Air fryer chips recipe
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We LOVE using our air fryer. The best EVER air fryer potato recipe I've made would have to be air fryer chips! They are crispy yet fluffy inside with my two temperature method and best of all you need just TWO ingredients to make these. I love making crispy chips air fried to perfection.
One thing we love to serve on the side of these chips are air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer frozen chicken burgers and also air fryer prawn toast when I want to make a simple meal. Yum!
If you're looking for something a little more suited to very healthy eating then be sure to try these air fryer carrot fries or air fryer sweet potato chips / sweet potato fries. If you want something entirely different then give my air fryer frozen chicken fries recipe a go!
Knowing how to cook chips in the Ninja Dual zone air fryer is one of the first things I looked up when I got my air fryer and this is one recipe that I return back to time and time again.
Read on for tips on cooking temperatures, best potatoes and oil to use, how to make air fryer chunky chips, fries and much more! I also answer ALL of your air fryer chip questions below.
Cooking golden brown chunky chips, homemade potato chips / air fried potato chips or fries in an air fryer is really easy and takes just mins to get prepared and these are great with air fryer sausages.
If you want chips without the hassle of chipping them yourself then be sure to check out my recipes for frozen air fryer french fries (these loaded air fryer french fries are my favourite made with slow cooker beef chilli) or air fryer frozen chips post too! In my view it's worth the extra minute or two for crispy and delicious chips.
Be sure to check out my post on reheating chip shop chips too if you like a nice fish and chip takeaway dinner from time to time. This is a great way to cut food waste and it feels like a free meal too when you've already paid for the takeaway.
Ingredients for my air fryer potato chips recipe:
600g potatoes - I use around 200g per serving
1 teaspoon salt & black pepper
Cooking spray oil (optional but will be much drier without this)
Seasonings that work great with these chips:
- Peri peri seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- Garlic and rosemary
- Fajita seasoning
- Old Bay seasoning
- Chinese five spice
- Curry powder
My method for air fryer chips:
Peel your potatoes. Use a potato chipper if you like and if you slice the potatoes in half they're super quick to chip.
If you don't have a chipper then cut into potato slices and then slice lengthways into chips from there.
Rinse the chips thoroughly in cold water.
Pat dry with a clean tea towel or using kitchen towel. No need to pre soak the potatoes.
Following these steps will help to remove excess starch from the cut chips.
Cover the chips with spray oil, or a little olive oil if you don't mind the extra calories.
Season the chips with salt & pepper.
If you use some spray oil to spray the chips before adding the seasoning then it'll stick well and cover everything evenly.
Air fry for 12 minutes at 160C in your air fryer. Shake several times during cooking.
Turn up to 200C for another 10 minutes. Check after 5 minutes as depending on size they can cook quickly. You'll want to shake your chips regularly, to ensure even cooking.
If your chips look raw then exercise some common sense and give them a few more minutes to cook! Cooking times can vary depending on chip size, potato type and even the type of air fryer being used.
I find this the best way to get crispy air fryer chips that are crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. See below for more cooking tips or suggestions.
Do you parboil chips before air frying?
As you can see from the above recipe I personally don't bother. You can do if you want them to be even fluffier inside.
You can also microwave potato chips by pricking them all over, after cutting to your desired shape, and then microwaving for around 3 minutes. This is a great way to parboiling your potatoes with ease.
I have found that parboiling in hot, salted water for 6 minutes is perfect. Drain them well, and allow them to steam for a couple of minutes, like you would air fryer roast potatoes.
Make sure you're adding them to a pre-heated air fryer too for best cooking results.
Air fryer chunky chips
I personally cook these for around 10% more cooking time than the normal chips, as they are so wide! Part boiling really seems to help the air fryer chunky chips to cook a little more evenly.
What are the best potatoes for chips?
I love to use King Edwards or Rooster in particularly, but will actually just use any type of floury potato that I have at home, as these work best.
Maris Piper are a good all-rounder potato too and russet potatoes work well. If you can source Yukon gold potatoes these are always a winner too. You can save money by buying the budget potatoes and they'll still turn out great.
Really any potatoes will work for chips, you may just get slightly different results.
Can you make these chips without oil?
Yes! I would suggest using a little spray oil if you want them to crisp up better. You only need a few sprays and then you can toss the chips to make sure they're properly covered. Repeat this again during the cooking process to get the best finish.
If your chips are a little too dry then be sure to shake them during cooking at least once, twice ideally, and then spray again with a little spray oil.
Can you cook frozen chips in an air fryer?
Yes! Basically set your air fryer to the temperature advised on the packaging and then keep an eye on them. Check about ⅓ into the time and then again ⅔ into the time.
A lot of frozen chips are already coated with oil, seasonings and even flour on occasion. The air fryer will help the frozen chips crisp up lovely and taste great! Cooking frozen chips in air fryer is so simple.
Shake regularly to avoid them sticking together or to the air fryer basket.
How to cook chips in a tower air fryer?
All air fryers are much the same. Prepare your air fryer chips or air fryer fries and then turn on the air fryer.
Shake and check regularly to make sure the potatoes aren't sticking to the basket. I love to serve with Vegan coleslaw.
What about a Ninja Foodi?
I use to use the Air Crisp setting and the basket, within the bowl, to get the best results. I sometimes par boil in a little chicken stock for some extra flavour.
Want to try some of my other potato recipes?
Air fryer potato wedges are one of my absolute favourites so I'd recommend giving those a try. They are always a hit with my children and I've also got a whole post of my delicious air fryer potato recipes you can take a look at. Air fryer baked potatoes are lovely on a cold winters night too.
If you don't want to use an air fryer specifically then look at my best ever potato recipes for some lovely inspiration.
Are your air fryer chips burning or not cooking evenly?
Drop the temperature down a little during the first part of the cooking time as all air fryers are a little different. Be sure that you use a little splash of cooking oil on the chips and shake at regular intervals during the cooking time. This will help prevent uneven cooking that can sometimes occur when using the air fryer.
What about making an air fryer wrap with chips?
I've got an absolutely fantastic simple tortilla recipe that is super easy (and cheap!). Make this, or get a pre-made wrap, cook your chips up, pour on into the wrap, roll up and enjoy!
If you want to make it a little more special then add a splash of curry sauce or even some of this lovely air fryer bbq chicken breast.
Are your air fryer chips too dry?
Use a little more oil! Shake on the regular too. Typically you can stop this happening by spritzing one or two times during the cooking process. Also, don't leave your potatoes sitting around for ages if you're par-boiling them as this can make the a little dry.
Something to note about air fryer recipes is that all air fryers have different sizes, depths and as such the cooking times can vary. All air fryer recipes on this website are intended as a guide, and not a guarantee that the timings will be perfect. Enjoy!
Have you got soggy air fryer chips?
Dry them thoroughly before cooking and then turn up the heat a little faster. Add on 2 minutes to the cook time BUT keep an eye on them!
Why are my potatoes not crispy in the air fryer?
Make sure that your potatoes, if you have soaked, washed or parboiled them, are completely dry. Then make sure to use a little bit of oil, to help the potatoes crisp up while they are cooking.
How do I keep fries from sticking in my air fryer?
Make sure to shake the basket up a couple of times during the cooking process. This will help the chips or fries from sticking in your air fryer.
Is it healthy to cook potatoes in an air fryer?
Personally I feel that using the air fryer is miles better than frying chips. They both have their place in a balanced diet though really.
By using a little spray oil, instead of 100ml+ of oil, you're going to save a considerable amount of calories and your meal will feel lighter and less greasy as a result too.
If you liked these air fryer chips why not check out some of my other air fryer recipes?
- Air fryer crumble topping
- Air fryer cheese scones
- Air fryer frozen chicken burger
- Air fryer frozen salmon
- Air fryer chips recipe
- Air fryer french toast sticks
- 14 of the best bratwurst toppings
- Chicken mini fillets in the air fryer
- Air fryer garlic bread
- Air fryer parsnips recipe (honey glazed)
How to make homemade chips in your air fryer:
Air fryer chips
Ingredients
- 600 grams Potatoes more if you have a generous appetite
- 1 teaspoon Salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon Plain flour optional
Instructions
- Peel your potatoes. Use a potato chipper and by slicing the potatoes in half first they take just seconds to chip.
- Rinse the chips in cold water. Pat them dry on a clean towel or using kitchen towel.
- Season the chips with flour and salt & pepper. You may not need the quantities I have mentioned, these are just for guidance.
- You can I add herbs or a chopped chilli if you want a kick. Chinese Five Spice is a wonderful way to boost the flavour of these air fryer chips with minimal effort.
- Air fry the air fryer chips for 12 minutes at 160C.
- Then turn the air fryer up to 200C for a further 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them, and shake up, at least twice, during this time as depending on the size of your chips they may need as little as 5 minutes. This is the ideal method to make air fryer chips that are crisp on the outside but fluffy inside.
- If you want air fryer chips that are even crisper then add a little spray oil to the fries when you turn up the temperature. I transfer them to a bowl to do this, to shake them and ensure even coverage.
Notes
Nutrition
Note: All calorie information is for demonstration purposes only and is based on the specific uncooked ingredients that I used when creating the recipe.
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These sound lovely, Katy, I really need to get around to trying these. I love that you can use sweet potatoes as well 🙂
I'm going to start trying more recipes in my air fryer for sure!
Do you have a link to the air fryer you use please? These look delicious!
Hiya! I have a Phillips one: *https://amzn.to/2GwDqsI
Hi Sarah! I turn it up to 200C which is the highest setting - just to crisp them up lovely! x
Home made chips are soooo much better than take away/oven chips! Can't believe how easy they are yet how few people make them! Thank god for your blog showing everyone how easy it is
Thanks so much! I love cooking things in my airfryer - so much healthier (and cheaper). Thanks for the rating (my first ever!) x
It's fantastic. I'm going to buy my Mum one for her Birthday next week!
Hi. I make chips in the oven after a quick blast in the microwave to save time. I just ordered an air fryer and for me the main advantages will (I hope) be using less electricity, faster cooking and not having to clean the big oven so often! I plan to do whatever it takes to make food taste ok in an air fryer. What with a microwave, slow cooker, toaster etc..... I might never need my big oven!
Hiya! I absolutely love my air fryer. I can make my daughter dinner in under 10 minutes - which is fantastic. Also, it is perfect on hot days like today!
Do you need to put oil on frozen chips?
Hello! If you're cooking frozen chips that were bought like that then they usually contain oil, among other things, on them, so no oil would be needed. If you're making your own chips, that you've frozen, then I'd recommend a little spray oil.
Thank you for your help.
So welcome!
katy just did chips for the first time in mine, but I par boiled them and then let them chill a bit, then sprayed frylight in a big mixing bowl, tossed them in that and put them in the air fryer after pre heating for 5 mins, disappointed they were too dark and underneath not at all. Im going to try your recipe without par boiling but did I use too much frylight maybe.
Ahh no! Sorry to hear that. Did they go dark because they were chilled out of the water? This can make potatoes turn dark.
Thanks for this, my partner and I have only recently started using the air fryer, trying this recipe as I write this, 7 minutes left, plus approx 10 minutes on the higher heat and were good to go I hope, such a simple way of massively improving some good old home made fries 🙂
Appreciate this very much.
Oh yay! I hope you really enjoyed them. Thanks for using my recipe and leaving a comment too!
Do you need to shake or change the position of the chips during the cooking time please?
It won’t do them any harm to shake up a couple of times! Also, see step 7 - which is my favourite way to do them! I transfer to a bowl and coat with a little more spray oil!
Just tried cooking them for the first time - not par boiled
Cooked on 180 degrees but they are too brown on the outside - are they on too high a heat or should I use less/ more oil
I used approx 1tbsp per medium potatoe
I expect they're being cooked too high for too long. I use 120C for the first part, the 200C to crisp up near the end.
I can get really crispy chips from shop bought frozen ones in my airfryer but can't get them any where as crisp using fresh potatoes is it the flour that makes a difference? Pete.
Yes, either flour or LOTS of oil is usually on the frozen ones, so they're unhealthier.
I'll directly copy over part of the post for you:
If your chips look raw then exercise some common sense and give them a few more minutes to cook. Cooking times can vary depending on chip size, potato type and even the type of air fryer being used.
Hope that helps!
Hi Katy , no more frozen chips for us , i washed , chipped them then rinsed the potatoes in hot water to get rid of the starch , then left them to dry on the side for an hour , no salt etc as i am a carer for my wife, salt is to be avoided . then followed your recipe exactly and the chips were delicious , thank you very much
That's so lovely, well done Brian & thank you so much for sharing with me. I hope you & your wife are keeping well at this time!