Home Fries (Quick and Easy Recipe)

This easy recipe for traditional home fries is the perfect side dish to a sunny-side-up egg or breakfast burrito. 

Is it even breakfast without a heaping helping of potatoes? They make the meal complete!

This recipe creates the most tender insides with a crispy outside lightly seasoned to perfection. They’re just as good as anything you get at a breakfast joint!

So grab a couple of potatoes, warm up the skillet, and make these fantastic home fries!

Home Fries 

Home fries are a breakfast staple for a good reason.

With a crispy, crunchy outside and tender insides, they deliver a ton of flavor and pair well with eggs. 

Serve them alongside a sunny-side-up egg, pop them in a breakfast burrito, or mix them into a scrambled egg bowl with plenty of veggies. 

The best part of this recipe is it comes together in under 30 minutes. 

It’s a great way to fill out your epic Saturday morning feast without getting up before the crack of dawn. 

What are the Best Potatoes for Home Fries? 

You want a super starchy potato, like Russet potatoes, for home fries. Starchy potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture content. 

Their low moisture content allows them to absorb things like oil and seasoning. They stay crispy on the outside with an incredibly tender core. 

And if you don’t have Russet potatoes on hand, Idaho potatoes work, too. 

Just steer clear of waxy potatoes like red potatoes or fingerling potatoes. The high moisture content won’t create that crispy exterior. 

Red potatoes may look pretty on a plate, but the texture won’t be as good as starchy potatoes. 

Ingredients 

What I love most about this recipe is you only need a few ingredients. 

• Potatoes – Starchy potatoes, like Russets or Idaho potatoes, work best in this dish. Starchy potatoes soak up butter, oil, and seasoning, creating a perfectly crispy and crunchy crust. 
  
• Butter – Use unsalted butter in this recipe because it uses quite a bit. If you use salted butter, your spuds will be overly salty. Adding more salt to this dish is much easier but harder to remove!
  
• Salt and pepper – For this recipe, salt and pepper are all you need. However, to add more flavor to your potatoes, add whatever seasoning you like. 

How to Make Home Fries 

Making home fries at home that are better than anything at a restaurant is so quick and easy. 

Follow these quick instructions for perfect home fries. 

1. Wash and dry your potatoes. Even though you’ll likely peel and discard the skins, always wash and dry your potatoes before cooking. 

2. Peel and cube. Cube the potatoes in even 1-inch pieces, and cut them as evenly as possible. If they’re uneven, they won’t cook evenly in the pan. 

3. Cook the potatoes. Melt the butter in a pan under medium heat, and add the cubed potatoes and seasoning. Cover it tightly with a lid and simmer it for 10 minutes. 

4. Create a crispy crust. Remove the lid, and continue cooking the potatoes for 10 more minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure all sides are nice and brown. 

Tips & Variations 

Check out some of these tips and variations below to take your home fries over the top!

Get a head start. If you love melt-in-your-mouth potatoes, try microwaving them for a few minutes before they hit the frying pan. 

Go easy on the stirring. When browning the potatoes, try not to hover over them too much. Leave them to sizzle in the pan to get that wonderfully golden brown color. 

Load them up. Give your home fries the loaded baked potato treatment! Before taking them out of the pan, add cheese, bacon bits, or fresh chives on top. 

Add healthy veggies. A great way to sneak in some greens at breakfast is to hide them in the crispy potatoes. 

Use them in a hash. Yes, you can use this recipe to whip up a great hash. Add proteins like sausage, ham, pulled pork, or bacon with plenty of veggies. 

Storing, Freezing & Reheating

The great thing about potatoes is they store incredibly well. 

To Store: This recipe will stay fresh in the fridge for up to one week when stored in an air-tight container. 

To Freeze: Arrange the potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until solid, then transfer to an air-tight container and store for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Add a little butter or oil to a pan to reheat the potatoes from the fridge. You can reheat them in the microwave, but they will be less crispy and delicious.