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Who doesn’t love a good crispy roast potato? I’m sharing my top tips so you can make The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes every time. So whether you’re cooking up a Sunday roast or preparing for Christmas dinner, follow this recipe and enjoy some of the most delicious roast potatoes ever! Let’s get started.
Page Contents
- The Importance of Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Choosing the Right Potatoes for Roasting
- Why these are The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes EVER
- Recipe Ingredients
- Recipe Notes
- Variations and Creative Twists on the Classic Recipe
- Recipe Tips for Perfect Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Troubleshooting Common Issues with Roast Potatoes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Serving and Enjoying Your Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Printable Recipe Card
- Pin Recipe for Later!
The Importance of Crispy Roast Potatoes
Crispy roast potatoes are more than just a side dish – they are the crown jewel of any meal. The perfect roast potato has a crunchy, golden exterior that gives way to a fluffy and creamy interior. It adds a delightful texture and a burst of flavor to any plate. Whether you’re serving them alongside a succulent roast chicken or a juicy steak, crispy roast potatoes elevate your entire dining experience.
Choosing the Right Potatoes for Roasting
When you’re planning your roast dinner, choosing the best varieties of potato is important for that oh-so-perfect crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside combo. And for that, you need a floury potato. Floury potatoes have a higher starch content, which means they break down more easily when they cook. This gives them a light, fluffy texture that is perfect for roast potatoes.
Maris Pipers are my personal favorite, but King Edward, Desiree potatoes, and Russet potatoes are also good options. Waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold potatoes should be avoided, as they will not produce the same crispy, crunchy results.
A List of the Best Potatoes for Roasting
- Maris Piper
- King Edward
- Desiree
- Russet
If you’re looking for more delicious sides, I’ve got plenty more that I’m excited for you to try. Head over to the side dishes page, where you’ll find everything from Brussels Sprouts with Bacon to Sage and Onion Stuffing and Honey-Roasted Parsnips.
Why these are The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes EVER
- Crispy. These potatoes have a perfectly crisp exterior with just the right amount of crunch.
- Fluffy. They have super fluffy, almost creamy centers.
- Vegan. Unlike most roast potatoes cooked with duck fat, goose fat, or beef dripping, these potatoes are made with heart-healthy olive oil.
- Gluten-free. There’s no need to add flour to these potatoes for a crispy crunch. Maris piper potatoes can achieve that all on their own.
- Feeds a crowd. This side dish serves 6 people!
- Lower in salt. Most roasted potato recipes call for tablespoonfuls of salt. This recipe reduces that amount significantly.
- Delicious. They’re delicious, and quite honestly, a roast dinner wouldn’t be the same without them!
Recipe Ingredients
Making perfect roast potatoes doesn’t require much—just a few simple ingredients.
Recipe Notes
- Maris Piper Potatoes: The best potatoes for the crispiest crunch.
- Olive Oil: An anti-inflammatory oil with a beautiful fragrance.
- Fresh Rosemary: Adds a lovely flavor and freshness to the dish.
- Salt and Black Pepper: To make all the flavors pop!
How to Make The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes: Step-By-Step
- Boil
Put the chopped potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Parboil for 8-10 minutes.
- Steam Dry
Once the potatoes are ready, drain them in a colander.
- Fluff
Give the potatoes a good shake in the colander to fluff them up, then leave them to one side for 10 minutes or so until the steam and moisture evaporate.
- Heat Oil
Meanwhile, pour the olive oil into a roasting tray, and place it into the preheated oven for 5 minutes to heat up the oil.
- Roast
Tip the potatoes onto the baking sheet in a single layer. Drench the potatoes with the hot fat and season well. Place the potatoes in the hot oven for 30 minutes, turning once halfway through.
- Add Flavor
Pull the potatoes out of the oven and add the rosemary. I use half and half chopped leaves and whole sprigs. But you can use either or. Give everything a good toss, and pop the potatoes back into the oven for another 20 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Once the potatoes have reached crispy perfection, remove any rosemary sprigs (if necessary). Then, pour the potatoes out into a serving dish, and enjoy!
Find the recipe card with exact ingredients and full recipe instructions at the bottom of this page. ⇩
Variations and Creative Twists on the Classic Recipe
While the classic roast potato recipe is undeniably delicious, there are endless variations and creative twists you can try to add excitement to your dish. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Substitutions
- Rosemary: While rosemary is my favorite herb to add to roasting potatoes, experiment with herbs like thyme or sage to infuse the potatoes with different aromatic flavors.
- Sweet Potatoes: Are an excellent replacement for white potatoes. And they require less boiling and roasting time.
Additions
- Garlic Roast Potatoes: Garlic works well in this recipe. Either add a few whole garlic cloves, skin on and smashed, into the cooking oil when roasting.
- Spicy Roast Potatoes: If you like it hot, you could use half olive oil and half olive oil infused with chili for a bold, spicy twist. Or, add a kick of heat by sprinkling cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or hot paprika over the potatoes before roasting. Yum!
- Cheesy Roast Potatoes: For a decadent twist, sprinkle grated cheese such as cheddar or Parmesan over the potatoes during the last few minutes of roasting. SO GOOD!
Recipe Tips for Perfect Crispy Roast Potatoes
Preparing the Potatoes for Roasting
Start with the right potato: Use starchy floury potatoes such as Maris Piper or King Edwards for the best crunchy roast potatoes. For best results, avoid waxy varieties such as Yukon gold, as they won’t get as crispy
Cut the potatoes into even pieces: This will help them to parboil and roast evenly.
Cooking Techniques for Achieving the Perfect Texture
Parboil the potatoes before roasting: Parboiling is an essential step if you want the best crispy roast potatoes in town. Always start with cold water so the potatoes cook evenly. Boiling water will get you a super-flakey exterior with a hard center. You don’t want this. Boil until the surface begins to flake, and a knife can be inserted into the potato without too much resistance.
Rough up the edges: Don’t be afraid to shake the colander around and fluff up the edges. It’s needed for the ultimate crispy potatoes. If one or two breaks, who cares! More crispy bits to enjoy.
Don’t skip steam drying: Letting the potatoes sit in the colander to let the water evaporate is a crucial step in making the best crispy roast potatoes. It removes excess moisture and allows the potatoes to crisp up in the oven.
Coat the potatoes with hot oil: Ensure the oil is nice and hot before adding the potatoes so they start crisping up immediately after making contact with the pan. Then, using a spoon, drench the hot olive oil over all sides of the potatoes so that every surface can crisp up as the potatoes roast.
Don’t overcrowd the roasting tin: Putting too many potatoes into one roasting tin will cause them to steam rather than roast. So give them lots of room, and use two roasting tins if you need to. That way, you’re giving each piece of potato enough space to crisp up and develop that desirable golden crust.
Flipping and basting the potatoes for even crispiness: To ensure even crispness, it’s essential to flip and baste the potatoes halfway through the cooking process. Use a spatula or tongs to carefully turn each potato to its other side. This step promotes even browning, prevents one side from becoming soggy, and infuses them with extra flavor. Using a spoon, drizzle the hot fat over the potatoes, ensuring each piece gets a generous coating.
Seasonings the Potatoes for Maximum Flavor
Season well! Insanely flavourful roast potatoes require double salting. First, parboil in salted water. Remember, a lot of this salt will be drained away. Then, a further sprinkling of salt, as well as pepper, is needed just before putting the potatoes into the oven. Then, because we are using significantly less salt than many roast potato recipes, we are ramping up the flavor with fresh roasted rosemary. Absolutely divine!
If you are trying to avoid salt altogether, use can use more herbs and spices to add flavor.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Roast Potatoes
Even with the best intentions, roast potatoes can sometimes turn out less than perfect. Here are some common issues and how to overcome them:
1. Soggy Potatoes: If your potatoes end up soggy instead of crispy, it could be due to overcrowding or insufficient roasting time. Make sure to spread the potatoes in a single layer and give them enough time to develop a golden crust.
2. Burnt Potatoes: If the potatoes become too dark or burnt, it may be because the oven temperature is too high or they were left in for too long. Adjust the temperature or cooking time accordingly to prevent burning.
3. Unevenly Cooked Potatoes: If some potatoes are soft while others are crispy, it could be because they were not cut into evenly sized pieces. Ensure that all the potato chunks are similar in size to achieve uniform cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Excellent question! This recipe has been created to be healthier than your average crispy roast potato recipe. We avoid excessive use of fats, and the fat we are using is olive oil, a “good fat” with anti-inflammatory properties. This recipe also contains less salt than most roast potato recipes, relying on herbs for added flavor. That said, it’s important to remember that crispy roast potatoes should be eaten as part of a varied and balanced diet. Including a variety of foods in your meals will help keep you feeling satisfied and nourished.
The choice of fat for roasting is crucial in achieving the desired crispiness and flavor. Olive oil is one of the best oils for achieving crispy roast potatoes, and it also adds lots of flavor. As a bonus, olive oil is a healthy fat, rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties.
Serving and Enjoying Your Crispy Roast Potatoes
Crispy roast potatoes are incredibly versatile and pair well with a wide range of dishes. Serve them as a side dish with roasted meats and grilled vegetables. Alternatively, you can enjoy them as a snack or even as the star of a vegetarian meal.
But, my absolute favorite way to serve them will always be with a Sunday roast, alongside some of these other delicious and nutritious recipes:
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Nut Roast
- Sage and Onion Stuffing
- Honey-Roasted Parsnips
- Sausages Wrapped in Bacon
- Braised Red Cabbage
- The Best Chicken Gravy
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Printable Recipe Card
Recipe
The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes
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PRINT PIN RATEEquipment
- Large Saucepan
- Colander
- Roasting Pan
Ingredients
- 3.3 pounds (1 ½ kg) Maris Piper potatoes, peeled, quartered, and rinsed
- 3 teaspoons sea salt flakes, divided
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary , 3 whole sprigs + 3 sprigs discarded and leaves chopped finely.
Instructions
- Prepare: Gather your equipment and get your ingredients ready. Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC/gas 6.
- Boil: Put the chopped potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. The water should be clear. If it's cloudy, rinse the potatoes once more. Put the saucepan on high heat, add 2 teaspoons of the sea salt, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down the heat to medium and parboil for 8-10 minutes. The time will depend on the size of the potatoes. Keep a close eye on them from the 8-minute mark. You want the edges to have started to flake and a knife to insert without much resistance.
- Steam Dry: Once the potatoes have been parboiled, drain them in a colander. Give the potatoes a good shake in the colander to fluff them up, then leave them to one side for 10 minutes or so to allow the steam and moisture to evaporate.
- Heat Oil: Meanwhile, pour the olive oil into a roasting tray, and place it into the oven for 5 minutes to heat up the oil.
- Roast: The oil will be hot, so carefully tip the potatoes onto the baking sheet in a single layer. Using a metal spoon or heat-proof pastry brush, drench the potatoes with the hot fat. Season well with black pepper and the remaining salt, and place the potatoes in the hot oven for 30 minutes, turning once halfway through.
- Add Rosemary: Pull the potatoes out of the oven and sprinkle with rosemary. Give everything a good toss, and pop the potatoes back into the oven for another 20 minutes.
- Serve: Once the potatoes have reached crispy perfection, remove the rosemary stalks (if you've used sprigs), pour the potatoes onto a serving dish, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional information is estimated using an online nutrition calculator. For accuracy, we recommend you calculate using the exact ingredients and brands you used.
More Potato Recipes
If you like the look of these Crispy Roast Potatoes, check out more of my potato recipes here:
- Roasted New Potatoes with Garlic And Shallots
- The Best Colcannon Recipe (Irish Mashed Potatoes)
- Herby Potato Salad with Homemade Salad Cream
- Sweet Potato Jackets with Tuna
- Chipotle Fish Pie
- Bubble and Squeak
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