Easy Potato Side Dishes You Need To Try

Potatoes are the unsung heroes of the vegetable world. They go with everything, they can be added to everything and they just taste great.

As potatoes are such a popular side dish, we thought we’d give you some fresh inspiration on how to shake up things in the kitchen with some new potato recipes. There is something for everyone here.

Here we have included 28 of the best potato side dishes that are super easy to make. 

1. Melt In Your Mouth Potatoes 

These thick potato slices which are roasted in butter and herbs will melt in your mouth when cooked. Rosemary and thyme are used in this recipe but this can be altered depending on what you like.

Crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside, this side dish goes well with almost any meal.  For a vegetarian version, vegetable broth can be used here. 

2. Best Potatoes You’ll Ever Taste

These potatoes are cut into wedge form, pre-boiled and then covered in a herb and mayonnaise mixture before being cooked until tender. This recipe works on the side of any meal or even with a barbecue.

Broil the wedges for 10 minutes to make the mayonnaise a golden brown color and extra crispy in texture. 

3. Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Roast potatoes are a firm family favorite, crispy and golden on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside they are guaranteed to make you excited for dinner time.

Here, garlic and Parmesan are used to season these skin-on potatoes for extra flavor and crunch. This easy dish is ideal to make when cooking for large crowds, simply season and roast. 

4. Hasselback Potatoes

Hasselback potatoes are sliced thinly down the middle and coated in plenty of garlic butter to roast to crispy perfection. You’ll want them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, just like a roast potato.

Try this simple recipe for a change with your next roast dinner. Variations also include stuffing between the slices of potato with bacon bits for some extra saltiness.  

5. Easy Cheesy Potato Bake

Perfect for a rainy day or as a comforting treat, this cheesy potato bake is tender, creamy and laced with bacon.

Thyme, cheese and bacon are mixed into a sauce to coat the scalloped potatoes before baking until the top is golden brown and crispy.

A cheese lover’s heaven. This dish is large enough to serve as a main or to feed many as a side dish. 

6. Herbed Potato Salad Recipe 

Potato salad is ideal for warmer months and especially barbecues. Using lemon juice instead of vinegar in this recipe adds a lovely light refreshing taste.

Surprisingly, this potato salad is also mayo-free, but still creamy and delicious using the water from the boiling process to emulsify with the herbs to give you a creamy texture. 

7. The Best Mashed Potato 

Often coming out for Thanksgiving (see also ‘18 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes‘), mashed potato works with almost any meal and definitely should be eaten more often.

Mixing cream cheese, garlic, Parmesan cheese and chives with these potatoes makes them slightly salty and delicious. Why not try refrigerating overnight, sprinkle them with a little more Parmesan and reheat in the oven with butter. 

8. World’s Easiest French Fries

Frozen french fries can often be a little greasy and some don’t even cook properly in the oven leaving you with a burnt on the outside and cold on the inside fry.

These homemade fries are easy to make and a lot healthier as they aren’t deep fried. Although this recipe uses peanut oil, you can use any oil you have in the pantry to produce the same results. 

9. Perfect Baked Potato 

A baked potato can make a perfect side dish with crispy skins and fluffy insides that you can top with whatever you wish. Using a salt crust here really levels up the baked potato game, making the skins full of flavor.

Serve with cheese sauce, sour cream, bacon or any other tasty foods. Eating alongside a salad can make for a full and nutritious meal. 

10. Homemade Tater Tots

Tater tots are great for adults, not just kids. These delicious bite-sized potatoes with a crunchy exterior can be made in endless variations.

This basic recipe creates a crispy outside layer with a light and fluffy inside. What you add is up to you! We suggest ingredients such as bacon, cheese, onions, chives or jalapenos for a tasty tot. 

11. Baked Sweet Potato Cubes

These baked sweet potato cubes are oven roasted with tasty Parmesan cheese and a blend of spices coating them.

Italian seasoning, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper add a slightly crunchy texture to the cubes as well as fill them with flavor. You can eat these on the side of almost any meal, we would suggest a roasted chicken or pork joint (see also our favorite sides for pork chops). 

12. Steakhouse Potatoes Romanoff 

Ideal for big holiday gatherings, Romanoff potatoes are made by shredding russet potatoes and sweet shallots made extra fluffy with sour cream and plenty of cheese.

Essentially this is  a potato casserole (see also ‘Potato Casseroles – 23 Of The Best Recipes On The Internet‘), it pairs perfectly with any cut of steak. Although easy to make, it does have a longer cooking time, so preparing this first is advised. 

13. Garlicky Mashed Potato Cakes

Forming an aromatic mashed potato base with salty parmesan cheese, fresh herbs and garlic, a patty is created. These ‘cakes’ are then shallow-fried in a pan.

Bound with an egg, the potato cake maintains its stability. The garlic is bold and pungent balanced by the freshness of the herbs. Serve with a creamy sauce for maximum flavor.

14. Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries can make a welcome change to a standard potato. Oven baking them makes a healthier side dish, using less oil.

The fries are sprinkled with spices such as smoked paprika, cajun seasoning, chipotle powder and salt for a delightful smoky and spicy combination.

For extra crispy caramelization, sprinkle with a little sugar before baking. 

15. Potatoes Au Gratin

 A simple dish with maximum flavor is this creamy gratin otherwise known as dauphinoise potatoes. Thinly sliced potatoes, heavy cream (see also ‘Can You Freeze Heavy Cream?‘) and grated cheese are combined to make the ultimate indulgent comfort food.

Baking the dish helps to thicken the cream, covering the potatoes in a creamy blanket of sauce. This can be served alongside any meat dish. 

16. Perfect Pan Fried Potatoes 

Slicing these potatoes really thinly means you can avoid pre-cooking them and save yourself a lot of time. These potatoes are seasoned with rosemary, salt and pepper.

If you’re wanting a spicier potato you can add paprika or chilli powder. For best results add the spices during the last couple of minutes of cooking to avoid them burning. 

17. Southern Potato Salad 

A southern twist on a classic potato salad that is served warm. Eggs are soft boiled, peeled and chopped into the salad itself.

The sweet relish, garlic and mustard add a fiery and peppery flavor which is counteracted by the coolness of the mayonnaise. Crisp celery stalks are chopped finely and added to the salad for a light, fresh taste.  

18. Korean Potatoes 

Gamja Jorim or Korean braised potatoes are baby potatoes coated in soy sauce. This popular Korean side dish has a soft and fluffy inside with a slightly sticky and chewy outer layer. 

The sweet and salty braising sauce makes for a perfect flavor combination. 

This traditional dish can be eaten as a snack on its own or as a side dish with a curry or some steamed rice, they are simple and delicious. 

19. Garlic Smashed Potatoes 

A great weeknight dish, these smashed potatoes will go perfectly with any dish. Fluffy on the side with a buttery crispy coating which has been smothered in garlic butter and Parmesan cheese.

The undeniable all-over crunch will make you not want to make any other type of potato again. Variations include cheese and bacon or lemon and oregano for a twist. 

20. Lyonnaise Potatoes 

This lyonnaise potato recipe adds a modern twist to an old classic with lemon and chilli making for an impressive dinner party side dish (see also ‘Christmas Side Dishes to Try This Holiday Season‘). Cooking the potatoes in duck fat adds a richness that can’t be beaten.

Crispy onions and crushed red pepper are also added to the dish for extra flavor and crunch. 

21. Baked Sweet Potato

Similar to a normal baked potato, sweet potatoes are great for baking and make for a great side dish. As they are full of vitamins and nutrients so they are also a bit healthier.

Serving with a little butter, salt and pepper and a dash of cinnamon really adds to the natural sweetness and is a delicious combination. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy. 

22. Crispy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

 A sweet and savory combination is created using feta cheese, herbs and a chilli garlic sauce. The natural sweetness of the potato is really brought out when they are smashed and baked with oil.

Not only does this taste amazing, but topping with a creamy feta cheese and herb mixture also makes for a refreshing combination that will leave you wanting more. 

23. Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad 

This is a recipe for the spice fans and perfect for game day or your next cookout. Upgrade your regular potato salad with a spicy and delicious twist.

Rich cream cheese, salty cooked bacon, shredded Mexican cheese and plenty of freshly chopped jalapenos will be the talk of the table. 

The cream cheese helps to balance out the heat from the jalapenos, so you may want to adjust this to your own preferences. Leaving the skin on the potatoes adds some earthiness, but this is optional.

Serve with salsa, guacamole or sourcream for the ultimate flavor combination. 

24. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Roasted mashed potatoes? You heard it right, don’t worry. You prepare these potatoes in a similar way to usual, however, after adding all of the creamy elements of the dish, roasted garlic is thrown in before the mashing begins.

Here you’d usually be ready to serve but continue by spreading the potatoes on a large dish and baking for around 30 minutes. 

This will leave you with a slightly firm and crispy coating on top of your tender, fluffy and delicious garlic mashed potatoes. 

25. Greek Lemon Potatoes 

These are the crispiest Greek potatoes you’ll find, perfect for a Sunday dinner (see also ‘28 Delicious Sunday Dinner Recipes To Try‘) with the family. This traditional dish produces potatoes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with a tangy lemon flavor.

To achieve the Greek lemon flavor, a garnish of fresh lemon juice, oregano, garlic and semolina is added to the cooked potatoes before serving. 

26. Loaded Potato Skins

Crispy potato skins are a great side dish or appetizer that doesn’t have to be reserved for game day (see also ‘28 Of The Best Match Day Appetizers’). As you can load the skins with pretty much anything, you can eat them on any occasion.

The comforting flavors make them popular with everyone. This recipe features bacon and cheese topped potato skins, served with refreshing sour cream and chives. 

27. Curry Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are such a versatile vegetable that works well with many different flavors. This recipe uses curry-inspired flavors to infuse the sweet potato whilst it roasts.

Roasting the sweet potato produces a soft, sweet and slightly caramelized side dish that works well on the side of curry or chicken. Serve with plain yogurt as a cooling dip. 

28. Easy Bombay Potatoes

Bombay potatoes, otherwise known as Bombay Aloo is the spicy Indian version of roast potatoes. Turmeric, black mustard seeds, curry paste, onions and potatoes are combined to make this popular dish.

Partner with any curry or even use it as a way to spice up your Sunday roast. This is such an easy side dish to make that is packed with flavor. 

Final Thoughts 

Potatoes are guaranteed to keep the whole table happy. These versatile vegetables go well with nearly every meal and are simple to make.

We hope this article has left your mouth watering and your brain is busy planning your next meal with one of the fantastic potato recipes. 

Using plant-based ingredients and substitutes enables you to make vegan and vegetarian versions of all these dishes. However, please note that mayonnaise alternatives may not work well in the ‘Best Potatoes You’ll Ever Taste’ recipe. 

We hope you enjoyed learning about all the different ways to prepare a potato side dish. 

Happy cooking! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Do With Too Many Potatoes?

If you find yourself with a sack of potatoes that you don’t know what to do with, luckily we have the answers. A great way to use up potatoes is to mash them.

There are a variety of ways you can do this, such as using the Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato recipe featured in this article.

Inviting your family and friends over for a big roast dinner is another great way to ensure you’re not letting your potatoes go to waste and they can even be reheated and eaten the next day. 

Some of the recipes we’ve mentioned here allow you to freeze the dishes for later, so preparing ahead of time can actually save you time and money in the long run.

Be sure to read the recipe fully to make sure the dish is suitable for home freezing. 

What Are Three Of The Most Famous Potato Dishes?

There are so many famous potato dishes that are made across the globe every day. The most famous potato dishes that are known in the US are considered to be mashed potatoes, potato salad and tater tots.

Try out a new way of cooking these delicious dishes using one of the recipes featured here. 

What Pairs Well With Loaded Potatoes?

Loaded potatoes are super versatile. Sour cream, cheese and chives are a standard and tasty topping that can be put on any loaded potato.

If you’re a meat eater, why not try topping your potatoes with bacon, grilled beef, chicken or lamb. Vegetarians and vegans might want to try using kidney beans, avocado and green onions on their loaded potatoes.