This Air Fryer Hash Browns recipe has won many fried food lovers over to air frying. When they discover that you can get flavorful, crispy hash browns WITHOUT deep frying them in a lot of oil this kitchen appliance wins respect.
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Why I Love This Recipe
Anytime I can find a healthier alternative to a food I love without sacrificing the best qualities of that food, I’m overjoyed. Since I love a generous portion of breakfast potatoes to go with some bacon and eggs, crispy air fryer hash browns are a winner in my book.
And, though I love food, I don’t necessarily love spending all my time in the kitchen — easy recipes are my calling card and this hash brown recipe is pretty darn easy. If you like hash browns, you should try this Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole recipe.
What You’ll Need to Make Hash Browns in an Air Fryer
Not a lot! Just a few simple ingredients and some basic kitchen tools.
Ingredients
- 2 russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Equipment
- An air fryer
- Cheese grater
- Medium bowl
- Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
- Paper towels or a clean dish cloth
- Air fryer parchment rounds (optional)
Substitutions/Additions
One of the most common questions about making hash browns in the air fryer is whether or not you can use frozen hash browns in place of freshly shredded potatoes You sure can!
I prefer homemade hash browns — I find the flavor better than using frozen potato shreds Plus, using the cheese grater, shredding the potatoes doesn’t take long at all. But you can substitute frozen hash browns without issue in this recipe.
If you prefer sweet potatoes you can use those instead of the russet potatoes These, however, need to cook longer at a hotter temperature. Read the instructions below carefully to make the correct adjustments.
I keep my hash browns simple, using just salt and black pepper to season them. If you want more flavor, here are some other seasonings you can add that work really well:
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- creole seasoning
- Italian seasoning
- paprika
- cayenne pepper or chili flakes
In addition, you can add some diced vegetables for color, flavor, and nutrients. These vegetables work well:
- onions
- green peppers
- red bell peppers
- carrots
How to Make Air Fryer Hash Browns
You can whip up a batch of homemade hash browns in your air fryer in just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Shred Potatoes
The first thing you need to do is get the potatoes ready by peeling them. Then, fill a large bowl with cold water.
Now, shred the potatoes using a cheese grater. You can either shred them onto a plate or cutting board and transfer them to the cold water or save yourself a step and just shred them right into the bowl of water.
Once you’re done shredding, give the potatoes a good stir and then let them sit in the cold water for 20 minutes. This is going to pull out excess starch which will help you get that crispy crust we want.
Step 2: Dry Potatoes
Next, drain the water from the potatoes and place the potato shreds on a clean dish cloth or several layers of paper towels. Fold the towel(s) over the potatoes and press to absorb the excess water
Continue gently pressing and twisting the towel(s) to extract as much moisture from the shredded potatoes as possible. Wipe out the bowl, then return the dried potato shreds to the bowl.
Step 3: Season Potatoes
We’re almost ready to fry our hash browns We just need to season them with salt and pepper and add a tiny amount of oil to prevent the hash browns from sticking to the tray.
If you want to use less oil you can omit the oil and either line the bottom of the air fryer with parchment rounds or simply spray your air fryer tray with cooking spray before moving onto the next step.
Step 4: Air Fry
It’s time to crisp up our potatoes! Add the seasoned potato shreds to your air fryer For best results spread them in an even, single layer.
Cook at 370°F for 7 minutes, then stir with a silicone spatula and continue cooking for another 4-8 minutes. The cook time will vary depending on the size and type of air fryer you have so keep an eye on these the first time you make them to know how quickly they cook.
When your hash browns have reached the desired color and texture you want, turn off your air fryer and use the silicone spatula to carefully lift the hash browns out.
Serve with some Air Fryer Bacon, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit for a healthy and delicious breakfast. They also make the perfect addition to a breakfast burrito or Easy Air Fryer Bagels for a quick breakfast you can take with you.
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Hash Browns
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Parchment Rounds
- Silicone Spatula
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel potatoes.
- Fill a large bowl with cold water.
- Using a cheese grater, shred the potatoes into the bowl of water. Stir and let them sit for 20 minutes.
- Place the grated potato in the middle of a clean dish cloth (or pile of 4-5 layers of paper towels). Bring the sides and corners together over the grated potato. Press to dry. Twist the towel(s) until no more moisture releases.
- Wipe the bowl dry then add the grated potato back to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in oil or line air fryer with parchment rounds.
- Add shredded potato to air fryer, smoothing into an even layer.
- Cook hash browns at 370 degrees for 7 minutes, stir, then continue cooking for an additional 4-8 minutes until desired color and texture are achieved.
Nutrition
Not ready for breakfast yet? Pin this recipe so you can find it later.
Glad that this recipe tasted good! 🥰
Me too, I’m glad you enjoyed the tasted. Thanks for commenting.