Introducing your new favourite potato recipe – buttery, crispy SMASHED POTATOES! Crazy crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, there’s a serious risk that only half of these will make it to the dinner table….
Smashed Potatoes
Let me introduce you to your new favourite way with potatoes.
SMASHED!
CRISPY!
BUTTERY!!
Buttery CRISPY SMASHED POTATOES!
Best ever potato recipe!
If you are yet to experience the joys of crispy smashed potatoes, and my first experience was only 3 years ago when I was introduced to them by Claire from Sprinkles and Sprouts, a fellow Australian food blogger, these are going to change your potato game forever.
These taste like buttery french fries, albeit they are look completely different. “Rustic”, I declare loftily. They’re fluffy on the inside, and ultra crispy on both the underside and on the surface. All those ridges are the best! Forget squashing them neat and flat – the more nubbly the surface, the better the crunch!!!
Tips to make ultra crispy smashed potatoes
Ultra Crispy Smashed Potatoes are straight forward to make – boil, squish, drizzle, bake – but there are two little tips I’ve discovered along the way:
Let the potatoes steam dry a bit after smashing them. This ensures optimum crispiness!
Use butter and a touch of oil. Because butter = flavour, oil ensures more even and better browning and crispiness. Can’t use just butter because it burns in the oven at high temperatures.
Also, you can totally feel free to add flavourings like garlic and dried herbs, but they do burn a bit so you’ll get little black bits on the surface. In all honesty, these are so tasty as they are, they don’t need anything more! (In my personal, potato-opinion)
How to serve Ultra Crispy Smashed Potatoes
I would be totally happy just munching on these as a snack. And if I had a larger oven, or multiple ovens, I would make loads of these and serve them as a snack at gatherings. Because if you make these with small potatoes as I have done, they are perfect finger food snacking size.
But I typically serve these on the side of mains. It will go with pretty much any Western dish, from pork chops to fish, chicken to steak. Try it on the side of this Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce, these Lemon Garlic Marinated Pork Chops, these Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs or this Sun Dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breast.
However you plan to serve these Crispy Smashed Potatoes, it has your name written all over it. Do it, do it, do it! – Nagi x
More potato recipes
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Potatoes (side dish or to nibble)
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Sometimes it helps to have a visual, so watch me make these Crispy Smashed Potatoes!!
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Ultra Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
Potatoes – choose:
- 700g / 1.4 lb small potatoes (12 – 14) (Note 1)
- 1 – 1.2kg / 2 – 2.4lb medium potatoes (6 – 8)
Cooking:
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling)
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt (for sprinkling)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Finely chopped parsley , optional garnish
Instructions
- Cook potatoes: Bring a pot of water to the boil, add 1 tbsp salt. Cook potatoes until soft – small ones should take around 20 to 25 minutes, medium ones might take 30 minutes. It's ok if the skin splits. Alternatively, steam or microwave them.
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
- Steam dry: Drain the potatoes and let them dry in the colander for 5 minutes or so.
- Smash! Place on the tray then use a large fork or potato masher to squish them, keeping them in one piece. Thin = crisper. Thicker = fluffier insides. (Both good!) More nubbly surface = better crunch!
- Steam dry again: Leave on the tray to steam dry for 5 minutes or so – makes them crispier!
- Drizzle: Drizzle with butter, then olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake: Bake for 45 minutes (small potatoes) to 55 minutes (medium) or until deep golden and crispy. Do not flip!
- Serve hot, sprinkled with parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
When I travel, Dozer stays with a golden retriever boarder. Rumbling with his friends, a whirlwind of fur chasing each other around the backyard, somersaulting across the lounge room as they tumble.
I’m told he’s internally fretting about me. 😂
I have made these before but with garlic butter I love them but husband doesn’t and I don’t know why they are a favourite with everyone else!
All the more for you 😉
This is one of my favourite ways to eat potatoes (I mean, I’ve yet to find a potato recipe I don’t like, lol…). I hadn’t made these in ages and I’m glad I came across this recipe and whipped some up last night for dinner.
It was as yummy as I remember. The only thing I found needed tweaking, as I see some other commenters have mentioned, is the temperature. Not sure why, but 350F doesn’t cut it for my standard oven. This kind of recipe works better at 400F (or more) for me.
I love varying the seasoning for these guys, too. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle on smoked paprika, chili powder or grated parm. One day when I’m feeling very ‘extra’, I want to top them after baking as you would a loaded baked potato – sour cream, bacon, cheddar… 🙂
I totally know what you mean Priscila, anything potato has my name on it!! I find some small variances with temperature – depending on your oven type. And I love the loaded potato idea… drool!!!
oh my GOSH!!! Best smashed potato’s EVER!!! One of the best sides I’ve even eaten let alone made myself.. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
What a great compliment, thanks so so so much Cynthia!!!
Yummy. I have never made these before… not sure why, but they were so delicious…. my hubby and I devoured the whole tray!!!
I will make these all the time now. Thanks for the wonderful idea!
You’re totally converted now – you wont look back!!
Made these for the first time tonight. They’re still coming, and look delicious so far, making my mouth water already!
I do have a question though… I used baby red potatoes and we love crispy potatoes, especially with the skin on. Was I supposed to peel the potatoes first? When ‘mashing’ with my potato masher some if them fell apart, and a lot of potato got stuck in the masher. Did I perhaps boil them too long, or not long enough? Or, should I have sprayed my masher with oil before mashing? Just wondering if this is normal, or if it’s okay?
(I typically cut in half and toss with olive oil salt and pepper and roast at 400 degrees for about 30-40 minutes).
Any input would be much appreciated!
Hi Marcy, no need to peel, but if you find they break apart too much I usually just stick them back together with my hands – they still come out perfectly. Try mashing with a fork and spray with a little oil to stop them sticking – N x
Thank you, spraying the fork or potato masher with oil def helped it not stick. Excellent recipe, esp with some precooked crumbled bacon added on top at the end!
Hi Nagi, is microwaved or boiled potatoes better to ensure crispiness in this recipe? Thanks! Lily x
Hi Lily, both methods work 🙂
Thanks Nagi… planning to make this for Xmas alongside your maple glazed ham & sweet potato salad… thanks for all the yummy inspiration! 😊
I’m at 1.5 hrs at 350, not crispy at all, soggy greasy mess
Oh no Juan!!! What kinds of potatoes did you use??
Thanks Nagi… planning to make this for Xmas alongside your maple glazed ham & sweet potato salad… thanks for all the yummy inspiration! 😊
Do you think I can use leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe?
Hi Sharon, I don’t think you’d get quite the same effect as mash usually has liquid added – N x
KEEPER! Everyone raved about these potatoes, me included. 🙂 Must try. Thank you, Nagi, for sharing.
turned out rather well. i used both baby blue and medium yellow size – the medium was obliterated by the potato masher, but i rescued by using a wet fork to re-gather, re-constitute, and re-activate the starches (glue). For safety, lightly grated on some parm (more glue), and turned out amazingly well.
note: 350F will not caramelize a potato…you need at least 400F.
I’m so glad you managed to salvage them! I find 350F is fine for me without burning them & results in golden crispy potatoes – it just depends on the type of potato used – N x
delicious !! I tried it !! It was so good everyone enjoyed it so easy to make !! Thank you for sharing !!
Wahoo! That’s awesome to hear Dhammika ❤️
Hi! I will be making this tonight, should i line the pan with non stick foil?
Hi Jill, I cook mine straight on the pan to ensure they get crispy – N x
I am making these tonight, I had to halve the potatoes as they were too large. Hope they don’t fall apart when I “smash” them
I hope you love them Heidi!
Can I boil the potato’s, smash them and leave in the refrigerator over night and put them in the hot oven the next day?
Should I spray my pan with cooking spray to keep the potatoes from sticking?
Hi Linda, I don’t usually, they are drizzled in oil which will stop them from sticking – N x
Should i peel the potatoes?
There’s no need Ananda 🙂
Hi I was wondering if I could sprinkle the potatoes with garlic salt and Parmesan cheese before cooking
Hi Lori, I would sprinkle with parmesan the last 15 minutes or so just to ensure it doesn’t burn in the oven – N x
Knockout! Yummm.
Wahoo! Thanks John!
Have you ever done these where you steam them in advance and then finish them in the oven later? Trying to pre-prep for a dinner event and curious about that. Thanks.
Hi Michele, yes I’ve done that before and they have turned out perfectly – N x
I used multicoloured baby potatoes and boiled them in a garlic paprika broth. When i smashed them, they completely fell apart! Thought that i ruined them! I also used the stovetop instead of the oven because of a lack of time amd it works like wonders! Soooo crispy outside and buttery on the inside! Used combination of butter and onion infused oil! DELICIOUS!!!