Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are potatoes cut with thin slices through the tops of the potatoes so it fans out. They are buttery and soft in the inside and crisp and flavorful on the outside! 

For some more delicious potato side dishes, try my Twice Baked Potatoes, Buttery Parsley Potatoes, Funeral Potatoes Recipe, or my Crispy Baked Potato Wedges! 

Why This Recipe Works

• Fancy French fries. These hasselback air fryer potatoes are a fun side dish to any meal! I like to call them my Fancy French Fries because they taste like a French fry but with lots of flair!
• Easy side dish. This is an easy side dish recipe because all you have to do is prepare the potatoes and stick them in the air fryer to cook. No need to stand over stove!
• Buttery and delicious! Before putting the hasselback potatoes in the fryer, you slather it with a butter and spices mixture. Then after they are cooked, you put some more of the butter mixture on and put it back in the air fryer for a couple more minutes. This makes the potatoes really soft and buttery! 

Ingredient Notes

• Potatoes: I used the russet potatoes. You can use more or less based on the number of people you are feeding. 
• Butter: I love the butter flavor on potatoes because I feel like it absorbs into the potatoes better. You’re welcome to reduce the butter amount if you want or to swap it out for olive oil.  
• Spices: I’ve used a mixture of garlic powder and fresh chives. Feel free to switch it up with your favorite spices! 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer. Set your air fryer to 400°F. If you’d like, you can line your basket or tray of your air fryer with aluminum foil for less mess. I’d do this prior to heating up your air fryer. 
2. Wash and dry the potatoes. Scrub clean, then pat dry. 
3. Using the hasselback technique, cut the potatoes. Cut 1/8-inch slits in the potatoes, leaving the bottoms intact. Do this by placing 2 chopsticks or wooden spoons on a cutting board parallel to one another. Place the potato in the middle of the chopsticks. Cut 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch slices along the potato. Repeat the process with each potato. The chopsticks will help the bottoms of the potatoes stay in tact.

4. Make the butter mixture. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter and the garlic powder. 
5. Put the hasselback potatoes in air fryer. Place the cut hasselback potatoes on the tray or in the basket. Brush or rub half of the butter mixture on the tops of the potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. 

6. Air fry the potatoes for 35-40 minutes minutes. Add the chives to the rest of the butter mixture. Remove the air fryer hasselback potatoes and spread the chives butter mixture on top. Return to the air fryer for 5-10 minutes or until fork tender. Add an additional 2-3 minutes if needed for doneness. 
7. Garnish and enjoy! Remove the air fried hasselback potatoes and garnish with fresh chives.

Recipe Tips

To keep the bottoms of the potatoes in tact, use chopsticks, wooden spoons, or utensils on a cutting board parallel to each other. Place the potato on top. As you cut the hasselback cuts, your knife will stop when it hits the utensil/chopsticks, making it so you don’t cut all the way through the potato. 

This air fryer hasselback potatoes recipe will work for a basket or tray air fryer. 

Feel free to use whatever seasonings you’d like in the butter mixture. That’s the best part of this recipe! You can make this over and over again and switch up the seasonings every time. Try a barbecue spice mix, a rosemary and oregano, a basil and thyme mixture, etc. 

You can even add some cheese on top of the potatoes after the 40 minutes are up and you spread the rest of the butter mixture on. Since you’ll be adding cheese, you’ll want the potatoes to be basically done since you’ll just want to put the potatoes back in to melt the cheese and not to finish baking (or else you could burn the cheese!) Add the shredded cheese of your liking and then return the cheesy hasselback potatoes to the air fryer until the cheese is melted. 

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

These air fryer hasselback potatoes are best served fresh and warm. 

Store any leftovers in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Reheated potatoes aren’t my favorite thing, but there are ways to make these delicious and fun even on day 2 or 3! Finish cutting through the potatoes so you just have potatoes discs and warm them in the air fryer until warm and/or broil them for 1 minute or so in the oven to get a little crispy for more of a French fry affect. You can also return the air fryer hasselbacks to the air fryer at a lower temperature until warmed through. 

You can also use any leftover hasselback potatoes in my Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe. Simply finish cutting through the potatoes to get the slices, then make the cheesy cream sauce and simply back until warmed through (since the potatoes are already cooked). 

To freeze, let cool completely then wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Store in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag with the air squeezed out of it. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Remove and let thaw in the fridge overnight. Note: The potatoes’ texture will change once frozen and thawed.

Recipe FAQs

More Vegetable Sides

• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
• Butternut Squash and Kale 
• Buttery Brown Sugar Acorn Squash
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

This recipe was originally published on Nov. 17, 2018. It was republished on March 21, 2022, to include additional information and photos.