Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes are baby potatoes cooked in your air fryer and topped with sour cream and chives. They are super simple to make and make a delicious party snack.
Why make Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
These baby baked potatoes are so quick and easy to make that it’s a bit of a no-brainer to add them to your repertoire of party snacks and appetisers. And making them in your air fryer means you can make them quickly while your oven is used for other things.
I’m always a little disappointed with the party snacks and canapes that you can buy from the supermarket. They look great on the packet but are often flavourless or they all taste the same. I’ve bought them in the past because I hope they will save me time. But these Mini Baked Potatoes take no more time to prepare than opening a packet of ready made snacks and they taste so much better.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a bit like a mini oven. However, the element is only at the top of the air fryer and it uses a powerful fan to circulate the heat. This combination of intense heat and circulation means that food crisps up quickly.
Air fryers were originally sold for their ability to create ‘fried’ food with less fat. However, there has been lots of development of air fryers and they have the potential to cook and bake all kinds of foods.
What kind of Air Fryer can I use?
You will need the kind of air fryer that has temperature control as well as a timer. Otherwise, any air fryer brand should do the job very well.
My air fryer is a model with a pull-out square drawer and it needs to be pre-heated before use. If you have a different kind of air fryer you may have to adjust the timing or temperature by a minute or two either way.
Can I make the Mini Baked Potatoes in my oven?
You can bake the potatoes in an air fryer or an oven. I have included the instructions for oven baking in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.
What ingredients do I need to make Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
You really don’t need many ingredients to make these party snacks and they are all readily available. Here is what you need.
- Baby potatoes
- Oil
- Salt
- Sour Cream
- Chives
A full list of the ingredients and the required quantities is found in the recipe card at the end of this article.
What kind of potatoes do I need for the Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
You will need baby potatoes that are all of a similar size. I use the small potatoes that I grow in my garden. However, most supermarkets sell bags of baby potatoes for salads and roasting, and these are suitable for this recipe.
What kind of oil do I need?
I use olive oil for this recipe but you can use any cooking oil. Flavourless oils such as sunflower and rapeseed oil (canola) are also good.
Why do I need to use oil on the Mini Baked potato Canapes?
The oil on the potato skin helps to crisp the skin and adds a little shine to the potatoes which makes them look nicer.
Can I use an oil spray?
You can use an oil spray but make sure it is one that is suitable for air fryers. Some sprays have additives that burn in the air fryer, best of all use a spray that you fill with the oil of your choice.
What kind of salt should I use for the Baked Potato Canapes?
I use sea salt flakes because they stick to the oil on the potatoes and look good as sparkling crystals. The salt helps with the crisping of the potato skin as well as seasoning them.
What is sour cream?
Sour cream is a cultured cream, it’s made by adding lactic acid and sometimes milk to thicken and sour it. It’s a bit like the process used to make yogurt but with cream instead of yogurt. Sour Cream works really well with the potatoes as it has a nice tang to it.
Can I substitute Creme Fraiche for the sour cream?
You can use creme fraiche in this recipe. It has a similar consistency and is made using a slightly different culture method to sour cream but also has a slight sharpness that works well with savoury dishes.
What are chives?
Chives are part of the allium (onion) family and a perennial herb. Once you plant chives in your garden they will keep coming back every year. If you plant them in a pot you may have to repot them every couple of years as the bulbs multiply quickly and will fill the pot!
It’s the bright green grass-like stems of chives that we eat. They have mild onion-like taste and make a great garnish for lots of dishes.
What can I substitute for the chives to top the Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
You can change the garnish to suit what you have available. Very finely chopped spring onions (scallions) would be the most obvious substitute. But if you prefer not to have an onion flavour then finely chopped, parsley or coriander (cilantro) would taste good. You might even just want to top the sour cream with some freshly ground black pepper.
Can I use ready made sour cream and chive dip?
If you have some sour cream and chive dip then you certainly can use this to top the potatoes. I do think that fresh herbs look better but as long as the dip tastes good then go for it.
Can I make the Mini Baked Potatoes ahead of time?
These snacks are better made just before serving. You can prepare everything, then pop the potatoes into your air fryer and bake. If you actually bake the potatoes before the event you will still need to reheat them for at least 5 minutes. Because of the size of the potatoes I’ve found that this results in the potato inside becoming a bit dry.
Can I freeze Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
I don’t recommend freezing the potatoes because they tend to dry out when reheated.
Can I increase the quantities?
This recipe is for 8 Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes as I would expect them to be served with other snacks. It is very easy to increase the numbers although you may need to make more than one batch in your air fryer. If you are making a very large number you may wish to use your oven.
Vegetarian
These Mini Baked Potato Canapes are suitable for vegetarians.
Gluten Free
There are no ingredients in this recipe that contain gluten.
For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How should I serve Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes?
These Mini Baked Potato Canapes can be served just as they are, or you can vary the toppings on the potatoes. Here are some ideas for alternative toppings to the sour cream and chives:
- My Air Fryer Sun Dried Tomato Dip is a great choice as a topping.
- A little grated cheddar cheese is always popular. Try adding the cheese then pop the potatoes back in the air fryer for a further minute to melt the cheese.
- Another great topping is Easy Smoked Mackerel Pate.
- Or drizzle over some of this gorgeous Honey Mustard Mayo.
Although you can serve mini baked potatoes with a variety of toppings, I think it’s much nicer to serve them as part of a selection of other canapes or appetisers. I usually only serve one warm item like the mini baked potatoes for ease of preparation. Here are some ideas for homemade snacks and bites that will make your party the talk of the town.
Air Fryer Mini Baked Potato Canapes Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Sharp knife
- chopping board
- Measuring spoons
- large plate or dish
Ingredients
- 8 baby potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 6 tbsp sour cream
- 2 tsp chopped chives
Instructions
- Wash the 8 potatoes and use a sharp knife to cut a cross on the top of each potato.
- Put the potatoes into a dish, add 1 tbsp of oil and turn the potatoes in the oil. Sprinkle 1 tsp sea salt over the potatoes.
- Pre heat your air fryer if required.
- Bake the potatoes at 200C/400F for 15 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes from the air fryer and place on a wooden board. Cut the crosses on the top of the potatoes about half way down.
- Press the sides of the potatoes to push up the soft fluffy potato.
- Add a teaspoon of sour cream to the top of each potato and sprinkle with finely chopped chives.
- Serve the Mini Baked Potato Canapes immediately alongside other snacks and bites.
Chloe says
love this, baby potatoes are so good air fried but I’ve never thought of them as good for nibbles like this! No party for me but I made them into a little lunch alongside some leftover soup and they were delish!
Janice Pattie says
That’s a great idea, glad you enjoyed them with your soup.
Lesley says
This is the perfect party snack and so easy to make. The biggest problem was not eating them all before they made it to the plate – delicious!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Lesley. So happy to hear these snacks are irressistible.
Sisley says
Air fryer canapes that are this delicious should be banned as I won’t share them. I’ve made 2 batches already and I can’t wait to make them again.
Janice Pattie says
Ha! Will power is not included with this recipe 😉
Cat says
These are fantastic! I must admit I made this as a snack and next time I will definitely be doubling the recipe if I have to share them with my husband again!
Janice Pattie says
That’s great to hear. Hope your husband enjoys them too.