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Potatoes are a great side dish for basically every meal, but it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut making the same old thing, right? If you’re feeling like your potato game needs a little refresh, I’ve got you covered with this collection of 35 potato side dishes. Seriously, I’ve got crispy, creamy, or even a little healthy, in short, all types of potato recipes that are great for sides!
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Next time you’re wondering what to serve alongside your main dish, skip the plain potatoes and try one of these instead – you’re going to love them!
Why You Should Cook More Potato Side Dishes
- Potatoes are a delicious comfort food. It’s no secret that what makes potatoes a go-to side is the sheer deliciousness they add. The familiar, comforting taste appeals to both kids and adults, and they are just so good.
- Incredibly versatile. Whether you’re looking for potato side dishes for cast iron skillet steak or grilled chicken tenders or going meatless with some air fryer tofu, potatoes will save the day.
- Budget-friendly. Potatoes are inexpensive and widely available for most people, making them an affordable option for feeding a crowd. Thanks to the many different varieties at multiple price points, anyone can find a type of potato that fits their budget.
- Healthy source of carbs. Potatoes are naturally low in calories and contain vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. Plus, cooked and cooled potatoes release resistant starch (a prebiotic for your probiotics), so they help support overall gut health.
Tips for Making Potato Side Dishes
- Select potatoes wisely. Choose potatoes that are firm, smooth, and free of soft spots, wrinkles, or green patches. Avoid any potatoes with signs of sprouting “eyes” as these are often past their prime. Additionally, make sure you choose the right type of potato for the recipe.
- Wash and cut properly. Potatoes always need to be washed (after all, they are a root vegetable grown in the dirt). Rinse under cold running water and use a vegetable brush to scrub away the dirt. From there, I recommend checking out my tutorial on how to cut potatoes into wedges, rounds, fries, or cubes for soups and stews. If you’re making sweet potatoes, you’ll find this tutorial helpful on how to cut sweet potatoes.
- Use cold water for boiling. For quick potato side dishes that require boiled potatoes, make sure you start with cold or room-temperature water and gradually bring them to a boil.
- Don’t overmix the mashed potatoes. We all love our creamy and delicious mashed potatoes side dish recipes, but here’s a tip that could be life-changing: do not overwork the mashed potatoes (this includes using a blender or food processor). When you overwork the starch, the potatoes become a gummy mess instead of fluffy and light.
- Consider keeping potato skins. Even though this is strictly personal, I love using unpeeled potatoes because they not only add texture but also enrich the skin with nutrients like fiber and potassium. Just make sure you scrub them very well if using potato skins.
- Prevent browning of cut potatoes. When the potato flesh is exposed to air, the starch reacts with oxygen, causing it to turn brown. To prevent this, place the cut potatoes in a bowl or pot of cold water. This is also a helpful step when making fries, as the water draws out excess starch, making the fries crisper when cooked.
- Store properly to last weeks. When properly stored, potatoes have a long shelf-life. Keep them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place such as a pantry or basement to prevent sprouting and spoilage. Avoid storing them with onions, as that will cause them to spoil quickly.
Different Potato Varieties
- Yukon Gold Potatoes—Think of this variety as “all-purpose” potatoes (and my favorite!). They have a medium starch content and a rich buttery flavor. You really can’t go wrong with Yukon Gold potatoes because they fall somewhere between the starchy russet and the waxy red potato. They are great for mashed potatoes, roasting, gratins, or any other potato side dishes for chicken, steak, or seafood.
- Red Potatoes—I love roasting, in soups, or boiling for potato salads. Their waxy flesh and low starch content help them maintain their texture, but that also means they’ll get gummy if overworked, so use other varieties for mashed potatoes. The thin and smooth skin on these potatoes makes it convenient to skip the peeling and add color and texture to your healthy potato side dishes.
- Baby Potatoes—Sometimes also called new potatoes, these are small, tender, and typically waxy potatoes with a firmer texture when cooked. They were harvested before they reached maturity, and their petite size makes them a great go-to choice for roasting, pan frying, grilling, or adding to salads like Nicoise salad.
- Russet Potatoes—High in starch with a fluffy, dry interior, russet potatoes are great for baking whole, mashing, or turning into crispy and irresistible fries. They crisp up incredibly well when fried or roasted, but they can fall apart when boiled (which is great for mashed potato side dish recipes).
- Sweet Potatoes—As the name suggests, sweet potatoes have a subtly sweet taste. They work well in sweet or savory dishes and can be roasted, mashed, or baked. Their dense, creamy texture also works well in casseroles and fries, and they hold their shape surprisingly well.
Best Potato Side Dish Recipes
I’ll never turn down a good potato dish, whether roasted or grilled—I’m here for it all. I’ll start with simple and quick potato side dishes (that are ready in under 30 minutes!) and move on to healthier options. For the ultimate comfort food, my mashed potato side dish recipes showcase the creaminess that makes a perfect pairing for any meal. And don’t forget to check out the red, sweet, and russet potato side dishes.
Quick Potato Side Dishes
If you only have 30 minutes and need a quick, easy, and delicious side dish that hits the spot, you won’t go wrong with one of these quick potato side dishes. With minimal prep and a short cooking time, you can make a tasty side dish to go with any fresh salad or main entree.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Oven Baked Potato Chips
Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryer French Fries
Sweet Potato Bites
Healthy Potato Side Dishes
These healthy potato side dishes focus on wholesome ingredients that are better for you but equally delicious and perfect for any meal.
Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Lebanese Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra)
Baked Potato Wedges
Mashed Potatoes Side Dish Recipes
I don’t know anyone who would turn down a bowl of creamy, luxurious mashed potatoes. How can you say no to this delicious comfort food that has stood the test of time? Mashed potatoes have been a mainstay for centuries, and for good reason. You can make them with different types of potatoes and ingredients and customize them with your favorite flavor profiles. These mashed potato side dish recipes will become your favorites.
Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Special Occasion Potato Side Dishes
Even though the general consensus is that mashed potatoes are the clear winner when it comes to holidays and comfort foods, these alternative potato sides are equally special for those occasions when regular potatoes just won’t do. I recommend that you give yourself a little more time to prepare them, but I promise these potato side dishes are just what you need to elevate your meal and bring something unique and special to the table.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Rosemary Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Potato Galette
Roasted Parmesan Potatoes
Fondant Melting Potatoes
Russet Potato Side Dishes
Russet potatoes are the king of potatoes. They are large, with thick, dark brown skin and very starchy flesh. They’re also commonly referred to as baking potatoes, and I have a few of my favorites below! Russets hold up beautifully and absorb flavors well, so there’s no shame in piling that baked potato high with sour cream, cheese, and chopped green onions.
How to Bake a Potato
Baked Potato on a Grill
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Oven Baked French Fries
Small Potato Side Dishes
If russet potato side dishes aren’t your thing, consider these options. Small potatoes are anything other than russets. Think red potatoes, baby potatoes, or Yukon gold potatoes. All are delicious in their own way, each offering unique textures and flavors to complement the rest of your meal. For an extra pop of color, I particularly enjoy serving red potato side dishes that showcase their vibrant color.
Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Grilled Potatoes
Mustard Potato Salad
Mediterranean Potato Salad
Sweet Potato Side Dishes
Sweet potatoes are like the desert of the potato family! Be sure to read up on sweet potatoes versus yams to know the distinction, and check out my tutorial on how to boil sweet potatoes.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Melting Sweet Potatoes
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover potato side dishes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Mashed potatoes shouldn’t be kept longer than 3-4 days, especially if they are made with dairy. To reheat most potato side dishes, pop them in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated. For crispy potatoes like potato wedges or fries, it’s best to reheat them in the oven to restore their crunch.
In most cases, yes, but it’s important to consider how you plan to use them. For example, when making mashed potatoes, you can swap out Yukon golds for russets, but avoid using waxier red potatoes for mashing, which can make your mashed potatoes gummy and gluey. On the other hand, starch-heavy potatoes like russets don’t make a great option for salads as they don’t hold their shape, but red potatoes do. Yukon gold potatoes seem to be the hero of all potatoes, making a great sub for both russets and red potatoes in most cases.
Yes, but you may need to make slight adjustments because different types of potatoes have different cooking times. Waxy potatoes like red potatoes and Yukon golds tend to cook faster than starchy potatoes like russets. So, if you want to cook them on the same pan, I recommend cutting the starchy potatoes into smaller pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
If you are slightly obsessed with potatoes like I am, then I trust this collection of my favorite potato side dishes will serve you well. Whether you have only 30 minutes to whip up one of my quick potato side dishes or are looking for that perfect dish to grace your holiday table, I promise there’s a recipe to suit every occasion and satisfy every craving.
For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Apple Recipes to Make, Nourishing Soup Recipes, Everyday Breakfast Ideas, and Best Chicken Recipes.
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