Pan Fried Potatoes

Tossed with Italian herbs and olive oil, this simple pan-fried potato dish is going to be a new dinner favorite. Serve them for breakfast or alongside a hearty dinner!

You can never go wrong with serving potatoes as a side. Everyone loves them! Whether they’re scalloped, mashed, or roasted potatoes, your family won’t be able to get enough!

Chopped, cooked potatoes being stirred with a wooden spoon in a shallow skillet.

Potatoes in a Frying Pan Recipe

I love potatoes in every form. There are so many ways to make them! (Find my full list here!) Although mashed and fried potatoes are always taking the spotlight, pan-fried potatoes are highly underrated and need their time to shine! These potatoes are super easy to prepare and have the most amazing flavor and texture! They cook to a beautiful golden brown and have a crispy skin but soft, tender inside. Pan frying potatoes really is one of the best ways to make them!

These potatoes smell SOO good when you’re cooking them, it’s hard not to taste test one or two. The earthy olive oil combined with (one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations) garlic rosemary is to die for! Honestly, these pan-fried potatoes are good on their own or even better served with eggs and bacon for breakfast! They also complement this ribeye steak perfectly! However you choose to complete your meal, pan-fried potatoes are one of the best side dishes out there. Your family will love them.

Everything You Need to Make Them

Have a big bag of potatoes that needs to be used? This is a great way to prepare them! You only need a few other simple ingredients to throw this incredible side dish together. Measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

Potatoes: There is no right or wrong type of potato to use here! I used Russet, also known as Idaho potatoes! Yukon gold potatoes work well too, they just have less starch content and will have a slightly different texture.
Olive Oil: Adds a fresh, earthy aroma and helps your potato slices cook up nicely. You can substitute this with vegetable oil or even butter if you’re wanting something more rich in flavor.
Italian Seasoning: You can use prepackaged Italian seasoning or make your own blend at home! This is my favorite combination of herbs like thyme, basil, oregano, and marjoram.
Garlic Powder: I mean, is there a better combination than potatoes and garlic? It adds the perfect savory flavor to each bite!
Rosemary: I love adding rosemary to hearty dishes because it gives them a subtle minty aroma. Rosemary also pairs incredibly well with the flavor of garlic.
Salt and Pepper: Boosts the overall flavor of the potatoes! If you’re looking for more heat, check out my tips section below for more spices you can throw in!

How to Make Pan Fried Potatoes

This tasty pan-fried potato dish only has 15 minutes of cooking time and is filled with so much flavor! I love how easy it is to prepare and make it all the time for my family.

Preheat Skillet, Prep Potatoes: First, preheat your skillet to medium-high heat. Cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
Combine Ingredients: In a bowl add your potatoes, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
Toss: Toss everything to coat in the seasonings.
Pan Fry: Add to your skillet and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until tender and crispy. Top with fresh herbs as garnish and serve.

Closeup of pan fried potatoes in a skillet.

Tips and Tricks for Making Pan Fried Potatoes

Here are a few tips on how to get steakhouse-worthy potatoes! They’re so soft, tender, and absolutely irresistible!

Should I Soak Potatoes Before Frying? This is entirely up to you! Soaking potatoes in cold water removes excess starch and helps them become crispier. However, each time I’ve made these, they’ve turned out nice and crispy on the outside without soaking.
No Boiling Needed: The potatoes in this recipe are cut into small enough pieces so you don’t need to boil them beforehand. They’ll become nice and tender just cooked in the pan!
Add Spice: If you’re looking to turn up the heat a little bit, try adding a dash of smoked paprika or chili powder to your herb mixture.
Serve With: A good potato dish is always great served with chicken, pork, or steak! You’ll have to try these pan-fried potatoes with baked parmesan chicken, stuffed pork chops, and brown sugar garlic flank steak!

Storing Leftovers

Although pan-fried potatoes are best served fresh, you can keep them in the fridge for a few days and enjoy them later.

In the Refrigerator: To keep your potatoes from drying out, store them in an airtight container. Use within 3 days.
Reheating: I always like to reheat my potatoes over the stove on medium heat so that they keep that delicious, crispy outer layer. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Potato chunks being scooped up with a wooden spoon.