Fried Potatoes and Onions | Only 15 Minutes To Make

This fried potatoes and onions recipe is always a hit at our house. It has an addictively delicious cripsy cunchy savoriness that'll have you coming back to it bite-after-bite. Not to mention, it's so versatile - this skillet potatoes and onions will pair with anything! And since it takes 15 minutes to make, you'll want to serve it alongside every meal. 

The Best Fried Potato and Onions

It really is true that a meal isn't a meal until it has a side dish to enjoy with it. And you won’t find an easier or more budget-friendly side than good old fried potatoes and onions!

Now, I know what you're thinking, potatoes and onions are too simple to be delicious. And although they're simple, this skillet potatoes and onions recipe combines incredible spices and seasonings with a top-notch cooking technique to create some side dish magic. 

These southern fried potatoes and onions make a terrific breakfast side for a hearty start to your day, and also are great with lunch and dinner as well! They go fantastic with this McDonald's McGriddle and Egg McMuffin with some breakfast sauce in the morning.

And these southern pan fried potatoes and onions go really well with dinner too! Try pairing them with a dish like Texas Roadhouse chili, turkey sandwich, or these KFC Nashville tenders. I've got a feeling you won't be disappointed if you do.

Why This Recipe Works

Quick and easy to make. These skillet fried potatoes and onions could not be any easier. All in all, it only takes about 15 minutes and a few easy steps.

Minimal prep. All you have to do is season the potatoes and then keep them in a skillet. That's it!

Best flavor. The combination of the spices and seasoning in this recipe makes the potatoes and onions taste even better.

Ingredients

When it comes to the ingredients, they're all simple ones that you probably already have on hand. 

And if you don't have them, it's worth running to the store and stocking up on everything!

With that said, here's what you'll need to make these fried potatoes and onions:

• 2 lbs golden potatoes, cut into 1" or smaller cubes, with the skin on
• 1 onion, chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• Fresh parsley or cilantro to serve

See? I wasn’t kidding when I said this fried potatoes recipe was simple! 

And potatoes and onions are such adaptable ingredients that you can use in a variety of dishes. If you have any onions left over, put them to use in this classic French onion soup, and use the remaining potatoes for this Instant Pot potato salad.

Plus, there's room to get creative with this recipe. For instance, you can add some eggs, bacon, and diced bell peppers to the skillet for one darn good breakfast.

By the way, I suggest using a cast iron skillet to fry the potatoes and onions for the crispiest potatoes and best results.

How To Make Fried Potatoes and Onions

1. Prep: Sliced the potatoes into small cubes. Heat a skillet over medium-high and add the olive oil to it.

2. Season: Once the pan is heated, add the potatoes to the hot oil and toss them until they are all covered. You can add some more oil if needed. Add the onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to the skillet with the potatoes in it. Toss everything until well the potatoes and onions are fully coated in the spices and seasonings.

3. Cook and serve: Sauté the potatoes and onions at a high temperature for around 15 minutes, stirring them constantly around the pan with a wooden spoon to prevent them from sticking. Serve this potato dish warm with fresh parsley or cilantro on top, and enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best

• Use more oil while cooking the potatoes to make sure they're extra crispy.
• Try adding fresh herbs and minced garlic to add even more flavor. 
• You'll know the potatoes and onions are done when they're golden brown and you have crunchy potatoes.
• Use red potatoes or yukon gold potatoes for a different flavor. 

How To Store Potatoes and Onions

In the fridge: Transfer any leftover onions fried potatoes to an airtight container in the fridge and keep them good for about 3 days.

In the freezer: Store the cooked potatoes and onions in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer for 3 months.

Reheating: Put the leftover fried potatoes and onions back in a skillet over medium heat or in the toaster oven for about 5 minutes.

FAQs About This Potatoes and Onions Recipe

Can I boil the potatoes before frying the potatoes and onions?

This really depends on how big the potatoes are and how quickly you want them to cook. The 15 minutes cooking time will cook the potatoes until crispy if you cut them into cubes of 1 inch or smaller. However, if you want to speed up this process or are using larger potatoes, you can boil them beforehand and sauté them with the onions after.

What oil should I use to fry the potatoes and onions?

Any neutral oil is good for frying because it doesn’t add any extra flavor. You can try peanut oil or canola oil, or if you want a healthier version, you can use olive oil, avocado oil, or even coconut oil. 

How do you keep fried potatoes from getting soggy?

You'll want to make sure that you fry potatoes at high heat and constantly stir them around the pan while they're cooking. Also, add more oil if the pan if starts to dry out. 

Why won’t my fried potatoes get crispy?

There are a few reasons this might be happening. Your pan might not be hot enough or you might be skimping on your oil. Don’t be shy about cranking the heat a little higher and adding a dash of oil to get that delicious crispiness. You want to make sure they don’t burn, but make sure to give them sufficient time and heat to caramelize properly and get crispy. Also, a cast-iron skillet works really well for this recipe because an iron pan can get very hot and create the perfect crispy potatoes.

More Recipes

If you liked this potatoes and onions recipe and are looking for more potato recipes, here are some of our most popular ones:

• Outback Potato Soup
• No Bean Chili
• Potato mochi
• Easy 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
  
• Hashbrown Casserole
  

Oh, and as always, for more delicious side dish recipes just like this one, take a look at our YouTube channel and our Instagram page. We post new recipes on them daily!

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