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 the good folks of Dixie. 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 potatoes, onions, and glorious fat.
Southern Fried Potatoes
Southern fried potatoes are essentially 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).
The basic idea of the dish is to cook the potatoes in a 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.
Best Potato for Southern Fried Potatoes
You will find recipes calling for all sorts of potato varieties, but russet potatoes make the best southern fried potatoes. Why? One of the primary features that make southern fried potatoes so dang delectable is the crispy crust that forms while the potatoes sear in the skillet. Russet potatoes just crisp better.
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.
Best Fat for Southern Fried Potatoes
My recipe generically calls for cooking oil and butter, because any ol' oil will work just fine. However, oils with a higher smoke point, such as canola oil work best for higher heat applications in a skillet.
However, in my humble opinion, if you want to go all-out southern on this recipe, the best fat to coat these potatoes in is rendered bacon grease. Bacon grease adds a great smoky flavor to any dish.
How to Cook Potatoes in a Skillet
The secret to getting perfectly cooked tender potatoes in a skillet is to cook them covered for 10 minutes, then finish cooking them for an additional 10 minutes uncovered, or until done.
Cooking them covered traps in the heat which will help ensure you get tender, fluffy, potato cubes, then cooking them uncovered allows you to get the crisp crust to form. I recommend using a nonstick skillet or the classic cast iron skillet.
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 personly 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. I would be delighted if someone served me a side of these hearty potatoes with a great meatloaf. This is a great side dish 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.
Southern Fried Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1/2 sweet onion (chopped)
- 1 pound russet potatoes (chopped into 1/2"-3/4" cubes)
- 2 tablespoon cooking oil (or bacon fat)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cube potatoes and rinse under cold water. Drain water and briefly pat dry.
- Place cubed potatoes into a large bowl and add cooking oil, tossing to evenly coat.
- Melt butter in a non-stick skillet set over medium heat and add potatoes, onions, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine and cover, cooking for 10 minutes.
- Remove cover and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook for another 10 minutes, occasionally flipping potatoes with a spatula as a brown crust forms.
Notes
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John Crow
Look forward to using this recipe this weekend with pinto beans, and some nice fried calf liver...
Reba
After tonight I finally feel successful making fried potatoes. I will absolutely make this again and again!
Dawnie
This is a fabulous recipe for fried potatoes. I have tried so many different recipes and I have never been happy with them. These easy to follow instructions and simple ingredients made it easy and tasty. I will never try another fried potato recipe again. I did as suggested on the bottom note and added some garlic powder and I added some seasoned salt along with the salt and pepper. Delicious. I set my timer and they were perfect in 20 minutes just as the recipe says. Thanks for sharing such a fantastic fried potato recipe. I will bless my family with these for many years to come.
Stephen Paparatto
Isn't this the same thing Northerners call Home Fries?
Mary
Everyone loved these potatoes, thanks. Will be making again.