Looking for a quick, fuss-free recipe that’s packed with flavor? These Air Fryer Bacon Potatoes are crispy, golden, and full of smoky goodness. All made in just under 30 minutes with only 2 ingredients. Whether you’re using sweet potatoes or regular potatoes, this recipe is perfect as a side dish, snack, or appetizer for any occasion.
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The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. No extra oil, butter, or complicated seasonings are needed. As the potatoes air fry, they cook in the bacon’s own fat, naturally absorbing its salty, smoky flavor and crisping up nicely. This honestly makes it a perfect 2-ingredient side dish. You can also customize it by adding other seasonings or herbs, or pair it with other quick air fryer recipes like 3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Chicken for a complete meal.
Recipe Overview
⏱️ Ready in: 30 minutes
👉 Hands-On Time: About 10 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4 people as a side dish (adjust as needed)
💪 Diet-Friendly: Gluten-Free
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s so simple: Only 2 ingredients, minimal prep, and you don’t even need extra oil or seasoning. The potatoes cook in the bacon’s own fat, giving them crispiness and flavor.
- It's versatile. You can use sweet potatoes, as I do in my Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables with Sweet Potatoes & Shallots recipe, for a slightly sweeter, creamy texture, or regular potatoes.
- Perfect for any occasion: Serve it as a snack, or a side for your Baked Chicken Boats with Cheesy Broccoli Mushroom Filling.
- It’s gluten-free: With only potatoes and bacon, it's naturally gluten-free. Great for anyone avoiding wheat or gluten. No need for substitutions or specialty ingredients.
- Great for meal prep: The bacon potatoes store well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply reheat them in the air fryer or oven to bring back that crispy texture.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: I used Korean sweet potatoes, but any sweet potato or regular potatoes will taste amazing. You can even mix different kinds of potatoes for a fun flavor and texture combo. If you’re using regular potatoes, use varieties such as russet or Yukon gold; you’ll get the crispiest results due to their lower moisture content.
- Bacon: Any type of bacon works for this recipe. I like to use natural, hormone and nitrate-free bacon, but feel free to use what you have on hand. For extra flavor, try smoked or maple bacon (like I use in this Maple Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings recipe).
See the recipe card below for the ingredient quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Bacon: You can also swap in turkey bacon or pancetta for a lighter or slightly different twist.
- Add more seasonings: You can boost the taste by tossing in a bit of salt, garlic powder (or minced garlic), smoked paprika, rosemary, thyme, or black pepper before air frying.
- Make it spicy: Sprinkle in a little chili powder, cayenne, or crushed red pepper flakes before cooking. You can also drizzle with hot sauce after air frying for extra heat.
- Add more veggies: To make it a more colorful and nutrient-packed dish, toss in diced onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and/or carrots. Just make sure the vegetable pieces are similar in size to the potato cubes so everything cooks evenly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Prepare
In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and bacon together until evenly combined. Spread the mixture in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
STEP 2: Air Fry
Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, shaking halfway through, until the potatoes are tender and golden brown. Sprinkle with some chopped green onions (optionally, as garnish).
Top Tips
- Cutting potatoes into evenly sized pieces ensures they cook evenly and crisp up perfectly.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Crowding can cause them to steam instead of getting crispy.
- Sweet potatoes give a naturally creamy texture, and russets or Yukon gold potatoes crisp up the best. You can also mix different types.
- The bacon adds plenty of salt, but feel free to add a pinch of extra salt, pepper, or your favorite herbs after air frying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure to cut potatoes into uniform pieces, don’t overcrowd the basket, and shake halfway through cooking. Using lower-moisture potatoes like russets or Yukon gold will give you extra crispiness.
Yes! The potatoes cook nicely in the bacon’s own fat, which adds flavor and helps them crisp up naturally. Just toss them together before air frying.
For sure. Store cooked potatoes in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven to restore crispiness. Do not use the microwave, as it will make them more soggy.
Serving suggestions
Serve the bacon potatoes with a side salad, such as this Tuna Caesar Salad or this Asparagus Kale Salad. It's great with a protein dish, such as my Baked Chicken Thighs with Chickpeas or my Veal Chops in Mushroom Sauce. You can use the mushrooms sauce to dip the potatoes into. Yum!
Other delicious side dishes
If you tried this 2-Ingredient Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Potatoes recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And feel free to tag me on Instagram @cre8athome so I can see your creations! Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
2-Ingredient Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Potatoes – 30 Minutes
Ingredients
- 2 medium potatoes Yukon gold or russet work best for crispiness
- 5-6 slices bacon
Instructions
- Dice the potatoes into uniform cubes. Chop bacon into small pieces.2 medium potatoes, 5-6 slices bacon
- In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and bacon together until evenly coated (no extra oil needed — the bacon does the work).
- Place the potato and bacon mixture in the air fryer basket in an even layer. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, shaking halfway, until potatoes are tender inside and crispy outside.
- Optionally, toss in a bit of salt to taste and sprinkle with some chopped green onions to garnish
Notes
-
- Cutting potatoes into evenly sized pieces ensures they cook evenly and crisp up perfectly.
-
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Crowding can cause them to steam instead of getting crispy.
-
- Sweet potatoes give a naturally creamy texture, and russets or Yukon gold potatoes crisp up the best. You can also mix different types.
-
- The bacon adds plenty of salt, but feel free to add a pinch of extra salt, pepper, or your favorite herbs after air frying.
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