The Best Skillet Fried Potatoes
These Perfect Skillet Potatoes make the best side dish! There are two secret ingredients that make these more than your ordinary fried potato!
Hi everyone! Amanda here from Old House to New Home sharing one of my favorite side dishes, perfect skillet potatoes! I called these the best skillet potatoes because they just may steal the show from the main dish of your dinner!
These skillet potatoes remind me of growing up. My grandmother always made what she called lyonnaise potatoes to go with so many different meals. Her version used tons of butter and oil and were just so delicious. My recipe uses quite a bit less butter but I have two super star ingredients here that take these potatoes from good to great!
The secret to the best Skillet Fried Potatoes
The first secret ingredient is paprika. Not only does paprika give them a beautiful color, but it gives it a slight hint of flavor that will have people wondering what that delicious taste is! The secret, and most important secret ingredient here is chicken broth. When the potatoes are almost done, I add chicken broth to the pan and put the lid on. The potatoes steam in that liquid and slowly absorb all of the flavor. It gives the potatoes a rich taste and wonderful texture.
Ingredients for Skillet Fried Potatoes
- Potatoes
- Butter
- Onion
- Chicken broth
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
How to make Skillet Potatoes
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet with a lid.
- Once the butter is melted add the sliced potatoes to the pan. Do not stir!
- Let cook, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
- Stir potatoes and then add onion, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Cover the pan and let potatoes cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they are fork tender.
- Add the chicken broth, stir, and cover again.
- Cook until chicken broth is absorbed and potatoes are very tender. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Skillet Potatoes Recipe Tips
Like most potato dishes, this isn't a quick cook. If you are short on time, throw them in the microwave after slicing for 5-10 minutes, to speed up the cooking process before throwing them in the pan. You'll sacrifice a little on the texture, but sometimes you need a little shortcut to help dinner come together quickly!
How to serve Skillet Potatoes
The recipe I am sharing here is a great base for you to add even more deliciousness to your potatoes! I like to garnish with a little green onion but some crispy bacon would be delicious too! Even better, throw on some cheese and let melt! You can really dress these up to go with dinner, but they are also versatile enough to serve as a breakfast potato!
Storing leftover Skillet Potatoes and Onions
- Cool: Allow your skillet potatoes to cool down to room temperature before storing.
- Store: Transfer the leftover potatoes into an airtight container. This will help prevent them from absorbing any unwanted odors from the fridge and keep them fresh.
- Refrigerate: Place the airtight container in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking to maintain freshness.
- Reheat: When ready to eat, reheat the skillet potatoes in a skillet or oven until heated through. You can also microwave them, but this may affect the texture.
FAQs for Potatoes and Onions in Skillet
Excess moisture in the potatoes can prevent them from getting crispy. Make sure to thoroughly dry the potatoes before frying them.
Overcrowding the pan. Frying too many potatoes at once can lower the temperature of the oil and steam the potatoes instead of frying them, resulting in a soft texture instead of crispiness. Fry in batches if necessary.
Ensure that the melted butter is hot before adding the potatoes. If the butter is not hot, the potatoes will absorb more liquid and become soggy.
The choice between frying potatoes in butter or oil depends on personal preference.
Flavor
Butter adds a rich, savory flavor to the potatoes due to its milk solids and fat content. This can enhance the overall taste of the dish, giving it a buttery and indulgent flavor.
Oil imparts a neutral flavor, allowing the natural taste of the potatoes to shine through.
Crispiness
Oil typically results in a crispier texture compared to butter. This is because oil has a higher smoke point than butter, allowing it to reach higher frying temperatures without burning.
Higher heat helps to create a crispy exterior on the potatoes.
Butter has a lower smoke point than most cooking oils, meaning it can burn at higher temperatures. This can lead to a burnt or bitter taste if the butter is heated too much.
To avoid this, clarified butter (ghee) can be used, as it has a higher smoke point.
Nutrition
Butter contains saturated fats and cholesterol.
Most cooking oils are low in saturated fats and may contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. If you're watching your saturated fat intake, using oil instead of butter may be a healthier option.
Skillet Potatoes with Onions
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 6 medium sized potatoes sliced in half lengthwise and then sliced in ⅛ inch slices
- 5 tablespoon . butter divided
- 1 onion sliced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon . paprika
- 1 teaspoon . garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt 3 tbsp. butter in a heavy bottomed skillet with a lid. Once melted, add the sliced potatoes to the pan. Do not stir!
- Let cook, undisturbed, for 10 minutes. Stir potatoes and then add onion, salt, pepper, and paprika. Cover pan and let cook for 10-15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender. Add the chicken broth, stir, and then recover.
- Cook until chicken broth is absorbed and potatoes are very tender. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
P.S. If you love potatoes as much as we do you should try our easy and delicious funeral potatoes recipe next time!
For a more crispy fried potato I like to boil my potatoes in chicken broth first and then drain them and then I fry them in the skillet
In step 1, do you cover the pan after adding the potatoes into the melted butter?
When are the other 2 Tbsp of butter used?
Hi, can you tell me at what temp the stove should be. Medium heat, medium high? I don't want to burn the potatoes.
Thank you
Gina
Yes, medium heat! So sorry about that!
This recipe does not tell me what temperature to cook the potatoes on. I accidentally burned mine because of this.
Oh no, I'm so sorry! We will fix that!
So this will be more than a single layer of potatoes,obviously? Do they cook somewhat evenly?
Yes they do! Just make sure you turn with a spoon from time to time to move the bottom ones to the top! xoxo
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