Southern Fried Potatoes

Southern fried potatoes feature tender cubed russet potatoes and chopped onions which are pan-fried to create a delectably crisp charred crust.

No one quite does comfort food quite like our friends below the Mason-Dixon line. I'm in firm belief, southern grandmothers are culinary wizards wielding cast iron skillet magic wands. However, rest assured, there is no magic needed to replicate this rustic side dish, just some simple ingredients like potatoes, onions, and glorious fat.

What are they?

Southern fried potatoes are essentially breakfast potatoes with a combination of pan-fried potatoes and onions. As the name implies, this is a popular southern dish, however, it is commonly prepared in other regions as well, often referred to as country fried potatoes (which can vary in preparation) or simply skillet potatoes.

The basic idea behind creating these deliciously crispy potatoes is to cook them in a large skillet until tender and leave them alone long enough to form a crisp brown crust before flipping and creating more crust on the other side.

Ingredients Needed

• Potatoes - Russet potatoes make the best southern fried potatoes because their high starch content will crisp the best. Yukon gold and red potatoes both taste great when cooked in a skillet, and you can certainly substitute them in this recipe if desired, however, they won't stay as crisp as russets. Same with sweet potatoes, which will quickly become mushy.
• Fat - My recipe calls for cooking oil and butter, because any ol' vegetable oil will work just fine. However, oils with a higher smoke point, such as canola oil, or olive oil, work best for higher heat applications in a skillet. However, in my humble opinion, the best fat to coat these crispy fried potatoes is rendered bacon grease. Bacon drippings add a great smoky flavor to any dish.
• Vegetables - My recipe calls for half of a sweet onion. You can substitute a yellow onion, or customize this recipe with the addition of bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, shallots, and garlic.

Customize - Fresh or dried thyme, dill, chives, parsley, or any of your favorite fresh herbs can be added. Or add your favorite spices, such as paprika, garlic and onion powder, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.

How to make them

To make this southern fried potato recipe, first, cube them and rinse off the starch under cold water. This will help them cook up crispier. Then toss with oil in a large bowl. Melt the butter in the bottom of your pan, ensuring there is enough oil to cover the entire surface, then add the potatoes, onion, salt, and black pepper.

The secret to getting perfectly cooked tender potatoes in a skillet is to cook the cubed potatoes covered over medium heat for 10 minutes then finish cooking everything for an additional 10 minutes uncovered on medium-high heat, or until done. Try to lay the raw potatoes in a single layer as best as possible, this will get you the best crust.

Cooking them in a covered skillet traps in the heat which will help ensure you get tender, fluffy, potato cubes, then cooking them uncovered allows you to get the crisp golden brown crust to form in the hot oil. The best pan to use is a nonstick skillet or a large cast-iron skillet. Other skillets tend to make the potatoes stick, which removes the crispy crust you crave.

Tip: For best results, do not boil potatoes prior to cooking. The boiling water will succeed in softening them, but you will also ruin the beautifully crisp texture achieved from pan-frying. Just relax and trust they will cook properly in your skillet.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

The leftover potatoes can be stored in a refrigerator for approximately four days. Make sure to place them in an airtight container to prevent odors in your fridge from changing the flavor.

These diced potatoes reheat well in a microwave in small batches. However, they won't retain their crispness. To preserve the texture better, reheating them in a skillet is a great choice. You could even place these on a baking sheet and reheat in a 350-degree oven until heated through.

What to Serve with Southern Fried Potatoes

Like my homemade hash browns, southern fried potatoes are one of my favorite breakfast side dishes. You can customize this recipe by cooking breakfast sausage with it, or simply serve it with scrambled eggs. However, I personally love a couple over easy-eggs resting on top of it, so the potatoes can sop up the runny yolk!

You don't have to limit yourself just to breakfast though. This is an easy side dish to serve with a variety of meals. I would be delighted if someone served me a side of these hearty potatoes with a great meatloaf. This is a great pairing for meatloaf particularly since the meatloaf occupies the oven and the potatoes can be prepared on the stove top. Round out your meal with a side of Southern Fried Cabbage or Southern Fried Corn.

This recipe was originally published on September 29, 2022.