When you come home tired on a school night, you don't need a giant shopping list or a hard cooking project. All you really need is a bag of potatoes. Back when my family lived in a cold house in Winnipeg, we always kept a sack of muddy brown potatoes on the basement steps because they last forever, and they never fail you.
When you slice them thin and drop them into a hot pan with a little bit of butter, they get nice and crunchy at the edges and make the whole house smell great. Here are 19 easy potato recipes that turn basic ingredients you already have in your kitchen into a quick, warm dinner.
Lip Smackin' Best Ever Potatoes Au Gratin
Thin potato slices are layered in a baking dish and covered with heavy cream. Rubbing garlic on the sides of the dish gives the cream a great taste. The top turns a beautiful golden-brown color while it bakes.
Get the Recipe: Lip Smackin' Best Ever Potatoes Au Gratin
Potato Fritters
Shredded potatoes are squeezed dry in a clean towel so they can get super crispy. They cook quickly in a buttery pan and fill the kitchen with a wonderful smell. Cold yogurt tastes great when paired with the hot fritters.
Get the Recipe: Potato Fritters
Garlic Butter Fondant Potatoes
The ends of the potatoes are cooked in a pan until they look like brown corks. Then, they absorb savory broth from the bottom up so the inside becomes super soft. This easy trick turns cheap potatoes into a fancy meal.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Fondant Potatoes
Easy Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes
Potato chunks cook low and slow until they are tender inside with a light crunch on the edges. The slow cooker handles all the work so you can stop rotating the same old sides every night. It is a simple way to turn a basic bag of potatoes into a dinner everyone runs to the table for.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes
Vegetarian Swamp Potatoes with Sausage
Everything is placed on a single baking sheet so the plant-based sausage can flavor the potatoes while they roast. Garlic and spices release their juices while you set the table. A splash of vinegar at the end helps clean the tasty bits off the bottom of the pan.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Swamp Potatoes with Sausage
Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
Shredded raw potatoes are mixed with leftover mashed potatoes and a splash of buttermilk. The mixture makes a loud sizzling sound when it hits the hot pan and turns crispy and brown. They taste so good they will disappear before you can finish cooking the next batch.
Get the Recipe: Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli And Peppers
Broccoli and peppers shrink in the hot oven while lemon juice bakes right onto the pan. A yellow spice called turmeric gives everything a bright color with very little effort. It is the perfect thing to make when you need a quick meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli And Peppers
Mashed Potatoes With Greek Garlic Beet Greens
Healthy green leaves are softened in boiling water and mixed with olive oil. Raw garlic is grated right into warm mashed potatoes to give them a lot of flavor. The warm steam makes the whole house smell great.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes With Greek Garlic Beet Greens
Potato Vegetarian Vareniki
Small pockets of dough are filled with boiled potatoes and sweet, cooked onions. They cook in boiling salted water for less than five minutes until they float to the top. Serve them with a scoop of cold sour cream for an easy meal.
Get the Recipe: Potato Vegetarian Vareniki
Crispy Smashed Baby Potatoes
A heavy glass is used to press down on the potatoes and split the skins before baking. Tossing them in oil and lemon juice helps the broken pieces get super crunchy in the oven. This is a great dish to make when surprise guests show up.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Smashed Baby Potatoes
Loaded Baked Potato Bites
Small potato skins are scooped out so they can hold a lot of cheese and bacon. The cheddar and pork bits melt together under the broiler in less than ten minutes. They come out hot, bubbly, and ready to eat with your hands.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato Bites
Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Leftover mashed potatoes are shaped into small cakes and fried in a pan with a little oil. A crispy, golden crust forms on the outside to keep the tasty mushroom filling trapped inside. The smell of fried onions fills the room to let everyone know dinner is ready.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup With Frozen Hash Browns
Frozen potatoes cook into a rich soup over six hours while the machine does all the work. Cream cheese and ranch seasoning make the soup thick, smooth, and delicious. Kids will smell it the moment they walk in the door and grab their spoons.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup With Frozen Hash Browns
Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
Cold potatoes and pickles are cut into tiny cubes on a cutting board. Peas and hard-boiled eggs are added to make the dish filling without using the oven at all. It can sit on the counter until everyone is ready to eat.
Get the Recipe: Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
Paprika Potatoes And Mushrooms
Mushrooms cook in hot butter until they turn brown. Spices are added to the potatoes to make them nice and crispy around the edges. It smells amazing and makes a great evening meal.
Get the Recipe: Paprika Potatoes And Mushrooms
Potato Leek Soup
Green leeks are cooked in a pan until they are soft enough to mix into the broth. A spoonful of mustard is stirred in at the end to give the soup a bright, tangy flavor. It is a warm and comforting meal for a cold winter night.
Get the Recipe: Potato Leek Soup
Russian Fried Potatoes
Raw potato sticks are placed in hot oil and covered with a lid to cook. Leaving them alone without stirring is the secret to getting those crunchy, dark edges. Eat them right out of the pan for a comforting treat.
Get the Recipe: Russian Fried Potatoes
Crunchy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Crushed cornflakes are sprinkled on top to create a crunchy layer over the melted cheddar cheese. The edges turn dark and chewy where the cheese touches the baking dish. It is a classic dish to bring to family gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Loaded Potato Casserole
Mashed potatoes are whipped with a wooden spoon to make them smooth and thick. Bacon and sour cream are added to give the potatoes a rich flavor. A beautiful, crispy skin forms on top while it bakes in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Potato Casserole
Go check the bottom of the pantry, grab the butter, and let the edges get crisp.
