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.

Easy Pan Fried Potatoes Recipe (2)

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 51 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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  • 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

Can I just fry potatoes without boiling them? ›

How do you know when fried potatoes are done? It takes about 20 minutes for the potatoes to be tender (which is about the same amount of time it would take for the water to come up to a boil and for the potatoes to cook in it, therefore there's no need to incorporate boiling into the process).

Should you soak potatoes before pan frying? ›

First, get the starch off! Rinsing or soaking the potatoes for an hour (or, even better, overnight) will remove some of the starch from the surface and prevent the sugars from browning before the potatoes are cooked.

How long does it take for potatoes to fry in oil? ›

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oils. Add potatoes and season with rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook, undisturbed, until potatoes are golden and crusty underneath, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip potatoes and cook until golden on other sides, 4 to 5 minutes more.

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

Preheat the pan properly

Before adding your potatoes, preheat the pan over medium heat for a few minutes. Ensure that the pan is evenly heated, as this will create a barrier between the potatoes and the pan's surface, reducing the risk of sticking.

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

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

Should you cover potatoes when frying? ›

Add the potatoes evenly and sprinkle the onions over the top. Cover and cook about 8 minutes. Remove the lid and add the salt and pepper. Flip the potatoes and continue to cook for about 10 more minutes, flipping once or twice more, or until golden brown and tender.

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

As to the question, how long immersion is necessary? Only as long as you need to hold the potatoes until needed for the fry stage(s). This could be as little as a few minutes – to overnight storage in your walk-in cooler.

Why aren't my pan fried potatoes 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.

Do you put seasoning before or after cooking potatoes? ›

It is best to season the potatoes before or during cooking, rather than after they have finished cooking. When you season the potatoes before or during cooking, the salt and other spices can penetrate the potatoes and enhance their flavor throughout. This can help to create a more even flavor throughout the potatoes.

Why won't my potatoes get crispy in oil? ›

Expert Tip: Fry in a cast-iron pan if you have one – try not to use a nonstick. The coating hampers the frying process because it doesn't get hot enough. If you're using russet potatoes then start by soaking the raw potatoes in ice water to remove the starch. This step makes them extra crispy and delicious.

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.

How do you know when potatoes are done frying? ›

Leave the fried potatoes to cook thoroughly until they float to the top of the oil. Once they float up to the top and stay there for one full minute, they are done. The key to knowing when they are done is that they will all float and stay on the surface of the oil.

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.

Why are my pan fried potatoes soggy? ›

Pouring cool or room temp oil over the potatoes is a sure fire way to end up with soggy spuds.

Why do my fried potatoes fall apart? ›

Avoid stirring too much when frying. Try frying raw potatoes in enough oil (I usually pour ~0.3 cm of oil for a full pan of potatoes) on medium-high or high heat WITHOUT the lid and WITHOUT salt/pepper. Stir them not often (but don't let them burn, indeed) till they are crispy enough on all sides.

Can you fry potatoes without blanching? ›

The un-blanched fries can turn out dark (especially if the potatoes were stored too cold before they got to you). I know a few places that successfully do fresh cut fries without blanching, like In N Out, but they are the exception rather than the rule and have a whole bank of fryers to work with.

What happens when you fry raw potatoes? ›

But frying raw potatoes will probably not bring about the result you want, unless you fry them once for the initial cooking (usually at a lower temperature), let them cool, then re-fry them again at the normal, higher temperature. Potatoes fried once don't turn crispy on the outside.

What happens if you don't boil potatoes enough? ›

Raw or undercooked potatoes can contain solanine, a naturally occurring toxin that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed in large amounts.

Is it okay to fry meat without boiling? ›

You don't need to boil meat you are going to fry.

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