Crispy Dill Pickle Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes (Whole30) Recipe
Crispy Dill Pickle Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are a flavorful, tangy twist on classic smashed potatoes, cooked to crispy perfection using an air fryer. Infused with pickle juice and fresh dill, these Whole30-friendly potatoes are paired with a zesty dill pickle aioli, making them a perfect snack or side dish for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes and Seasoning
- 2 lb baby potatoes
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp pickle juice
- 1 tbsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
- Water (enough to cover potatoes)
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tbsp fresh dill (minced)
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
Dill Pickle Aioli
- 1/2 cup paleo mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (minced)
- 2 tbsp chopped pickles
- 1 tbsp pickle juice
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: In a medium saucepan, combine the baby potatoes, 1 cup of pickle juice, sea salt, and enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Prepare Dill Pickle Aioli: While the potatoes simmer, mix together the paleo mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped pickles, and 1 tablespoon pickle juice. Chill the aioli in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Drain and Smash: Once the potatoes are tender, drain and transfer them to a baking sheet. Using a potato masher or the bottom of a mug, gently flatten each potato to about 1/2 inch thick, allowing some to fall apart for extra crispiness.
- Coat with Ghee and Season: Drizzle the ghee over the smashed potatoes and use a metal spoon to gently coat and lightly scratch the surface of each potato. Sprinkle additional sea salt to taste.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F and let it preheat for 5 minutes.
- Air Fry Potatoes: Place the smashed potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on size, you may need to work in batches. Air fry for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and immediately sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of pickle juice, fresh chopped dill, salt, and black pepper to taste. Serve hot with the chilled dill pickle aioli on the side.
- Oven Alternative: If preferred, preheat the oven to 450°F, arrange the smashed potatoes on the baking sheet in a single layer, and bake for 20-25 minutes until crispy with browned bits. Finish and serve as above.
Notes
- Using ghee enhances the flavor while keeping this recipe Whole30-compliant.
- The pickle juice adds a tangy zest that complements the potatoes perfectly; use your favorite dill pickles for best results.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the potatoes and your specific air fryer model.
- This recipe can be made vegan by substituting ghee with a plant-based oil and using vegan mayonnaise.
- For extra crispiness, flip the potatoes halfway through air frying or baking.
Keywords: smashed potatoes, air fryer potatoes, crispy potatoes, dill pickle potatoes, Whole30, paleo side dish, dill pickle aioli
