Pan Fried Potatoes

We love making Fried Potato as an easy side dish. You can make them with your Over Hard Eggs in the morning or with brown beans for dinner. These crispy potatoes are the perfect comfort food and always a family favorite.

Fried potatoes cook with a crispy texture and fluffy in the center. The first dish to get eaten anytime I make them. Add your favorite seasoning including fresh herbs to create the ultimate side dish. You may even like to make Pan-Fried Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes.

Why We Love This Recipe

Being a mom of 8, we always make some type of potatoes with our meals including Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes or Easy Instant Pot Baked Potatoes. But pan fried potatoes is one of my kids favorites because of the crispy texture.

This budget friendly side dish is seasoned with simple spices but can be changed to what you prefer. If you are looking for a simple side dish, this is my go-to and is so easy to make.

Ingredients

• Russet Potatoes – Peel potatoes and slice into about the same size
• Vegetable oil, Avocado Oil or Olive oil – Use a high smoke point oil for best results. You can even use leftover bacon grease for even more flavor
• Onion – For best flavor add in chopped or sliced onions.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Seasoning Ideas

For a delicious variation for fried potatoes, feel free to add in ½ teaspoon of fresh herbs and spices. Here are some of our favorites.

• Garlic Powder
• Chili Powder
• Fresh Rosemary
• Fresh Thyme
• Paprika
• Taco Seasoning
• Seasoned Salt
• Cumin

How to Make Fried Potatoes Recipe

• Step 1 – Peel Potatoes – First peel your raw potatoes.  Then thinly slice them. Typically, I cut them in half long way and then slice them.
• Step 2 – Pour oil in Skillet – Next pour the vegetable into a large skillet. You want to use an oil with a high smoke point.
• Step 3 – Place Potatoes in Skillet – Add potatoes to the skillet and heat to medium in a single layer. Cook the potatoes in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Step 4 – Place lid on Skillet – Place a lid on the skillet and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until browned and they’re about halfway cooked.
• Step 5 – Season Potatoes – Season liberally with salt and pepper. If you do not want to use sliced onions, you can use onion powder in their place. For garlic lovers, you can also add some garlic powder.
• Step 6 – Continue Cooking – Add the onions and cook for an additional 10 minutes without the lid. Stir occasionally until potatoes are cooked through. Cooking time will vary based on how thick your potatoes are sliced.
• Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – You know they’re fully cooked when they become more translucent and the potatoes are golden and crispy.

Expert Tips

• Cooking Time – It only takes about 20 minutes to have the perfect pan-fried potatoes. Including the time it takes to peel and slice your potatoes, you’re looking at about 30 minutes from start to finish. Make sure to cover skillet with a lid to lock in the heat for the best fried potatoes.
• Preparing Potatoes – We recommend slicing the potatoes with a mandolin to slice your potatoes. This ensures that the potatoes are sliced about the same size so they cook evenly and about the same time. You can also cut into ½ inch cubes with a sharp knife on a cutting board.
• Hot Skillet – Before placing the potato slices in the skillet, make sure that the oil is hot as that helps to create a crispy texture on the potato.

What is the Best Skillet to Use?

This is the cast iron skillet that I used, though any skillet will do.  I like the way that the potatoes cook with the best crispy texture and a soft center when cooking in a cast iron skillet.

Can I Cook Potatoes in Butter?

Butter burns to quickly when cooking over high heat. When frying potatoes, we recommend cooking with a high smoke point oil for the best crispy texture.

If you prefer to add in butter, use it combination with olive oil for best results.

Ways to Serve Fried Potatoes

There are many ways to serve fried potatoes. We have diced potatoes finely to make some hash browns. Which makes it a perfect side for your breakfast with Air Fryer Bacon and Mexican Breakfast Casserole. Fried potatoes are even delicious served topped with diced avocados and with cooked bell peppers for even more flavor.

We love to serve these Fried Potatoes with Crockpot Pinto Beans Recipe, Grilled Teriyaki Steak and Fried Chicken Breasts.

Best Potatoes for Fried Potatoes

The best type of potato to fry is Russets or Yellow Gold Potatoes. You can also use red potato. We do like to soak the russet potato before frying since they have starch content.

How Do You Know When Fried Potatoes Are Done?

Most of the time you can tell when the potatoes are done simply by looking at them. You want them to be crispy and golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside.

Another good test to see if they’re done is by sticking your fork into them. You want them to be fork-tender, but not to where they are falling apart.

Frequently Asked Questions