Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Made quickly with a few simple ingredients, these air fryer hasselback potatoes are the perfect *fancy* last-minute side dish. With an ultra-crispy exterior, these potatoes will keep you coming back bite after bite.

Hasselback potatoes are a side dish that I don’t think gets enough love. They are incredibly easy to make because they don’t require any peeling or fussing with multiple cooking methods.

The slices not only make the potatoes look *fancy*, but they help it cook more quickly. Grab a potato and your air fryer, and let’s get cooking!

no hassle in these Hasselback potatoes

• No peeling is involved in hasselback potatoes. We want the skin left on so it can get nice and crispy!
• Very little oil is needed to crisp up the outside because the air fryer shoots hot air all around the potatoes.
• Set and forget the potatoes in the air fryer while they cook. It’s totally hands-off!

You don’t need much

Hasselback potatoes don’t need much, just a little fat and spices. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• Potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes work best because they have a mild flavor and a creamy texture. They also last long in the pantry, so don’t be afraid to grab that large bag of potatoes at the store.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is best for crisping the outside of the potatoes and adding a rich flavor. Olive oil will work, too, but I find the flavor too strong.
• Spices: To season the potatoes, we’re using just a bit of salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

let’s Hasselback!

The only tricky part of this recipe is cutting the potatoes. And don’t worry—we’ve included step-by-step photos of the easiest way to do this! This is an overview of the recipe. Jump to the recipe card for the full printable recipe.

1. Cut the Potatoes: Wash and dry the potatoes and then thinly slice most of the way through but not all the way.
2. Brush with Butter: Mix the melted butter and spices together. Brush the mixture all over the potatoes. Be sure to get it into the slices!
3. Cook: Air fry the potatoes for 30 to 40 minutes, or until potatoes are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

slow cooker Option

You can also make Hasselback potatoes in the slow cooker. Here’s how!

1. Prep: Slice and season the potatoes as noted in this air fryer recipe.
2. Slow Cook: Place the potatoes in a parchment-paper-lined slow cooker brushed with 1 tsp olive oil. Cook on high for 3 hours or until soft.
3. Broil: Once they’ve been cooked in the crockpot, you can broil them in the oven for a nice crispy top.

Why this Recipe Works

I’ve been making this recipe for years. Here’s what I’ve learned through the various iterations.

• Customize the potatoes with your favorite fixings. Whether than be keeping it classic with chives and sour cream or adding some flare with a drizzle of homemade pesto or roasted red peper relish.
• Air fried and slow cooker both are tasty, they just yield different textures. I prefer air frying because it’s quicker but do what works for you!
• Check the air fryer temperature because the butter will burn at high temperatures. Just make sure the tempurature is set to 400 degrees (or as close as your air fryer will go).

Make a full meal

Now that you have the perfect side dish, you need a main dish, salad, and dessert to accompany it.

• Vegetarian Meatloaf is easy to make with Impossible meat and will please even meat-eaters.
• Crunchy Kale Chickpea Salad is ready in just 30 minutes and mixes classic flavor with protein-rich chickpeas.
• Sweet Potato Cookies are a family-favorite recipe that I’m sure your family will love just as much as mine!