Cost-effective AND delicious? Sign me up for this hit list of easy potato sides!
The humble potato is so easy to prepare at home—into hasselback potatoes that look like you’ve worked all day on them (but only take 5 minutes of prep), or buttermilk mashed potatoes for a hint of tangy richness, to easy breakfast potatoes that make every egg and slice of toast sing.
And I never met a leftover potato that I couldn’t eat cold, easily reheat or transform into something new.
Check out these 13 potato recipes that just may inspire your next meal!
Easy Potato Recipes
1. Hasselback Potatoes Recipe
A crisp baked potato done perfectly in the air fryer, but with the pizzazz of butter and parmesan nestled between the “fancy” cuts—that’s the hasselback—named after a Swedish hotel restaurant from the 70s! It’s the kind of ease that makes it looked like you worked all day on it.
2. Air Fryer Potato Chips
These chips are so easy that all you really need is the time to peel and use a mandoline slicer to get the thinnest potato slices possible. A soak in some cold water and you’ll have some insanely good homemade potato chips with just a little oil and salt. YUM.
3. Twice Baked Potatoes
For the perfect mash-up of baked potato, potato skin and mashed potato goodness, this easy twice-baked potato recipe is a crowd-pleaser.
4. Baked Potato in the Oven
Don’t be shy; everyone has to start somewhere, and it’s good to know the basics for how to make a baked potato in the oven. The most important part is planning for the hour or so it will take to finish them! Click through for a step-by-step pictorial.
5. Air Fryer Sweet Potato
The air fryer has been such a time-saver in the kitchen. It transforms veggies into such flavorful sides, and this air fryer sweet potato is no exception. Fast and easy.
6. Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
We love the smash of rosemary—the real hero that makes these savory mashed sweet potatoes actually savory. This is great with poultry or pork, and it’s not just for the holidays.
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7. Classic Creamy Mashed Potatoes
I come back to this recipe when I am wanting a weeknight comfort food to come alongside nearly any protein. The trick to restaurant-perfect mashed taters is to let your dairy come to room temp before adding to the cooked potatoes. (And don’t skimp on the salt.)
8. Breakfast Potatoes Recipe
I so love this recipe. I called them Breakfast Potatoes, but really, these are for any meal, any time. Add any small-cut veggies; you don’t have to limit yourself to peppers and onions, but it’s a dish my dad taught me how to make when I was a kid and I think you’ll love it too.
9. Red Potato Salad Recipe
Cutting any fresh veg takes a certain amount of patience, especially since potatoes need washed, dried and often peeled too. But the beauty of potato dishes is that they are rich with nutrition and comfort, made with your own two hands. This red potato salad is just the ticket for southern style BBQs, church potlucks and backyard cookouts.
10. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This has garlic that you can scale: add more or less depending on how much garlic you can handle (just remember it’s easier to add it than it is to take it away).
11. Bacon Cheddar Smashed Potatoes
Smashed potatoes are the perfect finger food or appetizer because everyone gets their own easy mini potato. Bacon and cheddar make everything better. And this one is about to be one of your new favorite side dish recipes.
12. Loaded Twice-Baked Fingerling Potatoes
Bacon and cheddar is a great theme for this list, but you don’t have to go overboard. Fingerlings are cute and make a delectable side with all the good stuff stuffed inside.
13. Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
The joy of mashed potatoes is their versatility; just make sure you get out all of your ingredients before you begin because they cool very quickly. These are tangy and light, but with all the richness of your favorite classic.
The bottom line
When it comes to comfort food that doesn’t break the bank, recipes for potatoes always show up and show off. These 13 budget-friendly recipes prove you don’t need fancy ingredients to make magic—just a spud, a plan, and maybe a little cheese. Go on, get cookin’—your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you.
