Best Air Fryer Potato Chips (Crispy Recipe)

Give in to your cravings with these guilt-free air fryer potato chips!

They’re crispy, crunchy, salty, and oh-so-satisfying. The best part is they use very little oil. So you can nosh on your favorite nibbles without all the grease. 

And with the handy air fryer doing the hard work, you don’t have to put in a ton of effort to make them.

Now, that’s what I call happy snacking!

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Potato Chips 

Once you try these homemade potato chips, you’ll never turn back! Here are some reasons you’ll love making this snack in the air fryer:

• Healthier Cooking – Air frying requires significantly less oil. And less grease means fewer calories and lower fat! They’re healthier than your average potato chip bag.

• Quick and Easy – Anyone with an air fryer can make this snack! Not only is it super easy, but cleanup is also a breeze.

• No Deep Fryer Required – Deep fryers? Forget it! Air fryers are much safer and far less messy. So there are no splatters or vats of hot oil to worry about.

• Crispy and Delicious – A word of caution: these chips are addicting! The air fryer delivers perfectly crispy, crunchy chips. They’re so delicious, you won’t be able to stop at just one!

Ingredients 

Chances are, you have all the ingredients you need in your kitchen right now! All this recipe requires are three common kitchen staples. 

Here’s what you need:

• Potatoes – Russet potatoes will yield the best results. They contain more starch and less water. So they crisp up nicely. 

• Olive Oil – Compared to regular chips, this recipe uses very little oil, all thanks to the magic of air frying!

• Salt – To make them salty and delicious! I swear by using kosher salt for chips. But use what you have on hand. 

How to Make Air Fryer Potato Chips

What’s the secret to getting the crispiest, crunchiest potato chips? Proper prep! Combined with the air fryer, they turn out better than store-bought.

Follow these basic steps for the best potato chips:

1. Prep the potatoes. Scrub the potatoes. Thinly slice them about 1/8 inch thick.

2. Soak. Soak the potatoes in cold water for 15 minutes. Drain them and repeat with fresh water. 

3. Dry. Spread the potatoes out in a single layer. Air dry them for 10-15 minutes, then pat them dry.

4. Season. Toss the potatoes with olive oil and salt. 

5. Prep the air fryer. Preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spritz the basket with cooking spray.

6. Air fry. Cook the potato slices for 8 minutes. Flip them and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

7. Cool. Cool the chips on a lined baking tray. Season them if desired, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips 

Every air fryer cooks a little differently. So you may need to make some adjustments to this recipe. But don’t worry! 

These tips will help you achieve munch-worthy chips:

• Don’t burn them out! If your chips burn quickly, reduce the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook them for 10 minutes, flip them, then increase the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. That way, they cook properly and crisp nicely. 

• Give them space to sizzle. Resist the urge to stack the potato slices on top of one another. Lack of space will cause them to steam rather than fry.

• Try some mandolin mastery. For the potato chips to crisp properly, they must be sliced thin. A mandolin helps achieve the ideal thickness. Plus, it makes prep easier.

• Watch the time. Depending on the thickness, the potato chips may require more or less time. Thinner slices may be ready in 8-10 minutes. Thicker slices may take 15 minutes. So watch them and adjust accordingly.

Variations

You can easily make your favorite flavored potato chips with this recipe. I’m partial to classic chips but take your pick. 

Here are some of my other favorite variations:

• Salt and Vinegar Chips – Instead of soaking the potatoes in water, soak them in distilled white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar would be yummy, too.

• Cajun Chips – Add your favorite blend or make your own. Use 1 part each of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, oregano, salt, and pepper. Plus, add 2 parts paprika.

• Barbecue Chips – Just add 2 tablespoons of BBQ seasoning. You can also make one with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, and brown sugar.

• Salt and Pepper Chips – For a simple twist, add cracked pepper to this recipe. 

• Sour Cream and Onion Chips – Season them with buttermilk powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried chives.

How to Store

For snacks, sandwich sidekicks, or burger sides, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy leftover potato chips.

Here’s how to store them so they stay fresh:

To Store: Place the chips in an air-tight container or zip-top bag. Keep them at room temperature for up to 1 week.

To Freeze: Store the chips in a freezer-safe, air-tight container. Freeze them for up to 3 months. 

What to Serve with Air-Fried Potato Chips 

Potato chips are such a universal side dish. They pair well with anything that needs a little salty crunch!

Here’s what I enjoy serving them with:

• Sandwiches – You can serve these chips with just about any sandwich! Try them with a Cuban sandwich, fried bologna, or a classic grilled cheese.

• Burgers – Skip the greasy French fries and pair your juicy burger with these healthier chips. Lipton onion soup burger or a Travis Scott burger are both tasty options. My favorite is the sweet and salty combo of a peanut butter burger!

• Wraps – Buffalo chicken wraps and chips, anyone? You can also reduce the carbs and serve them with fresh lettuce wraps.

• Chicken –  Shake and Bake, chicken tenders, fried chicken, and juicy wings are great with crunchy chips.
  
• Dips – For a quick snack or appetizer, serve these chips with a dip. Knorr spinach dip, Neiman Marcus dip, and cowboy crack dip are my favorites.

More Air Fryer Chip Recipes To Try

Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Air Fryer Banana Chips
Air Fryer Kale Chips
Air Fryer Apple Chips