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These Air Fryer Potato Wedges are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and so easy to make from scratch. With just a couple of russet potatoes and less oil than traditional french fries, they’re an easy side dish, appetizer, or snack for any day of the week.

Russet potato wedges after air frying in air fryer basket.

Our Air Fryer Hash Brown Patties and Homemade Air Fryer Hash Browns have been reader favorites for years, which tells me we all share a serious love for air fried quick and crispy potato sides.

Just like our Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, these Air Fryer Potato Wedges are equally as satisfying as restaurant fries but made with simple pantry staples and a fraction of the oil. They’re budget-friendly, easy to prep, and cook up golden and crisp in under 20 minutes.

Whether you’re serving them alongside burgers, dipping them in ketchup, or topping them with chili and cheese, this recipe proves you don’t need a deep fryer (or an expensive drive-thru) to enjoy homemade french fries!

Ingredients Needed

Russet potatoes for homemade recipes, seasoned with salt, pepper, parsley, garlic, cooked in high smoke point oil.

Russet Potatoes: Hearty russets are your best bet for extra-crispy potato wedges because of their high starch content and low moisture. It's the perfect combination for helping the outsides get golden and crunchy while the insides stay soft and fluffy. Yukon golds will work in a pinch, but they have more moisture and less starch, which makes them less crispy.
Oil: Any high-smoke point oil with a neutral flavor will work well. I typically use avocado oil, but vegetable oil will work, too if you're on a tight budget. If you prefer to cook with olive oil, use light or refined olive oil for its higher smoking point.
Spices: I like to keep it simple with a blend of salt, garlic powder, dried parsley, black pepper, and a small pinch of cayenne, but you can season these wedges with any seasoning mix you prefer. Smoked paprika, onion powder, or lemon pepper are all great options.

Only have gold potatoes on hand? Try our Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Oven Roasted Potatoes instead!

Tips For Achieving Maximum Crispiness

If you've ever found yourself Googling, “Why aren't my fries getting crispy in the air fryer?,” these tips are for you. In order to get that perfect golden crunch, there's a few simple techniques worth committing to memory.

Soaking the potatoes in cold water is a non-negotiable. I know it's tempting to toss them straight into the air fryer after slicing, but soaking draws out the excess starch that traps moisture during cooking and causes the potatoes to steam instead of crisp. Removing that starch is the key to wedges that brown evenly with an irresistible, crunchy exterior.
Dry the potatoes completely before air frying. After soaking, take a few minutes to pat the potatoes really dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. You don't want any leftover water on the surface turns to steam in the air fryer, which prevents crisping and keeps the oil and spices from sticking.
Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. I'll admit it's easier to pile all the potatoes in at once, but air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, not just heating it from the bottom like an oven. When the basket is packed too full, that air can't move freely, and the potatoes end up steaming instead of crisping. For maximum crispiness, cook the wedges in a single, even layer, leaving a little space between each one. This might mean cooking in multiple batches, but the payoff is perfectly golden, crispy potatoes every time.

Budget-Friendly Mains That Pair Perfectly

Potato wedges are one of those easy side dishes that go with just about anything. They’re hearty, satisfying, and always a hit at the table.

They're perfect alongside burgers or sandwiches (or burger bowls!), like Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches or Lentil Sloppy Joe's.

Or, turn them into homemade chili cheese fries by topping your wedges with 15 Bean Chili and a drizzle of Nacho Cheese Sauce.

And don't forget the dipping opportunities! Ketchup and mustard are tried and true standards, but you can take them up a notch with a creamy aioli, BBQ sauce, or Honey Mustard.

Closeup of air fryer potato wedges served with a side of ketchup.

What to Do with Leftover Potato Wedges

If you somehow end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and then there are plenty of easy ways to give them new life.

Reheat in the air fryer. Pop them back in the air fryer at 375F for 5 minutes to bring back that golden crunch. They'll taste just as good as fresh!
Turn them into breakfast potatoes. Chop them up and toss them into a tofu scramble, egg bake, or breakfast burrito.
Freeze for later. Arrange leftover wedges in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet, place in the freezer until frozen solid (1-2 hours), then transfer to an airtight freezer bag. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer.