Garlic Smashed Potatoes + Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

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These easy to make Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes are soft and creamy on the inside and deliciously crispy and crunchy on the outside. Just 6 simple everyday ingredients are all you need to make this crave-worthy comfort food dish.

Like my Air Fried Zucchini Fries, these Smashed potatoes work as a main dish dipped into some Sriracha Aioli or Pesto Aioli or as a side with Air Fryer Fish, and are equally great served as the ultimate finger food for the big game, or as a satisfying and swanky appetizer at a fancy cocktail party.

What are Smashed Potatoes?

Smashed potatoes are whole potatoes, usually smaller to medium in size that have been boiled with the skin on then set on a baking tray and smashed flat. The smashed potatoes are then coated with oil or butter, seasonings, and baked until the outside is golden and crispy.

Since smashed potatoes have a lot of texture they tend to pair particularly well with rich meat dishes.

Why Make This Recipe

• Easy – they are made with minimal prep and come together quickly.
• Crowd pleaser – make a double (or even triple) batch to serve a crowd.
• Affordable – made with affordable pantry ingredients you already own.
• Versatile – Can be served as a main, side dish, or snack or to bulk out other recipes.

So are you ready to learn how to make this Crispy Smashed Potatoes recipe? Gather up your ingredients and let’s get started………

Ingredient Notes

• Potatoes – Feel free to use baby potatoes instead but you would need to cook them for less time. You can use red or white potatoes.
• Garlic powder – You can use minced garlic instead.
• Olive oil – or feel free to use your favorite oil instead.
• Herbs – oregano and thyme are so simple but add a great deal of flavor to these.
• Salt – use your favorite salt.

How To Make Smashed Potatoes Step by Step

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat the oven to 450F / 232C. Put a large pot of water on the stovetop and bring to a boil, add whole potatoes and boil for about 15-18 minutes until tender but not soft.
2. Drain the potatoes and let them dry for a few minutes. Transfer potatoes to a lightly oiled baking tray, making sure to leave space between potatoes.
3. Smash each potato with a potato masher so they are thin and mostly whole (I love having lots of ridges and edges in both the potato and the skin, as this is the part that gets nice and crispy). Try and criss-cross the mashing so you get a whole load of ridges for getting crispy. For bigger potatoes, you may want to split them before smashing them.
4. In a small bowl, mix together the oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, and salt.
5. Use a basting brush to spread the oil mixture over the potatoes making sure all the potatoes are thoroughly coated.
6. Bake potatoes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Cook The Potatoes In The Instant Pot

Instead of the stovetop, you can easily cook the potatoes in your Instant Pot, Here’s how:

1. Wash the potatoes, place them in the Instant Pot insert, then pour in enough water to fully cover the potatoes.
2. Close the lid, turn the valve to sealing position, and set to high pressure / manual pressure for 5 minutes.
3. Once done, perform a quick pressure release, open the lid, remove and drain the potatoes.

Make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Put a large pot of water on the stovetop and bring to a boil, add whole potatoes and boil for about 15-18 minutes until tender but not soft (or use the Instant Pot method above).
2. Drain the potatoes and let them dry for a few minutes. Transfer potatoes to a tray and smash each potato with a potato masher so they are thin and mostly whole (I love having lots of ridges and edges in both the potato and the skin, as this is the part that gets nice and crispy). Try and criss-cross the mashing so you get a whole load of ridges for getting crispy. For bigger potatoes, you may want to split them before smashing them.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, and salt.
4. Use a basting brush to spread the oil mixture over the potatoes making sure all the potatoes are thoroughly coated.
5. Preheat the Air Fryer to 375F / 190C and air fry potatoes for 10-12 minutes until nice and crispy

Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, then adding more time as needed.

Garlic Smashed Potatoes Recipe Tips

• Make sure you don’t overcrowd the baking tray or Air Fryer basket, you need enough space around each potato for them to crisp up.
• Try and cook potatoes of the same size so that they cook at the same rate.
• If topping your smashed potatoes with cheese, take them out of the oven 5 minutes before done. Then add the cheese and put back in for a couple of minutes until the cheese is nice and melty.

Delicious Variations

• Top them off – by adding Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, or the winning combination of fried onions and parsley.
• Make a brunch entrée – load them up with egg, cheese, and ham.
• Vary the herbs – feel free to swap with rosemary or basil or dried parsley.
• Add heat – a pinch of red pepper flakes or jalapeños adds heat easily.

Dipping And Topping Ideas

• Crispy Bacon.
• Sriracha Aioli.
• Creamy Instant Pot Yogurt.
• Remoulade Sauce.
• Yum Yum Sauce.
• 5 minutes Basil Pesto.

Storage

• Make ahead – boil the potatoes ahead of time and refrigerate for a day beforehand.
• Store – Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 
• Freeze – Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze this. Boil potatoes but don’t smash them. Freeze them in a single layer on a tray and when frozen, transfer them into a freezer back or container and freeze for 4 weeks.
• Defrost – Thaw overnight in the fridge.

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

• Crispy Air Fryer Fish Fillets.
• Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers.
• Grilled Steak.
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
• Crockpot Green Beans.
• Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Breast.

More Potato Recipes

• Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
• Crispy Air Fryer French Fries.
• Air Fryer Frozen Waffles Fries.
• Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes.
• Sweet Potato Gratin.
• Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes.
• Air Fried Zucchini Fries <= for a lighter options

Weight Watchers Points

There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.

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