20 Potato Sides So Good, They Will Steal The Show From The Main Dish
Ah, potatoes, the never-ending kitchen staple. These versatile veggies transform into magical side dishes that often outshine the main course.
I’ve spent years perfecting potato recipes that make my family forget all about the roast chicken or steak sitting next to them. Ready to make your side dish the star of the show?
1. Crispy Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges
Nothing beats the satisfying crunch of these wedges. I coat thick potato slices with olive oil, minced garlic, parmesan, and herbs before roasting them until golden.
My son once refused to eat his burger because he was too busy devouring these crispy delights! The secret is getting the oven temperature just right – 425°F creates that perfect crispy exterior while keeping the inside fluffy.
2. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Mashed potatoes get a spectacular upgrade in this crowd-pleasing casserole. Creamy potatoes blend with sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, and green onions before being baked to bubbly perfection.
The beauty lies in its make-ahead potential. Prepare everything the day before, refrigerate, then pop it in the oven 30 minutes before dinner.
The melted cheese forms an irresistible golden crust that nobody can resist.
3. Duchess Potatoes
Fancy without being fussy, duchess potatoes elevate any dinner to restaurant quality. These piped mashed potato swirls get a brush of butter before baking, creating a crisp exterior that gives way to a creamy center.
I first made these for Christmas dinner three years ago, and they’ve been requested at every holiday since! The dramatic presentation belies how simple they are to prepare.
Just pipe, brush, and bake – even kitchen novices can master this impressive side.
4. Hasselback Potatoes with Herb Butter
Swedish-inspired Hasselback potatoes combine the best of baked and roasted potatoes in one stunning package. Thinly sliced but still intact at the base, they fan out during baking for maximum crispiness.
Herb butter melts into every crevice, infusing the entire potato with flavor. The presentation alone makes these worth the extra effort – they look like they belong in a food magazine but require just a sharp knife and patience.
5. Twice-Baked Potato Boats
Potato skins become edible vessels in this delightful twist on the classic twice-baked potato. Scoop out the flesh, mix it with cheese, bacon, and chives, then pile it back into the shells before a second trip to the oven.
My family fights over these at every gathering! I’ve been making them since college, gradually perfecting my recipe. The trick is to leave a thin layer of potato attached to the skin for structural integrity – nobody wants a floppy potato boat.
6. Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Boiled baby potatoes get gently flattened before roasting to crispy perfection. The smashing creates more surface area for browning, resulting in potatoes that are incredibly crunchy outside and creamy inside.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt before roasting. Finish with fresh herbs and maybe a dollop of sour cream. These humble spuds deliver such textural contrast that they regularly upstage my carefully prepared main dishes.
7. Potato Gratin Dauphinois
This French classic transforms humble potatoes into something sublime. Paper-thin potato slices layered with garlic-infused cream and cheese create a dish that’s simultaneously rustic and sophisticated.
I learned this recipe during a cooking class in Paris, and it’s been my go-to impressive side ever since. The key is slicing the potatoes uniformly thin – a mandoline is worth the investment just for this dish.
As it bakes, the cream reduces and the top turns golden brown, creating an unforgettable combination of flavors and textures.
8. Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes, with their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, need minimal intervention to shine. Toss them with olive oil, fresh rosemary, garlic, and sea salt before roasting until their skins wrinkle slightly.
Their elongated shape provides more surface area for caramelization, creating extra flavor. I love how they look like little edible gemstones on the plate! Simple preparation lets their natural potato goodness take center stage.
9. Potato Rösti
This Swiss potato pancake delivers incredible texture – shatteringly crisp exterior giving way to tender strands of potato inside. Grated potatoes pressed into a pan and fried until golden brown create a dish that’s both homey and sophisticated.
I discovered rösti while backpacking through Europe in my twenties, and it’s been my favorite hangover breakfast ever since! Serve it as a side or top it with smoked salmon and crème fraîche for a show-stopping appetizer.
10. Fondant Potatoes
French technique transforms humble potatoes into cylindrical bites of heaven. Cut into barrel shapes, these potatoes are seared in butter, then slowly roasted in stock until the liquid reduces to a glossy sauce.
The result is magical – crispy tops and bottoms with creamy middles, all glazed in an intensely flavored reduction. Despite their fancy reputation, fondant potatoes require just a few ingredients and basic knife skills.
11. Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
Regular fries step aside – these sweet potato beauties bring color and flavor to the table. Tossed with cornstarch before baking ensures maximum crispiness without frying.
The magic happens in the seasoning – a blend of brown sugar, cayenne, and smoked paprika creates an addictive sweet-heat combo.
My daughter once proclaimed these “better than candy,” which, from a 7-year-old, is the highest praise possible!
12. Garlic Ranch Potato Salad
This no-mayo potato salad revolutionized my summer cookouts. Red potatoes tossed with a tangy homemade ranch dressing, loaded with fresh herbs and plenty of garlic, create a lighter alternative to traditional versions.
Served warm or cold, it’s incredibly versatile. The secret ingredient? A splash of pickle juice in the dressing adds brightness that makes the flavors pop. Even mayo-lovers convert after trying this fresh, herb-packed version.
13. Cheesy Potato Pancakes
Leftover mashed potatoes transform into crispy, cheesy pancakes that might be better than the original dish. Mix cold mashed potatoes with cheese, eggs, and chives, then pan-fry until golden brown.
I discovered this recipe by accident when trying to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. Now I deliberately make extra mashed potatoes just for these pancakes!
The crispy exterior gives way to a creamy, cheesy interior that’s absolutely irresistible.
14. Lemon Herb Roasted Purple Potatoes
Purple potatoes aren’t just visually stunning – they pack more antioxidants than their paler cousins. Their naturally nutty flavor pairs beautifully with bright lemon and fresh herbs.
Quarter these colorful spuds, toss with olive oil, lemon zest, and herbs before roasting. The purple flesh keeps its vibrant color, creating a side dish that’s as Instagram-worthy as it is delicious.
Bonus: watching guests’ surprised expressions when they cut into these purple beauties!
15. Baked Potato Soup
All the flavors of a loaded baked potato in cozy soup form! Creamy potato base studded with bacon, cheese, green onions, and a dollop of sour cream – it’s comfort in a bowl.
I started making this on snowy Colorado evenings when my kids were small. They would help by mashing the potatoes and choosing their own toppings.
The beauty of this soup is its flexibility – set up a toppings bar and let everyone customize their bowl.
16. Bombay Potatoes
Spice up your potato game with this Indian-inspired side. Cubed potatoes tossed with a fragrant blend of mustard seeds, turmeric, cumin, and garam masala create a vibrant, flavorful dish that pairs with everything from grilled chicken to roast beef.
The potatoes soak up the aromatic spices, becoming golden yellow from the turmeric. Fresh cilantro adds brightness to balance the warm spices. These potatoes taught me that side dishes don’t have to be an afterthought.
17. Potato and Leek Gratin
Potatoes and leeks form a partnership made in culinary heaven in this elegant gratin. Meltingly soft leeks add sweetness and depth to the layers of thinly sliced potatoes.
A light cream sauce binds everything together without overwhelming the delicate flavors. I discovered this combination at a friend’s dinner party and immediately requested the recipe!
The key is cooking the leeks slowly until they practically dissolve into silky sweetness before layering with the potatoes.
18. Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Bites
Game day gets an upgrade with these two-bite potato bombs of flavor. Baby potatoes hollowed out and filled with buffalo chicken dip, then topped with blue cheese crumbles before baking.
I created these for a Super Bowl party after growing tired of the same old chips and dip. The potato shells become vessels for spicy, creamy goodness.
Make extra – these disappear faster than you’d believe! They’re like potato skins’ sophisticated, spicy cousin.
19. Garlic Butter Accordion Potatoes
A showstopper presentation with minimal effort, accordion potatoes (also called Hasselback’s cousin) are sliced crosswise in two directions to create a grid pattern. Once baked, they fan out dramatically.
Garlic butter seeps into every nook and cranny, flavoring the entire potato. I served these at a dinner party last month, and guests were taking photos before diving in!
The perfectly crispy exterior gives way to fluffy interior – the best of both potato worlds.
20. Truffle Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Elevate humble mashed potatoes to gourmet status with a drizzle of truffle oil and handful of aged Parmesan. The earthy truffle aroma transforms this everyday side into something restaurant-worthy.
My first taste of truffle came from a similar dish at an anniversary dinner. I was shocked to discover how easy it is to recreate at home!
The key is restraint with the truffle oil – just a few drops go a long way.