The secret to making the best mashed potatoes is to make Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes! By roasting the potatoes, you achieve a better flavor and texture than boiling them, all in just 45 minutes. You'll want to make mashed potatoes in the air fryer every time!
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- Watch the Video
- Mashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Ingredients for Air Fried Mashed Potatoes
- How to Air Fry Mashed Potatoes
- Recipe Tips
- What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
- Suggested Toppings for Mashed Potatoes
- Storage Instructions
- FAQ
- Air Fryer Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer Thanksgiving
- Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes
- Feedback
Watch the Video
Mashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer
When we learned you can make mashed potatoes in the air fryer, we knew we were in trouble. Mashed potatoes are so tasty they're hard to resist, but because the process normally takes a while, they weren't a regular side dish for us... until we learned how to air fry mashed potatoes!
Now, it's a challenge not to make them all the time. It's just too easy. You air fry russet potatoes with roasted garlic, easily peel them after air frying, then mash them together using a potato masher or fork with butter and cream.
The results are gorgeous, creamy mashed potatoes with the perfect flavor and texture, and it only takes 45 minutes. This is because roasting the potatoes this way allows for a perfect "dry mix", the true key to making fluffy mashed potatoes. With the added flavor from butter and roasted garlic, they're truly irresistible!
Air frying mashed potatoes is the least amount of work we've ever had to put into making mashed potatoes. No watching the stove, and no need for a mixer. Give it a try, and we know you'll love it as much as we do. Let's get air frying!
Ingredients for Air Fried Mashed Potatoes
- Russet Potatoes: We prefer Idaho russet potatoes for best results when air frying mashed potatoes, but Yukon Gold Potatoes are great for mashed potatoes, too. If they're all you have on hand, you could use red potatoes, but keep in mind you will have to adjust the cook time based off of the size of the potatoes you're using.
- Garlic: You will need a whole bulb of garlic. Peel off the outer layer of skin, but don't separate the cloves. Leave the bulb whole.
- Olive Oil: Light olive oil is best when air frying due to its high smoke point and good flavor. See our guide to oils for air frying.
- Unsalted Butter: We recommend using unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter, simply use less salt than the recipe calls for.
- Whipping Cream: Whipping cream mixed with melted butter helps make the potatoes super creamy!
- White Pepper: If you don't have white pepper, you can also use black pepper.
- Kosher Salt: Either use kosher salt or sea salt flakes. Avoid fine table salt; it doesn't taste as good!
- Fresh Herbs: Feel free to add fresh herbs to your mashed potatoes, like rosemary or thyme, depending on your taste preferences.
How to Air Fry Mashed Potatoes
Step 1
Wash and dry Russet Potatoes, making sure that skin is really dry. With a fork or sharp knife, pierce each potato 2 or 3 times.
Step 2
Place potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 3
Peel off most of the outermost skin of your garlic bulb, but leave the whole bulb intact. Trim about ¼ inch off the top of the garlic bulb to expose the cloves.
Step 4
Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 pinch kosher salt over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch.
Step 5
Place foil wrapped garlic in the air fryer basket with the potatoes. Air fry at 400°F for 30 minutes (you do not need to preheat). After 30 minutes, remove foil pouch with garlic and set aside to cool.
Step 6
Continue air frying the potatoes for another 10 minutes or until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork. Air frying time can vary depending on the size of the potatoes, how many potatoes you are air frying together, and even the air fryer you use.
Step 7
Transfer potatoes to a cutting board and allow to cool until they are cool enough to handle. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, carefully remove the skin. It should come off easily. TIP: Use the back of a paring knife to help pull the skin off.
Step 8
Remove garlic from foil pouch. Place potatoes into a large mixing bowl and squeeze the roasted garlic into the bowl with the potatoes.
Step 9
Warm unsalted butter with whipping cream in a microwave safe dish about 30 seconds. TIP: Cover the dish with a paper towel to avoid messy splatters.
Step 10
Pour half of the butter mixture over the potatoes. Mash potatoes with a potato masher (or fork) until creamy. Add more of the butter and cream mixture a little at a time and continue mashing until desired consistency. NOTE: Only use enough cream/butter mixture to achieve a creamy consistency without getting soupy.
Step 11
Add kosher salt and white pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh herbs and melted butter for garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Piercing the potatoes allows the steam under the skin to escape. This helps prevent the potatoes from bursting.
- Air frying time will depend on your air fryer, potato size, and how many you are cooking at once. The potatoes we are using are small 6 ounce russet potatoes. Larger potatoes will take longer to cook.
- When peeling the skin off the potatoes, be careful to only remove the skin. We want all the potato goodness for the mashed potatoes.
- Do not use a mixer, blender, or food processor to mash the potatoes. It is just too easy to over-mix and can result in a gummy texture.
- Air fryer settings vary according to brand and model. If your air fryer does not have the exact temperature setting called for in the recipe, consult your manual for suggested temperature settings. We tested this recipe in a 7-quart air fryer.
- This recipe does not require preheating your air fryer. Just set the temperature to 400°F, and start.
- For best results don’t crowd the food in the air fryer basket. Air fry in a single layer.
What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
Suggested Toppings for Mashed Potatoes
- Cheddar cheese
- Green onions
- Sour cream
- Parsley
- Bacon bits - you can use our easy recipe for air fryer bacon!
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the air fryer using a heatproof oven-safe dish.
FAQ
Yes, absolutely! If you have leftovers to reheat, simply add them to an oven-safe heatproof dish and add to the air fryer for 3-4 minutes until heated through. If you need to freshen up the potatoes, you can stir in additional butter.
Yes. You don't have to preheat your air fryer to make air fried mashed potatoes, and the total cook time is only 40 minutes.
Air Fryer Potato Recipes
- Smashed potatoes
- Baby potatoes
- Red potatoes
- Sliced potatoes
- See all of our air fryer potato recipes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Thanksgiving
With more than 15 recipes, it's easy to make your entire holiday dinner in the air fryer!
Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cutting board
- 1 Large Bowl
- 1 Small bowl
- Fork
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Russet Potatoes 5-6 small to medium potatoes or 3-4 medium to large potatoes
- 1 bulb garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper or to taste
- fresh herbs and melted butter for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry 2 lbs Russet Potatoes, making sure that skin is really dry.
- With a fork or sharp knife, pierce each potato 2 or 3 times.
- Place potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Peel off most of the outermost skin of 1 bulb garlic but leave the whole bulb intact.
- Trim about ¼ inch off the top of the garlic bulb to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 pinch kosher salt over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch.
- Place foil wrapped garlic in the air fryer basket with the potatoes.
- Air fry at 400°F for 30 minutes (you do not need to preheat).
- After 30 minutes, remove foil pouch with garlic and set aside to cool.
- Continue air frying the potatoes for another 10 minutes or until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork. Air frying time can vary depending on the size of the potatoes, how many potatoes you are air frying together, and even the air fryer you use.
- Transfer potatoes to a cutting board and allow to cool until they are cool enough to handle.
- When potatoes are cool enough to handle, carefully remove the skin. It should come off easily. TIP: Use the back of a paring knife to help pull the skin off.
- Remove garlic from foil pouch.
- Place potatoes into a large mixing bowl and squeeze the roasted garlic into the bowl with the potatoes.
- Warm ½ cup unsalted butter with 1 cup whipping cream in a microwave safe dish about 30 seconds. TIP: Cover the dish with a paper towel to avoid messy splatters.
- Pour half of the butter mixture over the potatoes. Mash potatoes with a potato masher (or fork) until creamy. Add more of the butter and cream mixture a little at a time and continue mashing until desired consistency. NOTE: Only use enough cream/butter mixture to achieve a creamy consistency without getting soupy.
- Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon white pepper to taste.
- Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh herbs and melted butter for garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust cook time as needed.
- We prefer Idaho russet potatoes for best results, but Yukon Gold Potatoes are great for mashed potatoes too.
- Piercing the potatoes allows the steam under the skin to escape. This helps prevent the potatoes from bursting.
- Air frying time will depend on your air fryer, the size of your potatoes, and how many you are cooking at once. The potatoes we are using are about 6 ounces each, so they are on the small size for russet potatoes. If using larger potatoes, you will have to cook them longer.
- When peeling the skin off the potatoes, be careful to only remove the skin. We want all the potato goodness for the mashed potatoes.
- Do not use a mixer, blender, or food processor to mash the potatoes. It is just too easy to over-mix and can result in a gummy texture.
- Air fryer settings vary according to brand and model. If your air fryer does not have the exact temperature setting called for in the recipe, consult your manual for suggested temperature settings.
- This recipe does not require preheating your air fryer. Just set the temperature to 400°F, and start.
- For best results don’t crowd the food in the air fryer basket. Air fry in a single layer.
- We tested this recipe in a 7-quart air fryer.
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