Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (2024)

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This Fried Potatoes Recipe will be an instant family favorite. It will remind you of your grandma’s pan fried potatoes. Easy and delicious side dish.

Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (1)

Easy Fried Potato Recipe:

We love making Fried Potato as an easy side dish. You can make them with your 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.

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How Long does it take to Make Pan Fried Potatoes?

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.

Trust me, they’re worth it. If you use a mandolin to slice your potatoes, you can save a little bit more time.

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Do you Need to Boil Potatoes before Frying?

The short answer is no, you don’t have to boil your potatoes before you pan fry them. If you want to you most definitely can. All you need to do is simply bring a large pot of salted water to boil. You need just enough water to cover the potatoes.

Add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook for roughly 20-25 minutes. Once the potatoes are fork-tender, you can fry them in a skillet for 5-10 minutes.

You can also use up those leftover potatoes in the fridge. Maybe you made too many baked potatoes, potato wedges or diced potatoes.

Instead of tossing them in the trash, pan fry them for super quick fried potatoes. They make the best breakfast potatoes with only minutes of cooking.

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How Do you Tell if 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.

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.

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Ingredients for the Best Fried Potatoes Recipe:

  • Russet Potatoes (you can also use Yukon Gold)
  • Vegetable oil or Olive oil
  • Onion; chopped or sliced (optional)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Optional spices include garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, rosemary or even seasoned salt.

How to make Fried Potatoes:

  • 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. This is the cast iron skillet that I used, though any skillet will do.
  • 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.
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Best Potatoes to Use:

The best type of potato to fry is Russet Potato 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.

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Do I have to Peel Potatoes?

Before frying the potatoes, we usually peel them but it is completely optional. If you prefer to not peel the potatoes just make sure to wash them before slicing.

Since you will be eating the entire potato, you want to make sure that you have removed any dirt and debris.

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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.

Fried potatoes and onions recipe is also a delicious way to make fried potatoes. Adding onions to the potatoes as flavor and texture to this side dish.

We even love to serve these Fried Potatoes with Crockpot Pinto Beans Recipe.

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How to Store:

Store your leftover fried potatoes in an air tight container. Make sure the potatoes are at room temperature before storing. They will last about 4 days if stored properly.

How to Reheat Pan Fried Potatoes:

You can reheat the potatoes in the microwave or place them back in the skillet to reheat. Reheating in the skillet allows for the crispy texture.

Print Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe:

Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (10)

Review

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Pan Fried Potatoes

5 from 52 votes

This pan fried potatoes recipe will be an instant family favorite! It will remind you of your grandma's pan fried potatoes!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 205

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 5 Medium Size Russet Potatoes peeled and sliced into 1/8" thick slices
  • 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • ½ onion chopped (Optional)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper

Instructions

  • Clean and peel the potatoes. Slice them into ⅛ inch thick slices.

  • Chop the onion (if you are using).

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

  • Add the sliced potatoes to the skillet.

  • Cover and cook for 10-15 until the potatoes are browned slightly around the edges and cooked halfway through.

  • Season liberally with salt and pepper.

  • Gently stir in the onions.

  • Cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes stirring frequently until the potatoes are tender and browned.

  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can use ½ tsp of Onion Powder instead of the sliced onions for this recipe.

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 205kcal, Carbohydrates 33g, Protein 4g, Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 6g, Sodium 203mg, Potassium 754mg, Fiber 3g, Sugar 1g, Vitamin C 11mg, Calcium 25mg, Iron 2mg

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More Easy Potato Recipes:

  • Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • Microwave Baked Potatoes
  • Mashed potato cakes recipe

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About the Author

Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (19)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it necessary to boil potatoes before frying? ›

Do I need to boil my potatoes first? Trust us: You seriously don't need to boil these spuds (or pre-cook them at all) before pan-frying. Slicing them thin allows them to cook through in the same amount of time that they need to get brown and crispy on the outside.

Is it better to fry potatoes in butter or oil? ›

Using both butter and oil to fry the potatoes gives you the best of both worlds. The butter will impart a delicious buttery flavor to the potatoes and the oil will keep the butter from burning.

Should potatoes be soaked before pan frying? ›

The best potatoes for French fries are soaked in a sugar solution before frying. The sugar solution has something to do with the carbohydrates and prevents the potatoes from soaking up a lot of grease, so they get crunchy.

How do you pan fry potatoes so they don't stick? ›

  1. Clean and season the pan. It helps if you have a pan with thick bottom for even heat distribution and heat buffer.
  2. Heat the pan to fairly high temperature before adding new oil.
  3. Use decent amount of oil. ...
  4. Don't disturb the potatoes right after dumping them in the pan.
Jun 28, 2016

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before frying? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Why won't my fried potatoes get crispy? ›

This sure sounds a lot like potatoes that have been stored too long, in too cold of an environment before cooking. When potatoes are held below 41°F for too long a period, the starches convert to sugar and it changes the cooking chemistry.

When should you season potatoes? ›

Roast the potatoes in a 425°F oven until they're tender and golden brown around the edges, 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Let them cool slightly, and then, while they're still warm, toss them with the dressing. Season to taste, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve!

How to cut potatoes for fried potatoes? ›

How to Cut Potatoes Into Fries with a Knife
  1. Step 1: Slice a potato in half lengthwise with a chef's knife (long potatoes are best for fries).
  2. Step 2: Lay each half cut-side down. ...
  3. Step 3: Stack about half of the slices and cut lengthwise into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick fries.
Nov 4, 2022

How long should you cook potatoes for? ›

In general small or cubed potatoes will take about 10 to 15 minutes to boil, while larger, whole potatoes will take between 20 to 25 minutes. To check potatoes for doneness, insert a knife into one. If it slides in without much effort, you're good to go!

Why do you rinse potatoes before frying? ›

By rinsing off the excess starch, you can achieve a better balance and control over the browning process, resulting in evenly cooked and beautifully golden fries. Another advantage of rinsing the potatoes is that the cold water makes the potato cells firmer, leading to crispier fries when fried.

How long do potatoes need to sit in water before frying? ›

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Allow them to soak, 2 to 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak overnight.) When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay the potatoes on 2 baking sheets lined with paper towels.

Why are my pan fried potatoes soggy? ›

Soggy fries have usually either been cooked in oil that isn't hot enough, or were cooked in too large a batch, overcrowding the pan and reducing the heat.

Should I boil potatoes before frying? ›

There are lots of recipes that call for par-boiling the potatoes first to reduce the amount of cooking time, but it's an extra step and an extra pan to wash. If you cook the potatoes over medium heat and keep them covered for most of the cooking time, the lid traps in steam, which helps cook the potatoes through.

How do you remove water from potatoes before frying? ›

After soaking the potatoes for sufficient time, drain the fries and spread them on paper towels. To remove excess moisture, bloat the top of the potatoes. Removing excess water is extremely important to make crispy fries.

Why do my fried potatoes always stick to the pan? ›

Make sure the oil is hot enough before adding the potatoes. 2. Avoid overcrowding the pan or fryer, as this can lower the oil temperature and increase the chances of sticking.

Do you always have to boil potatoes first? ›

It isn't necessary to boil potatoes before roasting but you can. Your oven generates plenty of heat, enough to completely cook diced potato pieces in a reasonable amount of time. They'll be tender in the middle and have some crispness on the outside, mostly on the side in contact with the pan they were cooked on.

How long should you parboil potatoes for? ›

A general rule of thumb is to parboil potatoes until they are fork-tender but not falling apart, this can range anywhere from 15 minutes for small potatoes to 25-30 minutes for large whole potatoes.

Why is it necessary to blanch fresh potatoes when deep frying? ›

Additionally, the starch it removes from the potato can positively impact the quality of your oil. All that is to say: blanching will add taste and texture benefits to your French fries. A blanch in a hot oil bath will lend extra crispness and golden color to your final product.

Why do restaurants soak potatoes before frying? ›

The reason is to prevent the potatoes exposure to air, which causes dehydration, oxidation, and discoloration.

References

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