Name: Air Fryer Potato Chips
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 medium russet potatoes, skin removed; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

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Craving a crunchy snack that’s healthier than store-bought chips? These homemade Air Fryer Potato Chips are crispy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy a guilt-free snack that satisfies your cravings.

The air fryer really has changed the way I look many foods and appetizers like Air Fryer Chicken Bites and Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.

I’ve recently discovered that the air fryer is a secret weapon in making homemade potato chips.

Yet right off the bat you might be asking yourself why you’d ever make them at home, versus simply buying a bag from the grocery store.

Air fried potato chips are healthier, making them guilt free. Yes, we’re still talking about potato chips here.

Not only are they made with a few simple ingredients and no preservatives, yet they aren’t deep fried.

It’s like plucking away every reason why we should stay away from potato chips, while still keeping the things that we so love about them.

Crispy air Fryer potato chips are so delicious. Whether you’re snacking on them with a movie or for game day, or serving as a side dish with a food like our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.

Turns out you can have your chips and eat them too!

If you are like us and always have at least a couple bags of chips on hand at all times, tempting you at every given moment – this recipe is for you.

Crispy and so addictive, you can enjoy more chips (and more often) with this air fryer potato chip recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Healthier – Probably the main reason why you’ll love these. With little oil, no preservatives, and simple ingredients – air fryer potato chips are way lower in fat and calories compared to store bought potato chips.
Versatile – You can easily change up this recipe to make so many flavors of potato chips. Alternatively, there are endless options for dips too.
No Deep Fryer Required – Remember a time when a deep fryer was necessary to get crispy fried food? Thanks to the air fryer, you can make homemade crispy potato chips without a ton of oil, splattering and making a mess.
Crowd Pleaser – Anyone can buy a bag of potato chips with a side of guilt. Whether you’re feeding your family or hosting a gathering, this crowd pleasing recipe will be a hit.

Total Time: 1 hour

Serves: 2

Ingredients Required

You only need 3 simple ingredients to make your own potato chips in the air fryer.

Russet Potatoes – make sure to remove the skin
Vegetable Oil
Sea Salt – I like using a course salt when making potato chips
Black Pepper – this simple commopn spice is an optional ingredient

ingredients on a table, with homemade potato chips

What Potatoes to Use for Making Homemade Potato Chips

I recommend you use russet potatoes when making air fryer chips. Not only do they have a thinner skin, but they are starchy with a low water content, making them a perfect candidate for crispiness.

That being said, you can use other varieties if you so choose. You can even make this recipe using sweet potatoes.

How to make Potato Chips in the Air Fryer

As always the full recipe on the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Prepare the Potato. Start by washing the potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. With a sharp knife or a peeler, carefully remove the skin from the potatoes.

Use a mandoline slicer (or a sharp knife if you must), slice the potatoes into thin, uniform rounds. Thinner slices will result in crispier chips, so try to keep them consistent in size about 1/8 inch thick, which is why I recommend using a slicer.
Soak The Potatoes. Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. This step helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which will result in crispier chips.

After soaking, drain the potato slices and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Make sure to remove as much moisture as possible to achieve crispy chips.

Now is a good time to preheat your air fryer to 380°F. Preheating will take about 3-5 minutes, and will be ready as you finish the next step.
Season. In a large bowl, toss the dried potato slices with vegetable oil, sea salt, and black pepper (if using). Ensure that the slices are evenly coated with the seasoning.
Air Fry. arrange the seasoned potato slices in a thin layer in the air fryer basket.

Cook the potato chips at 380°F for 12-15 minutes, stir them halfway through the cooking time.

Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent burning, as cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the slices and the efficiency of your air fryer. The chips are done when they are golden brown and crispy.
Serve and Enjoy. Once the potato chips are done, transfer them to a serving bowl and let them cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy them on their own as a tasty snack or pair them with your favorite dip or sauce.

Tips for Success

Slicing the potatoes – You want evenly cooked chips and especially crispy chips, right? This all depends on the thickness of the potato slices. This is why I do recommend using a mandoline slicer or it’ll be very difficult to get paper thin slices.
soaking – You want to remove the starch from the potatoes so they don’t get soggy when they cook, so don’t skip the soaking step. Even if you do so for at least 15 minutes, make sure to soak the potato slices in water.
Don’t crowd the basket. Don’t place more than two layers of slices in your air fryer basket, or you risk sogginess.
Allow to cool. Good things take time, so allow the chips to cool a bit before serving. They will finish crisping up as they cool!

Why are my air fryer potato chips not crispy?

This common question is answered in the instructions for making potato chips in the air fryer. To get crispy homemade potato chips and for best results, you MUST have very thin slices, remove the starch with the soaking step, dry the water from the potato slices, not crowd the basket or use too much oil, and allow to cool. Skipping one step might result in chips that are not crispy.

Recipe Variations

We all love flavored potato chips, and it’s easy to get different flavors using this recipe. Here are some variations to try:

Herb and Garlic Potato Chips: Toss the potato slices with minced garlic, dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley, along with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese before air frying.
Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips: Toss the chips with sea salt and some vinegar before air frying to get this classic taste.
Spicy Cajun: For a kick of heat, season the potato slices with Cajun seasoning, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika before air frying.
Barbecue: Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to create a homemade barbecue seasoning. Toss the potato slices in the seasoning before air frying.
Ranch Potato Chips: Toss the soaked and dried potato chips using a packet of ranch seasoning mix before air frying. You can also sprinkle more when cooked for a more bold taste.
Onion Potato Chips: Use our Homemade Dried Onion Soup Mix blend before air frying to make a tasty chip flavor.

What to Serve with Homemade Potato Chips

If you are making our recipe as is, and not flavoring with variations; you can serve the potato chips alone as a snack or as a side with chicken fingers, fish sticks, or your favorite sandwich.

You can also serve them with any chip dip you choose. Or take it a step further and try our Homemade Queso Dip, Dill Pickle Dip, or Homemade Hummus.

Storage Tips

To Store. Store chips in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature, for up to 4 days.
To Freeze. Freeze chips in an airtight freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag (remove all the air) for up to 3 months. Let thaw for a few minutes on the counter before serving.

FAQ

Can I use other types of potatoes?

While russet potatoes are commonly used for making potato chips due to their starchy texture, you can also use other varieties such as Yukon Gold or red potatoes. Keep in mind that different types of potatoes may result in slightly different textures and flavors.

Do I have to remove the potato skins?

While you can leave the skins on if you prefer, removing them helps achieve a crispier texture for the chips. Plus, removing the skins allows the seasoning to adhere better to the potato slices.

Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?

Yes, you can use olive oil if you prefer. However, keep in mind that olive oil has a lower smoke point compared to vegetable oil which has a high smoke point, so there’s a risk of the oil burning at high temperatures. If using olive oil, opt for a light or extra-light olive oil with a higher smoke point.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Potato Chips

Yield: 2 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Say goodbye to greasy store-bought chips and hello to crunchy, homemade Air Fryer Potato Chips. This easy recipe comes with a side of delicious and no guilt. Snack smarter with 4 simple ingredients, sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

2 medium russet potatoes, skin removed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Instructions

Start by washing the potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. With a sharp knife or a peeler, carefully remove the skin from the potatoes.
Use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, slice the potatoes into thin, uniform rounds.. Thinner slices will result in crispier chips, so try to keep them consistent in size about 1/8 inch thick.
Place the potato slices in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. This step helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which will result in crispier chips.
After soaking, drain the potato slices and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Make sure to remove as much moisture as possible to achieve crispy chips.
In a large bowl, toss the dried potato slices with vegetable oil, sea salt, and black pepper (if using). Ensure that the slices are evenly coated with the seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for about 3-5 minutes.
Once the air fryer is preheated, arrange the seasoned potato slices in a thin layer in the air fryer basket. Cook the potato chips at 380°F for 12-15 minutes, stir them halfway through the cooking time. Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent burning, as cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the slices and the efficiency of your air fryer.
The chips are done when they are golden brown and crispy.
Once the potato chips are done, transfer them to a serving bowl and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy them on their own as a tasty snack or pair them with your favorite dip or sauce.

Notes

Try to slice the potatoes as uniformly as possible. This ensures that they cook evenly and result in evenly crispy chips.
Don't skip the step of soaking the potato slices in water. It helps remove excess starch, which can prevent the chips from becoming too soggy during cooking. Similarly, make sure to thoroughly dry the slices before seasoning and air frying to achieve maximum crispiness.
Allow the potato chips to cool slightly after cooking before serving. They will continue to crisp up as they cool down.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for a day or two

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1082mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.