There’s nothing I like more than a handful of chips alongside my sandwich, and I eat a sandwich for lunch often several times a week! So, I’ve switched to Ninja air fryer potato chips so I can make my own at home. Of course, you can use other brands of air fryer as well and they’ll still be delicious.
Potato chips (or crisps, depending where you’re from) is one of the most beloved snack foods. They’re crispy, salty, and available in a variety of flavors that make them the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes.
They are, however, traditionally deep fried, which means they’ve been loaded up with oil. Using the air fryer allows you to get that same crispy texture you crave, with far less oil than the traditional cooking methods.
The other nice thing about making your own is that you can control the seasonings any way you like. A simple salt and pepper is a great place to start, but you can season them up with barbecue, salt & vinegar, or create your own masterpiece!
Only 3 base ingredients are needed, but I like to add popcorn seasonings to create all sorts of great flavor options!
While I’m using my Ninja air fryer to make these perfectly crispy potato chips, know that this recipe will work for other air fryers as well. You may need to cook in different sized batches though, depending on your capacity.
What You’ll Need: Ingredients
3 medium russet potatoes
Olive oil cooking spray (or 1 Tbsp olive oil)
½ tsp sea salt (or more to taste)
Other seasonings as desired (optional)
Equipment Tip: If you have a mandolin slicer, it’s ideal for this recipe. If not, you can use a vegetable peeler or a good, sharp knife that’s going to allow you to get very thin slices.
Ingredient Notes and Tips
You do not need to peel your potatoes. Additionally, you can substitute other kinds of potatoes. Yukon gold are the next best option, but you can use others as well (note that cooking times may vary slightly)
I like the olive oil cooking spray so I can just spray on an even coat quickly, but you can toss the slices in regular olive oil if you don’t have it
How to Make Potato Chips in a Ninja Air Fryer
Using a mandolin slicer, vegetable peeler, or sharp knife, slice your potatoes into very thin, even slices
Place potato slices in bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for 30 minutes
Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with paper towels (or spread them out to air dry for 15 minutes or so). The drier your potatoes are, the crispier your chips will be
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F
Spray your potato slices with the olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle the sea salt over them. Alternatively, you can toss the potatoes in a bowl with regular olive oil and the salt
Add the potato slices into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some slight overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes, stopping halfway through to shake the basket, until they are crispy (add additional time as needed, as time can vary based on thickness of potatoes and your specific air fryer model)
Cool for a few minutes, then serve with your favorite main course or dipping sauces
What to Eat With Potato Chips
Sandwiches
Burgers
Hot dogs
Pulled pork
Fried chicken
Meatloaf
Casseroles
Hoagies
Dips
Soup
Cheese sauce
Hummus
Beer
Chocolate milkshake
There are a variety of different foods to eat with potato chips. In the case of sandwiches and casseroles, you can even put chips in the food instead of just serving on the side if you like.
Of course, sandwiches, soups, and dips come in many flavors, but they all pair perfectly with crunchy, salty potato chips.
You can even swap potato chips in for the breadcrumb topping on my Air Fryer Tuna Casserole for the ultimate in comfort food!
Recipe FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Do Chips in a Ninja Air Fryer?
On average, it takes between 8 and 10 minutes to do a batch of chips in a Ninja air fryer.
The time can vary slightly based on the thickness of your chips, as well as the specific model of Ninja air fryer you have.
How to Get Crispy Chips in an Air Fryer?
The secret to getting crispy chips in an air fryer is to cut your potato slices thin and evenly, soak them to reduce starch, and dry them completely.
Add just a small amount of oil to help with the crisping process, and don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket or rack. These tips will help to ensure you get crispy chips.
Why Do You Soak Chips in Water Before Air Frying?
You soak chips in water before air frying to draw out the natural starches. This will help your chips get crispier during cooking.
Simply cover your potato slices in cold water and allow them to sit for at least 30 minutes for best results.
Do You Put Oil in an Air Fryer For Chips?
You do not put oil in the air fryer itself for chips. Rather, coat the potato slices in a light coating of olive oil, or use a cooking spray or mist.
Very little oil, generally 1 Tablespoon or less, is required for cooking chips in an air fryer.
What is the Best Spray Oil For Air Fryer Chips?
Olive oil is the best spray oil for air fryer chips due to its high smoke point and abundant availability.
Other good options if you make your own spray oil container would be avocado oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, or grapeseed oil.
How Much Oil Should You Put in an Air Fryer For Chips?
You should use about 1 Tablespoon of oil for every 2 medium sized or 1 large sized potato you use.
Remember, the oil should be applied to the sliced potatoes and not poured into the air fryer.
Why Are My Chips Not Cooking Evenly in My Ninja Air Fryer?
Generally, your chips are not cooking evenly in your Ninja air fryer if they are overcrowded, not getting shaken enough, are cut into different sizes, or are of uneven moisture levels.
Make sure to use dry potato slices cut evenly, cook in a single layer, and to shake the basket around every 5 minutes of cooking.
Recipe Pro Tips
The mandolin slicer is definitely the way to go for slicing your potatoes if you have one; after that, the vegetable peeler and then a knife in that order. The thinner and more evenly sized your slices are, the better your chips will turn out
I always recommend starting with the low end of cooking time, and then adding additional time in small increments beyond that. If some of the chips are crisp and brown, pull them out and put anything still wet back in (otherwise the cooked ones will burn)
Storage Tips
Store any leftover air fryer potato chips after cooling completely in a sealed bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks
If they get a little bit soggy or stale, pop the chips back in the air fryer for about 3 minutes at 350°F to re-crisp them up
These Ninja air fryer potato chips are a great way to make your own chips at home. Are they exactly the same as ripping open a package from the grocery store? No, they’re not. But, they’re still crispy, tasty, and far better for you than the deep fried alternative.
You can also season them up any way you want, so you’re not stuck picking from the available options on the shelf.
Sure, they take some work to make just right, but you’ll be rewarded with a crispy, delicious treat for your efforts!
Ninja Air Fryer Potato Chips
Crispy Ninja air fryer potato chips are a delicious homemade snack. Season them any way you like, with far less oil than deep fried chips!
Using a mandolin slicer, vegetable peeler, or sharp knife, slice your potatoes into very thin, even slices
3 Medium russet potatoes
Place potato slices in bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for 30 minutes
Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with paper towels (or spread them out to air dry for 15 minutes or so). The drier your potatoes are, the crispier your chips will be
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F
Spray your potato slices with the olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle the sea salt over them (plus any other desired seasonings). Alternatively, you can toss the potatoes in a bowl with regular olive oil and the salt
Olive oil cooking spray, 1 Tsp sea salt, Other seasonings as desired
Add the potato slices into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some slight overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes, stopping halfway through to shake the basket, until they are crispy (add additional time as needed, as time can vary based on thickness of potatoes and your specific air fryer model)
Cool for a few minutes, then serve with your favorite main course or dipping sauces
Notes
You do not need to peel your potatoes. Additionally, you can substitute other kinds of potatoes. Yukon gold are the next best option, but you can use others as well (note that cooking times may vary slightly)
I like the olive oil cooking spray so I can just spray on an even coat quickly, but you can toss the slices in regular olive oil if you don’t have it
The mandolin slicer is definitely the way to go for slicing your potatoes if you have one; after that, the vegetable peeler and then a knife in that order. The thinner and more evenly sized your slices are, the better your chips will turn out
I always recommend starting with the low end of cooking time, and then adding additional time in small increments beyond that. If some of the chips are crisp and brown, pull them out and put anything still wet back in (otherwise the cooked ones will burn)
Store any leftover air fryer potato chips after cooling completely in a sealed bag or airtight container for up to 2 weeks
If they get a little bit soggy or stale, pop the chips back in the air fryer for about 3 minutes at 350°F to re-crisp them up
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
