Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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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.

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Table of Contents

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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Can I make home fries with sweet potatoes?

Yes! Sweet potatoes are quite starchy, so they work fine as a substitute. Just follow the directions as is.

Do you have to boil potatoes before frying them?

Yes, the potatoes need to be boiled briefly in order to soften them, otherwise they won’t cook through fully while frying.

How do get super crispy potatoes?

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).

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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.

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Recipe

Home Fries Recipe

4.41 from 102 votes

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 45 minutes minutes

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Serves4

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These home-fried potatoes are pan-fried until crispy for the most delicious side dish to pair with eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

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Ingredients

  • pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 sweet yellow onion diced
  • 1-2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro parsley or chives

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Stir well. Set the heat to high and boil the potatoes until just tender (approximately 5 minutes after water has reached a boil). Drain. Cool, to touch, and cut potatoes into fourths. Place the potatoes in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.

    1½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

  • While potatoes boil, heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet set over medium heat just until the oil shimmers. Add the onion, sprinkle with salt & pepper and cook until onion is translucent and tender, 3-4 minutes. Transfer onion to a paper-towel lined plate and remove skillet from heat.

    3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 sweet yellow onion, Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • When potatoes are ready, set the skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Heat the oil & butter until the oil shimmers, and add the quartered potatoes. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, and cook in a single layer until potatoes are crispy and lightly browned on the bottom (about 6 minutes).

    3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Add the cooked onions and thyme to the potatoes; toss and season to taste. If desired, add cilantro, parsley or chives. Serve immediately.

    1-2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 284kcal (14%) Carbohydrates: 32g (11%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 16g (25%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0.3g Cholesterol: 15mg (5%) Sodium: 1764mg (77%) Potassium: 762mg (22%) Fiber: 4g (17%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 209IU (4%) Vitamin C: 36mg (44%) Calcium: 32mg (3%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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More Potato Side Dishes We Love

  • Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
  • Au Gratin Potatoes
  • Crockpot Potato Casserole
  • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
  • Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries
  • Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon
  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole

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Home Fries Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between home fries and hash browns? ›

Hash browns (or hashbrowns and hashed browns), are traditionally shredded potatoes that are pan fried to a golden brown. Home fries are made from cubed or diced potatoes. They are fried up along with onions and often bell peppers. Hash browns and home fries are staple items of breakfast restaurants around the country.

Are home fries healthy? ›

In moderation and with the right cooking method, the answer is YES baked fries are healthy! While white potatoes often receive a bad reputation, much of that has to do with how we typically prepare potatoes (ahem, deep fried instead of baked), as well as the quantity in which we eat them.

Why are they called home fries? ›

While the origin is unclear, home fries were probably named to distinguish them from French fries. According to Merriam-Webster, the term was first used in 1951.

How to freeze homemade home fries? ›

Spread potatoes in an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about six hours or overnight. Transfer frozen fries to an airtight freezer bag and freeze for up to six months. Homemade french fries can be baked or fried straight from the freezer.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns? ›

Substitute fresh potatoes for 30 ounces of frozen hashbrowns. Substitute diced green onions for 3 tablespoons dried chives.

How to get moisture out of potatoes for hash browns? ›

Tips for the Crispiest Hash Browns

Squeeze out moisture: Use a potato ricer, orange or lemon press, or a tea towel to wring out excess moisture from the shredded raw potato. Some people find a salad spinner can work well too.

Why do you Soak potatoes in water before frying? ›

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

What do British people call home fries? ›

Home fries (US, Canada), gommer fries (Western Canada), house fries (US), American fries (US), fried potatoes (UK, Canada and regional US), Bratkartoffeln (German), or bistro potatoes (southeastern US) are a type of basic potato dish made by pan- or skillet-frying chunked, sliced, wedged or diced potatoes that are ...

Are hash browns healthy? ›

Yes, hash browns are perfectly healthy, containing most of the vitamins and minerals found in potatoes—vitamins B1, B3, B6, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin and thiamin.

Can you freeze raw onions? ›

Can You Freeze Onions? Not only do onions freeze exceptionally well, it truly is as easy as chopping them up and chucking them in the freezer. There is no need to cook them first, unless, of course, you'd like to be able to quickly add the depth of flavor that caramelized onions provide to a dish.

Can I freeze raw carrots? ›

Freezing carrots is such a great way to avoid waste. It will also make cooking them a little quicker from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value of carrots deteriorates. Make sure you blanch the veg to preserve these elements.

Can I freeze raw potatoes? ›

You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.

What are the two types of hash browns? ›

There are two kinds of hash browns: The chunky, floury, vaguely brown but not crisp kind, and the lacy, crunchy, shredded version here. Guess which one we prefer? This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

What is another name for home fries? ›

Home fries (US, Canada), gommer fries (Western Canada), house fries (US), American fries (US), fried potatoes (UK, Canada and regional US), Bratkartoffeln (German), or bistro potatoes (southeastern US) are a type of basic potato dish made by pan- or skillet-frying chunked, sliced, wedged or diced potatoes that are ...

Are hashbrowns just fried potatoes? ›

And here at Food52, they're shredded, too. Conclusion: While the technical definition may disagree, most assume that hash browns are shredded potatoes, either pancaked and deep-fried, or scattered and pan-fried.

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