Crispy air fryer breakfast potatoes and onions are the easiest way to make diner-style breakfast potatoes at home. The potatoes cook up golden and crispy on the outside while staying tender inside, and the onions add just the right amount of savory flavor.
If you love skillet fried breakfast potatoes but don’t want to stand at the stove flipping them, the air fryer does all the work for you. Just toss the potatoes and onions with a little oil and seasoning, then let the air fryer turn them perfectly crispy.
These breakfast potatoes are perfect for serving with eggs, adding to breakfast burritos, or using in make-ahead breakfast bowls for busy mornings.
Around here, anything that makes breakfast easier is a win. Order up!
Pick this breakfast potato recipe if:
- You need a quick breakfast before heading out the door
- You're making breakfast burritos or breakfast bowls for the freezer
- You want a simple side for eggs and bacon
- You love diner-style breakfast potatoes but hate standing over the stove
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🛒 Ingredient Overview
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these crispy air fryer breakfast potatoes and onions. Here’s what each ingredient brings to the recipe.
- Russet Potatoes - Russet potatoes are perfect for breakfast potatoes because they crisp up beautifully in the air fryer while staying fluffy on the inside. If you prefer, Yukon Gold potatoes or baby potatoes will also work.
- Yellow Onions - Yellow onions add savory flavor and a little sweetness as they cook. When air fried alongside the potatoes, they soften and caramelize slightly.
- Olive Oil - A small amount of olive oil helps the potatoes crisp up in the air fryer and helps the seasonings stick evenly to the potatoes and onions.
- Seasonings - Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper give these air fryer breakfast potatoes classic diner-style flavor.
See recipe card below for specific quantities and ingredient list.
How to Cut Potatoes for Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Just in case dicing potatoes gives you imposter syndrome, I've got you!
For the best texture, cut the potatoes into even ½-inch to ¾-inch cubes. This size allows the potatoes to cook through while still getting crispy edges in the air fryer.
Start by slicing the potato in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into strips and cross-cut those strips into cubes.
Keeping the pieces roughly the same size helps the potatoes cook evenly so you don’t end up with some pieces overcooked while others are still firm.
If the cubes are too large, they may stay firm in the center. If they’re too small, they can cook too quickly and dry out.
Aim for bite-sized pieces that are easy to scoop up with eggs or tuck into a breakfast burrito. I believe in you!
🥣 How to Make Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
For the best crispy potatoes, preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes.
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- Prep potatoes and onions. Wash and peel the russet potatoes, then cut them into evenly sized cubes. Chop the onions into medium-sized pieces.
- Toss with oil. In a large mixing bowl, combine the potatoes and onions. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. This will help them to crisp up in the air fryer.
- Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and garlic powder over the potatoes and onions. Toss again until everything is evenly seasoned.
- Transfer the potatoes and onions to the air fryer basket.
Cook at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
The potatoes are done when they are crispy on the outside and fork-tender on the inside.
Tips for Crispy Breakfast Potatoes
Cut potatoes evenly - Uniform cubes help the potatoes cook evenly. They don't have to be perfect; just the same size.
Preheat the air fryer - Here's an air fryer trick - when you start with a hot air fryer it helps create that crispy exterior we all love!
Don’t overcrowd the basket - Cook in a single layer if possible so the potatoes crisp instead of steaming. Cook in batches, if needed.
Shake halfway through cooking - This helps the potatoes brown evenly on all sides.
📋 Variations
If you'd like to add your own spin to this recipe, try these...
- Cheesy Breakfast Potatoes - Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese over the potatoes during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Spicy Potatoes - Want some heat? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix.
- Bacon Breakfast Potatoes - One of my favorites! Cook bacon until crispy and sprinkle crumbled bacon over the finished potatoes.
Ways to Use These Breakfast Potatoes
These crispy air fryer potatoes are incredibly versatile and are one of my favorite shortcuts for meal prep breakfast bowls and freezer breakfast burritos. Serve them alongside:
- scrambled eggs
- bacon or sausage
- omelets
- pancakes or waffles
They’re also perfect for
- breakfast bowls
- breakfast burritos
- weekend brunch spreads
You can even make a batch ahead of time and reheat them in the air fryer for quick weekday breakfasts!
Storage
Allow leftover potatoes to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days.
To reheat, place them back in the air fryer for 3–5 minutes to restore crispiness.
Freezing
Cooked potatoes and onions can be frozen, although the texture may soften slightly. Store in airtight freezer containers and reheat in the oven or air fryer.
FAQ
Sure! Yukon Gold or baby potatoes work well, though cooking times may vary slightly.
Nope, I avoid this whenever possible 😉. Leaving the skins on works perfectly and adds extra texture and fiber.
Yes and they should be! These air fryer potatoes and onions make excellent breakfast potatoes. Serve them with eggs, sausage, bacon, or add them to breakfast burritos and breakfast bowls.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know what you think! Leave a ⭐ star rating and review below. It helps other readers and makes my day! 😉
More Easy Breakfast Ideas
Looking for other easy breakfast ideas like this? Try these:
Recipe
Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes and Onions
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes.
- Place 3 russet potatoes (cubed) and 2 medium yellow onions (chopped) in a large mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with 1 Tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle the 1 teaspoon salt, ⅓ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder over the potatoes and onions. Toss again until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer the potatoes and onions to the air fryer basket in an even layer.
- Cook at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to promote even browning.
- The potatoes are done when they are crispy on the outside and fork tender on the inside.Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Farm Girl Tips
- Cut the potatoes into evenly sized cubes so they cook evenly.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the potatoes may steam instead of crisp.
- Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size of your potato cubes and your air fryer model.
- These breakfast potatoes are perfect for breakfast bowls, breakfast burritos, or serving alongside eggs and bacon.
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