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a plain plate of small golden-brown skin-on Yukon Gold potato cubes mixed with softened browned onion pieces and a light paprika coating, with no bell peppers, eggs, cheese, bacon, herbs or garnish
Rachel Kim

Air Fryer Home Fries

Home fries should have browned faces and soft centers, with onion pieces that still taste sweet instead of scorched. This version starts with raw Yukon Gold cubes in the air fryer, using a smaller cut than a griddle recipe so there is no separate parboiling stage. Give the potatoes their first stretch alone, then add the onion after the surfaces have begun to dry and color. Shake the basket enough to expose new faces without crushing the softened cubes, and pull a piece from the middle of the pile when you check tenderness.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 small yellow onion cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil divided
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt divided
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes. Pat potato cubes thoroughly dry and toss with 2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, paprika and pepper.
  2. Spread potatoes in a loose layer in the basket and cook for 10 minutes, shaking after 5 minutes to expose new faces.
  3. Toss onion with remaining oil and salt. Add to the potatoes, shake gently to distribute and cook for 8 minutes.
  4. Shake again and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more until the potato centers are tender and several faces are golden brown; remove any small onion pieces early if they darken too quickly.
  5. Divide into 4 side portions and serve immediately with both potato cubes and softened onion in each serving.