Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are the ultimate side dish — an accordion-like masterpiece that’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and loaded with gooey cheese, smoky bacon, and more! Even better, they cook in 20 minutes or less when you use the air fryer.
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
This hasselback potatoes air fryer recipe is a little different than most. Instead of the usual Russet or Idaho spuds, I’m using large Yukon Gold potatoes.
They’re closer in texture to reds but far less waxy, and they have a natural buttery flavor that only enhances the whole dish.
And, of course, I didn’t stop at butter and seasonings! Mine are topped with melted cheese, bacon pieces, and green onions for all the best loaded baked potato flavors.
Don’t have an air fryer? Try my oven-baked recipe instead. It’s especially handy when hosting a large dinner party — make as many as will fit on your baking sheet!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Potatoes – I like to use Golden (also known as Yukon Gold), but Russets are another great option for this hasselback potatoes recipe for the air fryer.
- Cheese – Use your favorite! I always have sharp cheddar on hand, but any kind that melts well would be tasty.
Colby and Monterey Jack have a milder flavor, while Gouda or Gruyere will elevate the whole dish!
If you’re not a huge fan of cheese, a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan goes a long way. - Bacon – Since this is added at the end, you can cook it at the same time as the potatoes. Toss it in a skillet on the stove or bake it in the oven.
Want to cut back on dishes? Air fry strips while the spuds are soaking! - Seasonings – Add salt and pepper to the potato once sliced, then mix Italian Seasoning and garlic powder with melted butter and oil.
This mixture gets brushed over the hasselback potatoes in air fryer for flavor and moisture.
How to Make the Crispiest Hasselback Potatoes In Air Fryer
- Make slices nice and thin.
Aim for about ⅛ inch thickness across the potato with about a half-inch base along the bottom.
Those slices will open a bit in the air fryer, so the more there are, the crispier your air fryer hasselback potatoes will be!
To ensure you don’t slice all the way through, place the handle of a long wooden spoon at the base of each potato as a stop for the knife.
A chopstick will also do the trick if you’re worried about damaging your spoon.
- Soak in ice cold water before cooking.
Combine cold water and ice cubes in a large bowl or clean sink, enough to cover the tops of the sliced potatoes.
This helps remove excess starch, which then helps achieve the crispiest results. Be sure to dry each potato as much as possible before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
If there isn’t enough space between each potato, they’ll end up steaming more than crisping. At the very least, the crispiness will be very uneven.
Work in batches as needed depending on the size of your air fryer. The extra time is worth it!
- Brush with melted butter mixture.
Add about half before cooking hasselback potatoes in air fryer, then brush on the rest about halfway through.
This ensures that as much as possible is soaked into the spuds instead of pooling in the basket. Plus, it’s the key to crispy, golden results!
Prep Ahead
- Slice and soak potatoes
- Cook and chop bacon
- Shred cheese
- Melt butter
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- Sharp Knife – A well-sharpened chef’s knife will make quick work of slicing those spuds! Place a Wooden Spoon or chopstick near the base so you don’t slice all the way through.
- Alternatively, you can purchase a Hasselback Potato Slicer to save even more time!
- Basting Brush – I like this one over the silicone ones.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy air fryer hassleback potatoes with just the bacon and cheese toppings, or load them up with even more goodness!
I love adding green onions or chives for loaded baked potato flavor, but rosemary or parsley go just as well.
And, of course, you need a big dollop of sour cream! For a lower-fat option, try plain Greek yogurt instead.
With all those toppings, these are hearty enough for a meal on their own.
But you can certainly serve them steakhouse style with your choice of red meat — smoked chuck roast, pan-seared sirloin filets with red wine sauce, or simple steaks on the grill are always favorites around here.
Storing and Reheating Hasselback Potatoes Air Fryer Style
It’s best to serve this hasselback potatoes recipe for the air fryer right away while hot and crispy. You can save leftovers, but they won’t be quite the same when reheated.
Store air fryer hasselback potatoes wrapped in foil or in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days.
For best results, leave off any extras — including the bacon and cheese.
Reheat hasselback potatoes in air fryer until hot and crispy, about 3-5 minutes at 400°F. Then, add fresh toppings!
Hasselback Potatoes Recipe Air Fryer FAQ
The name seems to come from the restaurant Hasselbacken in Stockholm, Sweden. A trainee chef is credited for coming up with the dish in the 1950s.
That’s ultimately up to you, but I prefer to leave the skin on. It helps to hold everything together and ensures the outside of the air fryer hasselback potatoes get nice and crispy.
Just be sure to wash them well to remove any dirt!
You can certainly slice the potatoes in advance, then store them covered with water in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This allows you to skip the soaking step, though you’ll need to rinse them with fresh, cold water and pat dry.
Otherwise, it’s best to cook them just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 medium golden potatoes, or russets
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup favorite cheese to top, shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika to garnish
- 1 Green Onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt to garnish, optional
- parsley and rosemary to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Slice the Potatoes thinly, crosswise, leaving a half inch base at the bottom. Use a
- Hasselback potato slicer, or place a wooden spoon or chopstick on either side of the
- potato, and slice down to that stop point. Place the sliced potatoes in an ice water bath for
- 30 minutes to remove starch, then dry them.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Brush a small amount of melted butter on the tops (sliced part) of the potatoes, and
- sprinkle Salt and Pepper on the tops.
- In a small bowl combine the melted Butter, Oil, Italian Seasoning, and Garlic Powder.
- Place the Potatoes in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Generously brush the butter
- mixture on the tops of the potatoes, saving approx. half of the mixture for a second
- application.
- Close the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes, then open and apply the remaining butter
- mixture. Close and cook an additional 5-10 minutes, until tender and golden brown.
- Top with Bacon, Cheese, Paprika, Green Onion, and Sour Cream if desired.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published February 2024
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
So good and easy to make!! My family is a huge fan of potatoes, and this takes them to a whole new level!