Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This simple home fries recipe makes the crispiest potatoes with just a few ingredients. I love to make this for my family on weekends or anytime they’re craving a hearty breakfast. They’re perfectly seasoned and pan-fried with onions for a savory side dish.

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Table of Contents

What’s in this Home Fries Recipe?

I love that this recipe only calls for a handful of ingredients, most of which are already in our pantry. These breakfast potatoes are super simple for me to cook up anytime one of the kids gets a craving.

  • Potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes work best for home fries since they have a high starch content. Russet potatoes will work too.
  • Vinegar: Adding vinegar (I used distilled white vinegar) to the pot of water will help the potatoes stay intact while boiling so they don’t fall apart or get mushy.
  • Fats: Use both butter and vegetable oil for pan-frying. This adds in more richness and helps everything get super crispy.
  • Onion: Diced onions add flavor and texture into the mix.
  • Seasonings: Salt and pepper, plus fresh thyme and cilantro are all you need to season these potatoes.

Pro Tip: I only need to boil the potatoes about 5 minutes, just until they start to get tender. I don’t like when they get too soft!

What else can I add to these home-fried potatoes?

I recommend adding in garlic (as much as you like) while cooking the onions for a more savory flavor. I also love to mix in bacon crumbles, different herbs and spices, or even make them cheesy!

  • For spicier potatoes, I add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
  • For cheesy home fries, I melt shredded cheese on top at the end (I recommend a sharp cheddar).
  • For a final touch, I top potatoes with hot sauce, ketchup, or sour cream.
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Can I make home fries with sweet potatoes?

Yes! Sweet potatoes are quite starchy, so they work fine as a substitute. Just follow the directions as is.

Do you have to boil potatoes before frying them?

Yes, the potatoes need to be boiled briefly in order to soften them, otherwise they won’t cook through fully while frying.

How do get super crispy potatoes?

Using both butter and oil creates a really crispy texture when pan-frying these potatoes. Let the skillet, butter, and oil fully heat up before adding the potatoes. Lastly, let the potatoes cool and dry after par-boiling (don’t transfer them directly to the skillet).

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How to Make Ahead and Store

These potatoes are going to be their best if served fresh. When I do want to make them ahead of time I just boil, cool, chop, and refrigerate the potatoes until it’s time to eat. Then I quickly pan-fry them and serve.

Once cooked, I let the home fries cool completely, then store leftovers in an airtight container. We keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to Freeze and Reheat

Freeze these home fries in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a warm skillet with more butter to help them crisp.

Serving Suggestions

These classic diner-style home fries go well with all our favorite breakfast foods! I love to serve them with a stack of buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, buttery toast, crispy brown sugar bacon, and plenty of iced coffee.

They also make a great side for steak and eggs, a breakfast burger, or these croissant breakfast sandwiches.

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Recipe

Home Fries Recipe

4.41 from 102 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 45 minutes minutes

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Serves4

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These home-fried potatoes are pan-fried until crispy for the most delicious side dish to pair with eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

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Ingredients

  • pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 sweet yellow onion diced
  • 1-2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro parsley or chives

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Stir well. Set the heat to high and boil the potatoes until just tender (approximately 5 minutes after water has reached a boil). Drain. Cool, to touch, and cut potatoes into fourths. Place the potatoes in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.

    1½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

  • While potatoes boil, heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet set over medium heat just until the oil shimmers. Add the onion, sprinkle with salt & pepper and cook until onion is translucent and tender, 3-4 minutes. Transfer onion to a paper-towel lined plate and remove skillet from heat.

    3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 sweet yellow onion, Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • When potatoes are ready, set the skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Heat the oil & butter until the oil shimmers, and add the quartered potatoes. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, and cook in a single layer until potatoes are crispy and lightly browned on the bottom (about 6 minutes).

    3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Add the cooked onions and thyme to the potatoes; toss and season to taste. If desired, add cilantro, parsley or chives. Serve immediately.

    1-2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 284kcal (14%) Carbohydrates: 32g (11%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 16g (25%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0.3g Cholesterol: 15mg (5%) Sodium: 1764mg (77%) Potassium: 762mg (22%) Fiber: 4g (17%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 209IU (4%) Vitamin C: 36mg (44%) Calcium: 32mg (3%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

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More Potato Side Dishes We Love

  • Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
  • Au Gratin Potatoes
  • Crockpot Potato Casserole
  • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
  • Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries
  • Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon
  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole

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Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between hash browns and home fries? ›

Hash browns (or hashbrowns and hashed browns), are traditionally shredded potatoes that are pan fried to a golden brown. Home fries are made from cubed or diced potatoes. They are fried up along with onions and often bell peppers.

What are home fries made of? ›

What are Home Fries? Home fries are a breakfast dish or side dish of potatoes that have been parboiled, and then seasoned and pan-fried to crispy potato perfection. They're often cooked with other veggies and served alongside eggs, bacon, or sausage.

Are home fries healthy? ›

By using heart-healthy olive oil and baking your hand-cut fries, you'll be getting all of the nutrients potatoes naturally have to offer, according to the USDA, without all of the unhealthy fats and preservatives so common in fast food fries, per McDonald's.

What are cottage fries made of? ›

Served as a side dish, appetizer, or snack, cottage fries are potatoes (preferably Russet, but more on this below) cut into 1/2-inch rounds, seasoned, and roasted in a hot oven until they're crisp and lightly browned on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Can I substitute frozen hash browns for fresh potatoes? ›

In essentially any dish that calls for peeled and prepped potatoes, you can (and should) use frozen hash browns.

Are frozen hash browns just shredded potatoes? ›

Frozen hash browns are made from blanched potatoes, meaning the potatoes are grated and steamed before being formed into hash browns.

Should I boil potatoes before frying? ›

This allows for some of the starch to cook off, while also adding a big dose of flavor thanks to the salted water. Not to mention, it speeds up meal prep. Simply parboil a big batch of cut potatoes over the weekend and fry in batches during the week.

Why are homemade fries so much better? ›

The homemade version has fewer carbohydrates and calories, and less fat, saturated fat and sodium. The higher fat content of McDonald's fries is most likely due to deep fat frying or even some pre-frying done before the fries are shipped to the restaurant.

Why boil potatoes with baking soda? ›

Meanwhile, the alkaline water helps the exteriors of the potatoes break down more, creating much more of the starchy slurry that leads to an extra-crisp exterior. About a half teaspoon of baking soda for two quarts of water was the right amount.

Are pan fried potatoes bad for you? ›

The use of fried potatoes is probably associated with a higher risk of diabetes and other comorbidities for several reasons, such as cooking with trans fats,” the study report says. Trans fats are fairly easy to use, because they last a long time and are inexpensive to produce.

Is it safe to eat fried potatoes everyday? ›

Eating too many potatoes, especially deep-fried or laden with added fat and salt, can cause side effects such as raised blood sugar and blood pressure, despite potatoes being a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

What are fairy fries? ›

The Fairy Fries are thin, crisp match sticks bursting with flavor from lemon, rosemary and a crunchy coarse salt.

What are PEI fries? ›

Fries With The Works (or FWTW) is a tasty Prince Edward Island Potato dish that must consist of four key ingredients: PEI French Fries topped with Gravy, Island Ground Beef and Canned Peas.

What is the green stuff in fries? ›

The green is nothing more than chlorophyll, a harmless compound found in all green plants. However, when potato tubers turn green there is usually an increase in a glycoalkoloid compound called solanine. Consequently, it is important to store potatoes in the absence of light to prevent greening.

Why do they call them home fries? ›

While the origin is unclear, home fries were probably named to distinguish them from French fries. According to Merriam-Webster, the term was first used in 1951.

What's the difference between home fries and American fries? ›

American Fries usually refer to home fries, which are baked or fried potato cuts. The cooking process may use margarine, butter, bacon fat, or vegetable oil. Sometimes, minced onions are added. On the other hand, French Fries are easily found in fast food restaurants.

What are the two types of hash browns? ›

There are two kinds of hash browns: The chunky, floury, vaguely brown but not crisp kind, and the lacy, crunchy, shredded version here.

What makes a hashbrown a hashbrown? ›

Hash browns, also spelled hashed browns and hashbrowns, are a popular American breakfast dish consisting of finely julienned potatoes that have been fried until golden browned.

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