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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

How to Make Crispy Fried Potatoes

Published: Jan 14, 2023 Last Updated: May 12, 2023 by Marye 2045 words. | About 11 minutes to read this article.

40 minutes mins
Southern fried potatoes, slightly charred with a crispy golden crust on the outside and meltingly tender and buttery on the inside are delicious as breakfast potatoes or an easy side dish anytime!
Jump to Recipe
Fried potatoes in a skillet with text overlay for Pinterest
Pinterest pin with title text overlay showing golden fried potatoes in a skillet.

If you want to learn how to make the best home fries I've got you! This easy side dish can be served at any meal.

Closeup of golden brown fried potatoes in an iron skillet.
Crispy southern fried potatoes and onions are an old fashioned side dish that everyone loves!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 📋 Ingredients
  • 🧂 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 🥔 Soak the potatoes
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs
  • ➡️ Why aren't my fried potatoes crispy?
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Southern fried potatoes are an ideal side dish for almost everything and just about everyone's favorite
  • Simple ingredients
  • Quick, easy recipe!

One reader, Edna, says, "THANK YOU! I have been digging through recipes looking for someone who makes these potatoes like my momma used to. I can't tell you how happy I am that I landed on yours. THEY'RE PERFECT."

📋 Ingredients

You don't need much for fried potatoes.

Labeled ingredients for fried potatoes.
  • The type of potatoes makes a difference. The best potatoes for frying are Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes. I've used red potatoes as well.
  • If you use Russets you definitely want to soak them in water before frying because they have a high starch content but they will be crispier overall.
  • Peanut oil or any light vegetable oil is necessary to make the best fried potatoes with the crispy crust you're looking for. I prefer peanut oil over olive oil because of its high smoke point but use what you have.

🧂 Variations

  • Onions - slice sweet onion and add when the potatoes begin to get translucent. Or for caramelized onions slow cook in butter until they are deep golden brown and then mix in with the potatoes just before removing from the stove.
  • For breakfast potatoes cook up some bulk sausage then remove it from the pan. Add the potatoes and a little extra oil and fry them as directed. Stir the sausage back in to the finished potatoes. YUM!
  • Add a little chili powder and cilantro for some southwestern flavor
  • Fresh garlic, garlic salt, or garlic powder to taste
  • Poblano, bell peppers, or jalapeno peppers
  • Stir in crispy bacon just before serving
  • Sprinkle with fresh herbs; dill weed, rosemary, or whatever you like

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Step by step images for pan fried potatoes illustrating the numbered steps.
  1. Peel and slice (or cube) potatoes. Or don't peel - just wash really well.
  2. Let soak in ice water. Drain well and pat dry. If you are using thin skinned varieties you can skip this step.
  3. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium-high heat until it’s shimmering and almost smoking. Watch it carefully or you'll have a fire!
  4. Add the potato slices and pan fry potatoes until they start to get golden  on the bottom.  Cover the pan and reduce heat to medium. Allow to steam for about 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Remove cover and turn the heat back up to medium high. Flip the potatoes. Fry for a minute or two, or until the bottom layer begins to get golden.
  6. Dump the pan into a colander over the sink to remove excess oil and moisture. Blot with a paper towel and return them to the pan on medium heat. Return to the pan.
  7. Add sweet yellow onion and peppers plus any seasonings you’d like. Fry, stirring occasionally, until tender and done. Do not cover at this stage of frying because they will get soggy!
  8. Add the butter at the very end of cooking.
  9. Cook just a few more minutes and then serve hot.

🥫 Storage

Let leftover fried potatoes come to room temperature then put them in an airtight container (or cover with plastic wrap) and refrigerate. They'll be good for about 4 days.

Potatoes just don't freeze well so I don't recommend that.

🥔 Soak the potatoes

This recipe works every time because of one easy extra step -

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.

If you're using a thin skinned potato variety feel free to skip!

💭 Things to know

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.

  • Slice potatoes or cube them but make sure they're the same size so that they all cook evenly. They shouldn’t be too thick or too thin — about ⅛ inch is right or 2-inch cubes.
  • Use peanut oil unless someone has an allergy. It is the best oil I have found for frying.
  • The amount of oil needed for good, crispy fried potatoes may vary from one time to the next. Use enough to keep them from sticking.
  • Let the oil get really hot before adding ingredients. It won’t smoke but it will ripple in the pan.
  • Add the potatoes in a single layer.
  • Don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • Be careful not to turn them too soon! Check the undersides after 2 or 3 minutes to judge how soon you'll need to flip them. Watch carefully, though. You don't want them to burn and stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • I use kosher salt. If you use regular table salt you'll need a little less.
Closeup of potatoes frying in the pan.
Perfectly seasoned fried potatoes, crispy and golden brown, are the easiest things in the world to make with these tips!

👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Can you use butter instead of oil?

You can but you won't be able to use high heat. If you're set on using butter I'd recommend using cold, boiled potatoes that have been patted dry. Slice them and cook in butter until golden brown.

Why do you soak the slices before frying?

Soaking in cold water helps to remove excess starch. This allows them to fry up crispier, without burning or sticking.
Actually, if you use a low starch variety like Yukon Gold you don't have to soak them.

How do you keep fried potatoes from sticking?

The secret is removing the starch AND using a light oil and high heat.

➡️ Why aren't my fried potatoes crispy?

If your homemade fried potatoes are soggy rather than the crispy potatoes you crave, or raw rather than tender, or even burnt rather than golden brown you are probably doing (or not doing) one of the  following:

  • You’re using the wrong oil
  • You’re using very starchy potatoes and not soaking to remove some of the starch
  • You’re putting them in the pan wet
  • You are overcrowding the pan and they are steaming
  • You are covering and leaving the cover on the pan too long

When all else fails check your skillet. Cast iron is definitely THE BEST pan for perfect fried potatoes.

Close up of sliced, fried potatoes.
Crispy fried potatoes are easy to make!

📚 Related recipes

Southern fried potatoes and onions taste just like home. This is basic comfort food.

Here are more delicious side dishes to compliment any meal.

  • Homemade Tater Tots are a lot easier than you might think!
  • Creamy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet Dinner is creamy comfort food in minutes.
  • Old Fashioned Potato Soup Recipe is a family recipe. It's my favorite when I'm feeling down.
  • Try these potatoes with some sausage gravy for breakfast - yum!

Next time try Noodles Romanoff! It's another vintage recipe I bet your mom made.

  • Closeup of fried cabbage and bacon in a skillet.
    Old-Fashioned Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
  • Collage of side dishes to serve with ravioli.
    What to Serve with Ravioli
  • Closeup of the top of the casserole in a dish for featured image.
    Southern Eggplant Casserole
  • Overhead view of a bowl of butterbeans with bacon.
    Southern Butter Beans

🍽️ Serve with...

There's nothing like a country morning with a big plate of breakfast potatoes and some hearty add-ons like -

  • Biscuits
  • Sausage Gravy
  • Egg Bites

For dinner fried potatoes go with anything! I like to slice up smoked sausage and add it about 5 minutes before serving - just to warm it up. Other possibilities?

  • meatloaf
  • Lipton onion soup burgers
  • apricot chicken
  • chicken and cream gravy
  • fried pork chops and gravy

Give my mom's crispy fried potatoes recipe a try and see if they aren't a big bite of home.

What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

📞 The last word

Next time you're hungry for comfort food try this cheesy hash brown casserole.

What do you serve with fried potatoes? Leave a comment below and let us know!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Wooden spatula removing fried potatoes out of iron skillet.
4.62 from 229 votes

Crispy Fried Potatoes

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Southern fried potatoes, slightly charred with a crispy golden crust on the outside and meltingly tender and buttery on the inside are delicious as breakfast potatoes or an easy side dish anytime!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Soaking Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:265
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 6 - 8 large potatoes, peeled (or not) and sliced about ¼-inch thick
  • 1 sweet onion, optional
  • 1 clove garlic, optional
  • 1 bell pepper, optional - green, red, poblano, jalapeno, all of them - you decide
  • salt to taste, I prefer kosher salt
  • black pepper to taste, I prefer coarse ground pepper
  • ¼ cup peanut oil, light vegetable oil will work if there are allergy issues
  • 2 tablespoons butter

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Peel and slice (or cube) potatoes. You can also leave them unpeeled - just wash well.
  • Let soak for 5-10 minutes in ice water in a large mixing bowl. You may skip this step if you like.
  • Drain well and pat dry - make sure they are VERY dry!
  • Heat ¼ cup peanut oil in a large skillet on medium high heat until it's shimmering and almost smoking.
  • Add potatoes and let fry for about 2 minutes or until they start to get golden  on the bottom. 
  • Cover the pan and reduce heat to medium. Allow to steam for about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Remove cover and turn the heat back up to medium high. Flip the potatoes. Fry for a minute or two, or until the bottom layer begins to get golden.
  • Dump the pan of potatoes into a colander over the sink to remove excess oil and moisture. Blot with a paper towel and return them to the pan on medium heat.
  • Add the onion and peppers plus any seasonings you'd like on your potatoes.
  • Saute, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and done. Do not cover at this stage of frying because they will get soggy!
  • Add the butter at the very end of cooking.
  • Taste for seasoning and serve hot with plenty of cracked black pepper.

Notes

Storage:
Let leftover fried potatoes come to room temperature then put them in an airtight container (or cover with plastic wrap) and refrigerate. They'll be good for about 4 days.
Potatoes just don't freeze well so I don't recommend that.
Tips:
  • Slice or cube potatoes the same size so that they all cook evenly. They shouldn’t be too thick or too thin — about ⅛ inch is right.
  • Slice them into salted ice water and let them soak  for five minutes or so. Drain, rinse and pat dry before frying. Do not try to fry them when they are wet. You can skip this step if you want, especially if you're using thin skinned potatoes like Yukon Gold.
  • Use peanut oil unless someone has an allergy. It is the best oil I have found for frying.
  • The amount of oil needed may vary from one time to the next. Use enough to keep them from sticking.
  • Fry potatoes in an iron skillet if you have one – try not to fry them in nonstick. The nonstick coating hampers the frying process because it doesn’t get hot enough.
  • Let the oil get really hot before adding potatoes. It won’t smoke but it will ripple in the pan.
  • Don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • You can put a cover on the skillet to help them cook for the first bit but take it off for the last part of cooking or your potatoes will be soggy.
  • If these potatoes still aren’t the recipe that you’ve been looking for try this. Boil the potatoes until almost done the night before. Drain and refrigerate. Next day pat them dry and fry. You can also bake potatoes (or use leftover baked potatoes) and use them for pan fried potatoes.
Try these easy top of the stove au gratin potatoes!
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 1211mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 17.7mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2.5mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    First published September 2011. Last updated January 14, 2023 to add more & clearer information.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    1. Larry

      February 27, 2023 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      very good...will make again!

      Reply
    2. Cindy

      August 24, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      I love these pan fried breakfast potatoes. They are perfect with your biscuit and gravy recipe.

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 25, 2022 at 6:37 pm

        Thanks Cindy! We do love these easy fried potatoes for breakfast!!

        Reply
    3. Holly

      August 24, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      I have been looking for a good breakfast potatoes! I have never pan fried with peanut oil, but loved the results. These potatoes turn out so crispy and yummy. Thanks!!!

      Reply
    4. MARK SUGARMAN

      March 02, 2022 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      Haven't been cooking much since my stroke. Can't wait to try these taters and start cooking again. Everything is better cooked with cast iron skillet. Amen

      Reply
    5. Pam Eurto

      August 25, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      These look great.and need to be on the menu this week. Unfortunate for you there will always be someone gripping at you. This is usually due to their inability to.follow directions. Or changing the ingedients.. I did love you comment to him, well done.

      Reply
    6. Dianne

      August 21, 2021 at 8:42 am

      I have a glass topped stove, so I can't use my iron skillet and you say not to use nonstick. What is the best alternative?

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 21, 2021 at 1:03 pm

        The glass topped stove doesn't allow pans to get hot enough to really get a good caramelization which is the same problem with the non-stick pans... so in that case you can use the nonstick pan because it won't make a difference.

        Reply
      • Kathryn

        July 15, 2022 at 6:56 pm

        Actually I have a glass top stove and several cast iron skillets. You can use them and they get plenty hot to fry anything you like.

        Reply
    7. Squirrel Butler

      August 03, 2021 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      Thanks, Marye, I am trying these out today!

      Reply
    8. Squirrel Butler

      July 27, 2021 at 9:40 am

      5 stars
      Man, I REALLY want to make these!!

      But the instructions are contradictory, at least to me! It says to fry for 2-3 minutes, check bottoms, but it doesn't say to flip them at that point; it says to check them, and then cover the pan and reduce heat. It doesn't say to flip them until after the steaming. Is that correct?

      Also, in the helpful notes above the recipe (and they really are helpful, so thank you!), it says to fry for 10 minutes without touching them, until they're browned at the edges, and then flip and fry the other side for 5 more minutes, which is totally different from what the recipe card says to do.

      I am not trying to be critical, i really am not. These look delicious, and other reviewers have raved about them, but I suspect they have more 'kitchen intuition' than I do, and know how to make sense of the differing instructions.

      Help! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 27, 2021 at 11:14 pm

        You flip them after steaming. In the notes it did say to fry 10 minutes but it should have said 5-10 minutes because a lot depends on the exact heat of your pan, the oil you use, the type of potatoes you use and so on. Thank you for your questions - I try to think of how the instructions should read but I don't always get it right. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Deborah

      November 15, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      The round fried ones are what I grew up calling pan fried potatoes. I learned how to do them from my grandmother. She’d put a lid on the pan for a bit and cook them on a lower temperature, then take the lid off and turn up the heat some to brown and crisp them. Of course she added the onion and black pepper. We ate these with pinto beans or purple hull peas, onion and cornbread. And in season, sliced tomatoes. Makes me so hungry!

      Reply
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