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.
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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Yes! Sweet potatoes are quite starchy, so they work fine as a substitute. Just follow the directions as is.
Yes, the potatoes need to be boiled briefly in order to soften them, otherwise they won’t cook through fully while frying.
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).
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.
Hi, are we supposed to peel the potatoes at some point?
We did not peel ours!
How long will dough keep in the fridge
I’m not sure what dough you’re referring to? These home fries will keep well for about 4 days in the fridge!
I forgot to take a pic! They took longer to cook than the recipe called for, but that’s okay. (I’m at 7000 feet: everything takes longer!) I added some diced green pepper to the onions and smashed the potatoes a bit at the very end–just like NYC Greek diner home fries but better since fresh and homemade (and crispier)! Hubby loved them. Thanks!
Sounds amazing, Annie!
They didn’t have much taste. I’d suggest adding garlic powder and broiling the potatoes after sauteeing.
Definitely modify to your liking!
nice and delicious
Thanks Andrina!
You can also microwave the potato and it turns out great. Just don’t microwave until they are mushy.
I love a good homefries recipe. They are perfect for a side at so many meals!
Agreed!!!
I love potato dishes like these. It sounds like the perfect side dish to about any meal. I can’t wait to try them!
Yay! Let me know how you like them :)