Hasselback Potatoes Air Fryer

These hasselback potatoes air fryer are crispy on the outside, tender in the center, and packed with buttery garlic flavor. Thin slices open up as the potatoes cook, creating crispy edges while the inside stays soft and fluffy.

They look impressive, but they are surprisingly easy to make. With baby potatoes, butter, garlic, herbs, and a few simple seasonings, you can have a delicious side dish ready in about 30 minutes.

1. Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy edges and tender centers: The thin slices create lots of golden, crispy edges while the middle stays soft.
• Easy to prepare: A simple spoon trick makes slicing the potatoes much easier.
• Simple ingredients: You only need potatoes, butter, garlic, herbs, and everyday seasonings.
• Perfect side dish: These potatoes are great for weeknight dinners, holidays, cookouts, or special meals.

2. Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 lb mini yellow or baby red potatoes
• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning or dried parsley
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
• Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Ingredient Notes

Mini potatoes: Baby yellow or red potatoes work especially well because they cook quickly and have a creamy texture. Try to choose potatoes that are similar in size so they cook evenly.

Butter: Melted butter adds rich flavor and helps the potato edges become golden. Unsalted or salted butter can be used. If using salted butter, you may want to slightly reduce the added salt.

Olive oil: A little olive oil helps the potatoes brown nicely and adds flavor. You can substitute another neutral cooking oil if needed.

Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives these potatoes their strongest garlic flavor. Garlic powder is also included to spread seasoning more evenly through the slices.

Italian seasoning: This adds a simple herb flavor. You can replace it with dried parsley, rosemary, thyme, or a combination of your favorite dried herbs.

Parmesan: Parmesan is optional, but it adds a savory, cheesy finish. Add it after cooking so it does not burn during air frying.

3. How to Make Hasselback Potatoes Air Fryer

1. Prepare the Potatoes

Wash the potatoes well and scrub away any dirt. Pat them completely dry.

Place one potato between the handles of two wooden spoons or chopsticks. Using a sharp knife, make thin cuts across the potato about ⅛ inch apart.

Cut almost all the way through, but do not cut through the bottom. The spoon handles will help prevent the knife from going too deep.

Repeat with the remaining potatoes.

2. Soak and Dry the Potatoes

This step is optional, but soaking can help remove some surface starch.

Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes. Drain them well and pat them completely dry with paper towels.

Pay special attention to the spaces between the slices. Excess moisture can prevent the edges from becoming properly crisp.

3. Make the Garlic Butter

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Stir well until everything is evenly mixed.

4. Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for about 3 minutes.

Preheating helps the potatoes begin cooking immediately and encourages better browning.

5. Brush the Potatoes

Brush about half of the garlic butter mixture over the potatoes.

Gently fan the slices apart with your fingers or a small brush so some of the butter mixture can reach between the cuts. Be careful not to break the potatoes apart.

6. Air Fry

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket fan-side up in a single layer.

Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 12 minutes.

Make sure there is enough space between the potatoes for hot air to circulate. If your air fryer basket is small, cook the potatoes in batches.

7. Add More Garlic Butter and Finish Cooking

After 12 minutes, carefully pull out the basket.

Brush the remaining garlic butter over the potatoes, especially around the opened slices.

Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 6–8 minutes, or until the edges are deeply golden and crispy and the centers are fork-tender.

Cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size of the potatoes and your air fryer model.

8. Garnish and Serve

Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let them cool for a minute or two.

Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serve immediately while the edges are hot and crispy.

Nutrition

Estimated nutrition per serving. Values can vary depending on the exact ingredients and brands used.

Nutrition	Per Serving
Calories	235 kcal
Carbohydrates	31 g
Protein	4 g
Fat	11 g
Saturated Fat	6 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	360 mg