeps into every delicate slice, making the interior incredibly soft and buttery while contributing to the golden, crispy exterior. Each bite is a harmonious blend of savory spices and potato perfection.
• Healthier Frying Alternative: The air fryer uses significantly less oil than traditional deep frying, allowing you to enjoy that satisfying crunch and rich flavor with less guilt. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy crispy potatoes without compromising on your healthy eating goals.
• Quick & Efficient: Air fryers cook food faster than conventional ovens, meaning you get these delicious potatoes on the table in less time, making them ideal for weeknight dinners or when you need a speedy yet impressive side.
• Highly Versatile: While garlic and chives are classic, the open slices of hasselback potatoes are a blank canvas for your favorite seasonings. This recipe is incredibly adaptable, allowing you to experiment with different spice blends, herbs, or even cheeses to match any main course.

Key Ingredients for Perfect Hasselback Potatoes

• Potatoes: For this recipe, I highly recommend russet potatoes due to their starchy texture, which becomes wonderfully fluffy on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. They hold their shape well after slicing. You can adjust the quantity based on how many people you’re serving, ensuring they fit comfortably in your air fryer basket without overcrowding. While russets are my top choice, other varieties like Yukon Gold (for a creamier interior) or even sweet potatoes (for a different flavor profile) can be used. Aim for potatoes of similar size for even cooking.
• Butter: Melted butter is key to achieving that rich, indulgent flavor and tender interior. It easily coats and seeps into the thin potato slices. I prefer using unsalted butter so I can control the saltiness myself, but salted butter works too – just adjust any added salt accordingly. If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, good quality olive oil or a plant-based butter substitute can be used, though the flavor will be slightly different.
• Spices: My go-to blend features aromatic garlic powder and fresh, vibrant chives. This combination offers a classic, savory profile that complements potatoes beautifully. However, the beauty of this recipe is its adaptability! Feel free to customize with your favorite spices. Consider smoked paprika for a smoky kick, onion powder for added depth, Italian seasoning for an herb-forward taste, or a touch of cayenne pepper if you like a little heat. Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme can also be wonderful additions.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning. Always season generously to taste, as potatoes soak up a lot of flavor.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat Your Air Fryer: Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This ensures that when the potatoes go in, they start cooking immediately, leading to a crispier exterior. For easier cleanup, you can line your air fryer basket or tray with aluminum foil before preheating, though ensure it doesn’t obstruct airflow.
2. Prepare the Potatoes: Thoroughly wash and scrub your russet potatoes under cold water to remove any dirt. Pat them completely dry with a paper towel. A dry surface is crucial for achieving maximum crispiness.
3. Master the Hasselback Cut: This is the signature technique! To create the iconic fanned slices while keeping the bottom intact, place two chopsticks or wooden spoons parallel on a cutting board. Position a potato between them. Carefully make 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch slices across the potato. The chopsticks will act as a guide, preventing your knife from cutting all the way through the potato. Repeat this process for each potato. The thinner the slices, the more surface area for crisping and butter absorption.

4. Prepare the Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with the garlic powder. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Softened butter will be easier to spread and mix evenly.
5. First Butter Application & Air Fryer Placement: Gently separate the potato slices to allow the butter mixture to penetrate. Place the prepared hasselback potatoes in a single layer on the lined tray or in the basket of your preheated air fryer. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, rub about half of the butter mixture generously over the tops and into the crevices of the potatoes. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.

6. First Air Fry & Second Buttering: Air fry the potatoes for 35-40 minutes. While they are cooking, add the fresh chopped chives to the remaining butter mixture and stir. Once the initial cooking time is complete, carefully remove the hasselback potatoes from the air fryer. Spread the chive-infused butter mixture generously over the tops of the partially cooked potatoes. This second application helps create an even softer interior and a more intensely flavored crust. Return them to the air fryer for another 5-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown, beautifully crispy, and easily pierced with a fork (fork-tender). If they still need a little more time to reach your desired tenderness or crispiness, add an additional 2-3 minutes.
7. Garnish and Serve: Once perfectly cooked, carefully remove the air-fried hasselback potatoes from the air fryer. Transfer them to a serving platter and garnish with extra fresh chives for a pop of color and additional fresh flavor. Serve immediately while they are hot and crispy!

Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Achieving restaurant-quality hasselback potatoes in your air fryer is simple with a few helpful tricks:

• The Chopstick Method for Perfect Slices: The key to hasselback potatoes is slicing almost all the way through without cutting off the bottom. Placing two chopsticks, wooden spoons, or even the handles of two spatulas parallel to each other on your cutting board, then placing the potato between them, creates a natural stop for your knife. This ensures the bottom remains intact, allowing the potato to fan out beautifully during cooking and soak up all the delicious butter and seasonings.
• Uniform Potato Size is Key: For even cooking, try to select potatoes of roughly the same size. If you have a mix of large and small potatoes, the smaller ones may cook faster and risk burning while the larger ones are still cooking. Adjust cooking times if your potatoes vary significantly in size.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Air fryers work by circulating hot air. Overfilling the basket or tray will prevent proper air circulation, leading to steamed rather than crispy potatoes. Cook in batches if necessary, ensuring each potato has enough space around it.
• Experiment with Seasonings: While garlic powder and chives are fantastic, don’t hesitate to get creative!
  • Herbal Twist: Add finely chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or oregano to your butter mixture.
  • Smoky & Spicy: Mix in smoked paprika, chili powder, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Cheesy Goodness: For cheesy hasselback potatoes, sprinkle shredded Parmesan, cheddar, or Gruyère cheese over the potatoes during the last 5-10 minutes of air frying, after the second butter application. This allows the cheese to melt and get slightly crispy without burning.
  • Ranch Style: A sprinkle of dried ranch seasoning mix can add a zesty, creamy flavor profile.
• Achieving Extra Crispy Edges: If you desire an even crispier potato, consider a light spray of olive oil or avocado oil over the potatoes before the first air fry. You can also give them a final spray and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes at 400°F (200°C) after they are fork-tender, watching closely to prevent burning.
• Air Fryer Compatibility: This recipe is designed to work seamlessly with both basket-style and tray-style air fryers. Simply ensure your potatoes are arranged in a single layer for optimal results.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

These air fryer hasselback potatoes are undoubtedly best enjoyed fresh and warm, straight out of the air fryer, when their crispy exterior and tender interior are at their peak.

Storing Leftovers: If you happen to have any leftovers, allow them to cool completely before storing. Transfer them to an airtight container or a Ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. While the texture won’t be exactly the same as freshly made, they are still delicious!

Reheating for the Best Results: Reheated potatoes can sometimes be a letdown, but there are ways to revitalize these hasselback potatoes.

• Air Fryer Reheat: The best method for reheating is often your air fryer. Place the potatoes back in the air fryer at a slightly lower temperature (around 350°F / 175°C) for 5-8 minutes, or until warmed through and the exterior has re-crisped.
• Oven Broil Method: For a quick crisp, you can also finish cutting through the potatoes entirely, creating individual potato discs. Then, warm them in the air fryer or bake them in a regular oven, and broil for 1-2 minutes until they regain some crispiness, mimicking a fancy French fry effect.
• Creative Leftover Use: Don’t let those leftovers go to waste! You can transform them into a delicious hash. Simply chop the leftover hasselback potatoes into smaller pieces and sauté them with onions, peppers, and perhaps some bacon or sausage for a hearty breakfast or brunch. They also work wonderfully in my Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe. Just fully slice them into discs, add them to your cheesy cream sauce, and bake until warmed through, since they are already cooked.

Freezing: If you wish to freeze hasselback potatoes, allow them to cool completely after cooking. Wrap each potato tightly in aluminum foil, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty Ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Be aware that freezing and thawing will alter the potato’s texture slightly, making them a bit softer than when fresh.

Recipe FAQs for Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

More Delicious Vegetable Sides to Try

• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
• Butternut Squash and Kale
• Buttery Brown Sugar Acorn Squash
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

This recipe was originally published on Nov. 17, 2018. It was republished on March 21, 2022, to include additional information and photos.