Pan fried potatoes and onions make the best easy Southern side dish! Try serving them with eggs for breakfast or brunch, or with your favorite protein for dinner. They’re flavorful, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.
Fried Potatoes And Onions
Whether you’re cooking a big family breakfast, a comforting dinner, or just craving some good old-fashioned Southern comfort food, these fried sliced potatoes and onions are sure to hit the spot. Crispy, flavorful, and oh-so-satisfying, this is a dish you’ll find yourself coming back to time and time again.
It’s hard to believe such a simple dish can pack so much flavor. The seasoning salt is a game-changer, and the flavor is so much better when you use it. The end result is a plate of potatoes that are perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned just right. It’s always a hit in my house – especially with my little one.
This hearty, comforting dish is simple enough to whip up on a weekday but delicious enough for Sunday family brunch. Old fashioned pan fried sliced potatoes and onions is the kind of meal that’s perfect for both breakfast and dinner, making it as versatile as it is tasty.
Ingredients
Russet Potatoes: This variety of potato is perfect for our dish because of its high-starch and low-moisture content. This makes them ideal for frying, resulting in a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. When shopping for Russet potatoes, look for ones that are firm, have no green spots, and no sprouts.
Seasoning Salt: This is the secret to adding an extra layer of flavor to our potatoes and onions. It’s a blend of salt, herbs, and spices that elevate the taste of any dish.
Garlic Powder: This is a kitchen staple that adds a subtle, savory taste to our fried potatoes and onions.
Black Pepper: This spice adds a touch of heat and enhances the other flavors in our dish. Freshly ground pepper has a stronger flavor than pre-ground pepper.
Yellow Onion: They add a sweet, caramelized flavor to the dish and provide a nice textural contrast to the crispy potatoes. When choosing yellow onions at the market, make sure they have a firm texture, are heavy for their size, and have a crisp, dry outer skin. Vidalia onions are another great option and have a sweeter flavor.
Green Onions: These are used to garnish the dish, adding a fresh, vibrant flavor that complements the rich taste of the fried potatoes and onions.
How To Make Fried Potatoes And Onions
Prepare the Skillet: Begin by heating up a large skillet. While it’s heating, toss together the potatoes, a dash of oil, and your seasonings in a separate bowl. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Cook the Potatoes: When the skillet is ready, transfer your seasoned potatoes to the pan, arranging them in an even layer. Cover and let them cook undisturbed for a while.
Add the Onions: Add your sliced onions to the skillet. Stir everything together, ensuring the onions get a good coating of oil. Cover it again and let it cook until the potatoes and onions reach your desired level of crispness.
Finish with Green Onions: To finish, add a sprinkle of green onions or chives, stir everything together one last time and then serve. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, and helpful tips, etc.
Is It Necessary to Boil Potatoes Before Frying?
Boiling potatoes before frying them isn’t necessary, but it can be helpful if you want your potatoes to be extra soft on the inside. Boiling starts the cooking process and ensures the potatoes are fully cooked through after frying. However, if you slice your potatoes thin enough, they’ll cook fully in the skillet without the need for boiling.
Should You Soak Potatoes in Cold Water Before Frying?
Soaking potatoes in cold water before frying can help to remove excess starch, which will make your potatoes crispier when fried. However, it’s not a mandatory step. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step and still end up with delicious fried potatoes.
Why Is It Important to Dry Potatoes Before Frying?
Drying potatoes before frying is important because it helps achieve a crispy exterior. Water on the surface of the potatoes can create steam when it encounters hot oil, preventing the potatoes from developing a good crunch. Also, water can cause the oil to splatter, which can be dangerous.
Do You Season Potatoes Before or After Frying?
It’s best to season potatoes before frying. This allows the flavors to penetrate deeply into the potatoes, resulting in a more flavorful dish. However, you can also adjust the seasoning after frying if needed.
Why Won’t My Fried Potatoes Get Crispy?
There could be several reasons why your fried potatoes aren’t getting crispy. It could be that your potatoes are too wet, your pan is too crowded, or your oil isn’t hot enough. Make sure to dry your potatoes thoroughly, give them enough space in the pan, and let your oil heat up properly before adding the potatoes.
Why Do My Potatoes Stick to the Pan When I Fry Them?
Potatoes might stick to the pan if the pan isn’t hot enough, if there isn’t enough oil, or if you’re trying to flip them too soon. Make sure your pan and oil are hot before adding the potatoes, and let them cook undisturbed for a few minutes before trying to flip them. Using a non-stick skillet is also really helpful for a recipe like this.
Why Are My Pan Fried Potatoes Mushy?
If your pan-fried potatoes are turning out mushy, it might be because they’re overcrowded in the pan. Overcrowding leads to steaming instead of frying, causing the potatoes to become soft and mushy. Make sure there’s enough space in the pan for the potatoes to fry properly.
How Long Do You Cook Fried Potatoes and Onions?
The cooking time for fried potatoes and onions can vary depending on the size of your potato slices and the heat of your stove. However, you’ll know they’re done when the potatoes are golden brown and crispy, and the onions are caramelized and tender. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and adjust the cooking time as needed.
What to Serve with Fried Potatoes and Onions
I like serving this with a protein, like country style ribs, baked eggs, bottom round roast, or chicken tenderloins. Also, don’t forget to make a quick and easy sauce to serve it with! White gravy, Alabama white sauce, and ranchero sauce all taste great with this dish.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Potato Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other potato and sweet potato recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Microwave Baked Potato
- How to Boil Potatoes
- Microwave Sweet Potato
- Hamburger Potato Soup
- Greek Potatoes
- Canned Sweet Potato Casserole
- Hamburger Potato Casserole
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
BEST Fried Potatoes And Onions Recipe
Pan fried potatoes and onions make the best easy Southern side dish! They’re flavorful, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 pound Russet potatoes (cut into roughly 1/4 inch thick rounds)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large yellow onion (sliced into roughly 1/4 inch thick strips, about 1 1/2 cups )
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives or green onions
Instructions
- Heat a large lidded nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot (after about 3 minutes), add 3 Tablespoons of oil.
- While the skillet is heating up, dry the potatoes with a paper towel (optional, if you want your potatoes to be extra crispy). Then add the potatoes, the remaining 1 Tablespoon of oil, and the seasonings to a large mixing bowl. Mix together until all the potatoes are evenly coated.
- Once the oil is hot, carefully add the seasoned potatoes to the pan, spreading them out as evenly as you can. Cover the potatoes with a lid, and let them sit without moving them for 7 minutes.
- Add the sliced onions to the pan, then stir to coat the onions in oil while flipping all of the potatoes to cook on the other side. Cover again and leave the potatoes to cook without stirring for 6 more minutes.
- Remove the lid from the pan, stir the potatoes and onions then turn the heat up to medium-high. Stir occasionally, about every minute, until the potatoes and onions are tender and your desired crispness has been reached.
- Mix in finely chopped chives or green onions, and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 219Total Fat: 13.7gCarbohydrates: 22.7gFiber: 2.1gSugar: 1.3gProtein: 2.9g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
I hope you enjoy making and eating these comforting fried potatoes and onions as much as I do!
1 thought on “Fried Potatoes And Onions Recipe”
I love this recipe. I’ve sent to my family and friends. So easy and deeelicious.