Learn how to make home fries crispy like the ones at your local diner! The secret to getting a crispy surface on home fries is to make sure the potatoes aren’t warm when you pan-fry them. In this recipe, we precook the potatoes and let them cool to room temperature before they hit the buttered pan, ensuring perfectly crusty and crispy edges.
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- 1 pinch onion powder
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Directions
Step 1
Arrange potatoes evenly on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high until just tender, about 4 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Cut potatoes into bite-sized chunks.
Step 2
Heat butter and olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until butter melts and starts to turn brown. Swirl the pan and add potatoes; shake the pan to arrange in an even layer. Season with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 3
Continue to toss potatoes and cook until reddish-brown, crusty, and crispy on the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. If potatoes are cooking too quickly, reduce the heat to medium. Garnish with chives.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 4 | |
Calories 306 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat10g | 13% |
Saturated Fat3g | 14% |
Cholesterol8mg | 3% |
Sodium35mg | 2% |
Total Carbohydrate51g | 18% |
Dietary Fiber4g | 13% |
Protein6g | |
Vitamin C16mg | 82% |
Calcium39mg | 3% |
Iron3mg | 14% |
Potassium1167mg | 25% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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source by allrecipe
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- by: Mousielove
- 7 years ago
Good. However, I do a short cut by baking extra “baked” potatoes and chill them overnight in the fridge. Next morning, cut into desired sized pieces, season and fry. I don’t bother with peeling them at all. Much easier, quicker and cheaper than buying pre-packaged, cubed potatoes. Want to peel them? Save the clean peels, spray with cooking spray or toss with vegetable oil. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook in a pre-heated oven at 400 for 15 minutes – easy potato chips.
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- by: Lynn Decker
- 7 years ago
I made these the other night, but instead of microwaving (I don’t care for the texture after microwaving taters), I steamed them in the pressure cooker for 4 minutes at high pressure with a quick release (I used the steamer basket so the potatoes wouldn’t be waterlogged). Perfection!
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- by: Carol
- 7 years ago
This recipe popped into my inbox just in time. I have a full day planned and needed a decent breakfast. Got a couple of potatoes into the microwave then cooling on the cutting board while I took a shower. Cut up and into the fry pan with the seasonings as listed. 1 egg in the same pan and breakfast is ready with a cup of coffee. I too, do love hash browns made with left over baked potatoes but this is a very decent alternative when those are not on hand. Much better than frozen!
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- by: Loved To Cook
- 7 years ago
I followed the instructions except after cooking, I cut up the potatoes, put in a plastic bag and put in the frig overnight. They turned black along the edges! I cut that off each piece–very time consuming–then cooked per instructions. They were very good, crispy on the outside but soft in the middle, just like we like them. Next time I’ll add more garlic powder.
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- by: Chez Robe-Air
- 7 years ago
It was not bad, and I say this because when I usually make home fries I’m stirring in fresh chopped onions, green peppers, mushrooms and bacon bits or diced ham with it. Perhaps I’m making an unfair comparison considering. This recipe is still good but lacking, by myself the family consensus.
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- by: Mountaingirl
- 7 years ago
I’m not one to “cook” in the microwave. I made 2 batches, one precooked in the microwave, and the other precooked by boiling the peeled and quartered potatoes in lightly salted water for 10-12 minutes. Both methods turned out fine.
I fried the microwaved potatoes first. They ended up over seasoned and over cooked. I should have turned the heat down about halfway through the frying. Chalk that one up to cook error.
The second batch turned out beautifully, and are delicious. I will make this again, but will precook by boiling, since it seemed to work just as well.
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- by: Old Man
- 7 years ago
I’ve made these twice now. The first time I used a nonstick skillet and most of the brown of the potatoes was stuck to the bottom of the pan, so much for nonstick. The second time I used a black skillet and all was good. I baked several potatoes in the oven, then put them in the refrigerator. Each day I want potatoes I pull one out of the refrigerator, peal it, cut it up and cook it. When I ask my wife what kind of side she wants these are it.
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- by: Sam2
- 7 years ago
These were perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside!!! I followed the recipe exactly, with the exception of leaving out the cayenne since my kids don’t like heat. I’ve been trying to make crispy breakfast potatoes for years, and I finally found the perfect recipe!! (Reheated the next day in a pan with a little more butter and olive oil – practically as good the second time!)
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- by: Normita
- 7 years ago
These were good, and they turned out just as the recipe said–crispy on the outside, soft inside. But how do you stop them from turning black?! Definitely don’t like cutting all the black off before cooking. Also, a “pinch” of onion powder and one of garlic powder wasn’t enough, to my taste. Maybe I don’t know how much a “pinch really is! Maybe I could microwave without peeling, put in frig to cool, then peel right before cooking. This recipe definitely needs some work before it becomes an “old standby.”
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- by: Jmmiller
- 7 years ago
These were excellent… i always wondered how restaurants made them… I tried so many times and it never worked out- but now i know exactly how to make it! As far as the spices… i used garlic salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Next time as others reviewers indicated I will use onions and bell peppers. Thank you for the recipe!
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- by: Chrisb
- 7 years ago
Made as directed. As my potatoes cooled, post microwave, they turned brown and gross looking. This was over a two hour time period left on the counter to cool to room temp pre cooking. I had to throw out some of the uglier ones, about a quarter of the potatoes and then cooked the rest. They did not get crispy either. There were crispy edges but not all over as in Chef John’s video. I will not make again using this method.
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- by: Sheryl Ludwig Franey
- 6 years ago
A very good recipe! Ideally prep your potatoes the night before (assuming you want them for breakfast). I came across this recipe one weekend morning when we were going through and single digit cold snap. I prepped the potatoes as directed and placed them outside on the patio while preparing pancake batter. In the video he suggests cold potatoes work best. I must say the were delicious!
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- by: Vanessa Knob
- 5 years ago
I followed the recipe. They turned crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
After softening them in the microwave I put them in freezer to cool. As soon as they were cool I cut them up( skin on). And finished dish on the stove. Don’t let the potatoes cool too long that is what makes them turn . -
- by: Cat
- 4 years ago
I thought I could never make these. I longed for them but every time I tried they came out gray, raw, burnt or inedible. Followed the recipe exactly the results were predictably just like the video and they were eaten with coincidentally the best eggs I’d ever made with some sriracha ketchup. Happy days.
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- by: Joy Osomiha
- 3 years ago
I made this recipe today, 22/8/2021. I made 2 servings, baked my whole potato at 350?F for an hour, wrapped in foil and refrigerated overnight. The next morning, rather than frying, I cut them into bite sizes, and baked at 400?F for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, and they were perfectly crispy. I used 1 TBSP of Olive Oil and a tsp of butter which I patted on the potatoes, added a clove of garlic, chopped onion rather than powder, and a chopped Chili pepper. Served with homemade Ketchup and fried egg. What a sumptuous breakfast! Thanks Chef John.
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- by: Graces
- 2 years ago
Chef John is King. This method is a revelation. The missing fifth star is because I think less is more. My country home fries get fried in plain vegetable oil that is virtually tasteless, and they are seasoned with only salt and pepper. I hate ordering them in a restaurant only to find they have been doctored up with everything but the kitchen sink. Mine are also golden and crispy, not fried quite as much as Chef John’s, and dipped in ketchup they are delicious. I also cook two or three baking potatoes at a time and store the bite sized chunks in the refrigerator for future frying. Now I need to learn how to flip them in the skillet.
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- by: Sue
- 2 years ago
These potatoes are very tasty and versatile, and can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I did increase the onion and garlic powder to 1 tsp. each, and used a bit more paprika. These can also be done in an air fryer without peeling the potatoes or pre cooking in the microwave, using baby potatoes cut in half and either butter or oil. Come out great either way.
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- by: Holiday Baker
- 1 year ago
These were great! I liked the idea of some microwave time. The browning of the butter helped them crisp. I doubled the recipe and cooked both batches on my nordicware stove top griddle. I added all of the seasonings, but just a very small smidgen of the cayenne. I cooked mine for 20 minutes and let them sit for 10 minutes. I didn?t have chives, but that was fine. Thank you, Chef John.
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- by: Shazsk
- 11 months ago
This is the recipe for perfect Home Fries! I should know, I’ve been trying for decades. The addition of the spices is delicious…they added a little zest without overpowering the dish. The secrets are to precook the potatoes to that sweet spot between firm and soft then allow them to cool. DO NOT do as I did. After microwaving and cutting the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, I set them aside for 10-15 minutes while I prepared other dishes. These potatoes did not appreciate my neglect so developed black patches. I trimmed them before cooking. Later, I learned that it is safe to eat cooked potatoes with black patches. But do not eat potatoes that have developed black places when they are raw.
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