These Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions are a delicious side dish for breakfast, brunch or dinner. They come together in one skillet in 25 minutes!
Simple side dishes are my favorite recipes. These simple fried potatoes combine crispy potatoes and sautéed onions with a few seasonings to create the perfect comfort food.
No boiling is needed since everything cooks in one skillet on the stove. The potatoes are fried in a large skillet with olive oil and a few other ingredients to create fork-tender potatoes and onions. No deep frying needed.
These crispy pan-fried potatoes and onions are a versatile side dish for breakfast or dinner. Serve them as breakfast potatoes with scrambled eggs and bacon. Or enjoy them for dinner with a hearty main dish like steak and lobster, cast iron chicken thighs and pan seared ribeye.
If you love cast iron recipes, try other easy skillet side dishes like Sautéed Eggplant, Sauteed Butternut Squash and Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No dry, bland or boring potatoes.
- Everything cooks in one skillet. No need to boil potatoes.
- Enjoy them for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- It’s a quick and easy side dish – prepare the entire recipe in under 25 minutes!
Ingredients You Need
This recipe is great to pull together anytime because it uses ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. Only a few simple ingredients creates delicious homestyle flavor.
- Potatoes: We generally use Russet potatoes, but you can also use Yukon gold potatoes, red potatoes or another starchy potato. You don’t even have to peel them.
- Onion: Yellow onions have a slightly more mild flavor so they are preferred for this recipe. However, you can use white onions, sweet onions or red onions, if desired.
- Olive Oil: Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil for the best texture and flavor. You can substitute with canola oil or avocado oil with a high smoke point, but olive oil is preferred. You can use butter but it burns easily at high temperatures.
- Seasonings: You will need garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper. If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can use regular paprika. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can substitute with a mix of dried parsley, rosemary or thyme.
What Potatoes Are Best to Use
I like to use russet potatoes for perfect pan-fried potatoes. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes. Both are starchy potatoes that taste great and hold together well when sautéed. But you can use any type of potato you like!
Kitchen Tools
You will need a cast iron skillet for this recipe. A cast-iron skillet is preferred since it heats evenly, but you can also use a nonstick skillet. You will also need a lid to cover the skillet.
How to Make Fried Potatoes and Onions
This easy recipe comes together in one skillet in only a few steps. The cooking process is easy and the result is crispy potatoes and lightly caramelized onions.
- Chop the potatoes: Cut the potatoes into similar-sized pieces, about 1/2-inch pieces. This ensures that they they cook evenly.
- Preheat the pan: Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Preheating the pan is a very important step to ensure that the potatoes do not stick to the pan.
- Add all of the ingredients to the skillet: First, add the raw potatoes and onions to the hot skillet, then add the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, stirring well to coat. Ideally, you want to add the potatoes and onions to the pan in a single layer, but if there isn’t enough room, it’s fine, just be sure to stir them often.
- Cook the potatoes: Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until the potatoes are golden brown and tender. Remove the lid halfway through the cook time for crispier potatoes. Use a spatula to fit the potatoes.
- Serve the potatoes: Drain the potatoes on paper towels, if desired. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Prevent potatoes from sticking to the pan: The key to any cast iron cooking is to make sure you preheat your skillet completely. Use a spatula to flip the potatoes. You can also add more olive oil if they are sticking to the pan too much.
- Add other ingredients: If you’re looking for extra flavor, you can try different variations by adding minced garlic, fresh herbs, diced red bell peppers or mushrooms. Or add spicy flavor with a dash of red pepper flakes.
Storage & Leftovers
Store leftover fried potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat in the microwave or add the potatoes and onions to a skillet and reheat slowly on the stove.
To freeze, store leftover potatoes and onions in a freezer safe container in the freezer. Thaw and reheat before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You don’t need to soak or par-cook the potatoes. They are chopped into small pieces so they cook quickly and evenly.
The potatoes are done when they are crispy on the outside and creamy in the middle. They should be fork-tender.
To air fry potatoes and onions, you will want to mix together all of the ingredients for this recipe in a large bowl (except use 3 tablespoons of olive oil.) Transfer the potatoes and onions to the air fryer basket and lay them in a single layer. Air fry at 375° F for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing every five minutes. When they reach your desired crispness, remove them from the air fryer.
If you potatoes are soggy and do not have a crispy texture, then you likely didn’t preheat the pan with the oil. The hot oil helps to create the crispy seared texture on the potatoes.
What Goes With Fried Potatoes and Onions
These easy southern fried potatoes are a family favorite that goes with a variety of meals. You can serve them however you like for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here are a few ideas.
- Serve them as a hearty side dish for breakfast. We love serving them with a Ham and Spinach Frittata.
- Enjoy them with a nice steak dinner. Try this easy Cast Iron Flank Steak or Pan Seared Ribeye.
- Substitute french fries or home fries for these potatoes and onions.
- Potatoes are the perfect side dish for seafood. Try them with Cast Iron Salmon or Pan Fried Cod.
Did you try this crispy Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions recipe? Leave a recipe star rating and review below.
Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions
Ingredients
- 3-4 medium russet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled (about 1.5 pounds)
- 1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, (or butter)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Chop the potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Heat the oil in a large cast iron or nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat.
- Add the potatoes and onions to the skillet in an even layer. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, stirring well to coat.
- Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until golden brown and tender. Remove the lid halfway through the cook time for crispier potatoes. Drain on paper towels, if desired, and serve immediately.
This was the best side to our eggs and bacon this morning. Easy to make and so delicious! YUM!
Great combination of flavors and pairs so well with so much!