Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, oven-roasted potatoes are one of the easiest side dishes to make. Since potatoes are versatile, it pairs up quite well with any kind of meal. Whether it’s a meat-based main dish, a meal of green and veggies, or one-pot rice or pasta, easy oven-roasted potatoes can complete all types of meals. A minimal-effort side dish, it uses most ingredients that are easily available in the pantry.
Basic oven-roasted potatoes recipe
This simple oven-roasted potatoes recipe requires only basic ingredients. To start off, wash the potatoes and cut them in cubes of about 1”. If there is enough time to cook, soak the cut potatoes in cold water for about 15 to 20 minutes to get rid of the extra starch and make the potatoes extra crispy. Preheat the oven to a high temperature, between 350°F and 450°F. While the oven can be set to any temperature, a higher temperature usually helps with making the exterior crispier and the insides fluffier. Also, higher the temperature, less will be the time needed to roast the potatoes.
Next, take out the potatoes from the water and wipe them dry with a kitchen towel. Spread them on a baking tray and drizzle olive oil and some butter. Sprinkle seasonings and herbs of choice and some grated parmesan cheese for additional flavors. Fresh herbs result in a better flavor than dried ones, but either can be used. Pop the tray in the oven and cook for about 20 to 50 minutes depending on the temperature.
Vegan oven-roasted potatoes
Perfect as a side dish as well as snacks, vegan oven-roasted potatoes are made in a similar way as the basic roasted potatoes recipe. The only exception is that no animal products like sour cream, cheese, or butter are used. Only a few household ingredients are needed to make this. To prepare this recipe, use baby potatoes or red or gold potatoes. Wash the potatoes and cut them up. Baby potatoes can be cut in halves and other types have to be diced in half-inch cubes. Make sure the pieces are of the same size. Place them in a large bowl and mix in freshly minced garlic, dried thyme or rosemary, onion powder, and some paprika. Sprinkle some cracked black pepper and sea salt. Also, drizzle a bit of olive oil (optional).
To avoid the potatoes from sticking, make sure to use the baking tray with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Put the tray in an oven preheated to about 425°F. Bake on the middle rack for around 25 to 30 minutes; halfway through the cooking, make sure to flip the potatoes and rotate the tray to ensure even cooking.
Oven-roasted potatoes with a mustard twist
When looking for flavorsome yet easy oven-roasted potatoes to make, this recipe can be handy. All it needs is a dash of mustard. While no other seasonings are required, herbs can be added to enhance its flavor. Start off by picking the right kind of potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes, baby potatoes, russet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, or red potatoes are good choices to consider.
Wash the potatoes well and cut them in equal sizes. Dry them and put them in a large bowl. To this, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and mustard. Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard will give the right flavors. While extra virgin olive oil is the best option for this, neutral oils like vegetable oil or avocado oil can also be used. Mustard already has tons of flavors, but other additions like garlic powder, onion powder, sweet or smoked paprika, or cumin powder can also be added to enhance its taste. Mix everything together with the potatoes and spread them on a baking tray. Put it in a preheated oven, cook for about 15 minutes, turn them over, and finally cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Main dishes that can be served with oven-roasted potatoes
Oven-roasted potatoes are one of those few side dishes that get along with pretty much everything. There are many main dishes that are popularly compatible with oven-roasted potatoes.
Roasted chicken
Certain oven-roasted potato dishes like the ones with mustard twist are packed with tons of flavors. These can be easily paired with simpler main dishes like rotisserie chicken or a roasted chicken. For a complete meal, add some broccoli to the potatoes or throw in a quick salad.
Seafood or fish
The simplest of oven-roasted potatoes are quite light on flavors and calories. So, pairing them with seafood or fish is also a great option. White fish or salmon usually taste good with these potatoes.
Vegetarian meals
A hearty meal can be made with roasted veggies, crispy tofu, and roasted potatoes.
Burgers
Serve the crispy oven-roasted potatoes instead of French fries with burgers. Rather than dicing the potatoes into cubes, they can be sliced into wedges.
Oven-roasted potatoes usually get over pretty quickly. But if there are leftovers, they can help make the next meal much easier. For instance, roasted potatoes can be used in frittatas or hashbrown for the next day’s breakfast. Plus, these can be used in casseroles or oven-baked chicken or veggies, later on.