Country Fried Potatoes

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 01/11/23
Country fried potatoes in a cast iron skillet

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Country-fried potatoes are a classic breakfast and brunch side dish, but they also taste great served at dinner, too. Cooked, diced potatoes are pan-fried until nice and crispy. It's an ideal way to use up leftover potatoes from the night before. The next time you're making boiled or steamed potatoes for dinner, cook extra to enjoy the next morning.

This is a basic recipe, but there are plenty of additions you can make to give them more color and flavor. Onions, mushrooms, green or red bell pepper, and herbs are just a few ideas. Bacon, sausage, or ham would make them a hearty side dish, or top with gravy or cheese.

Ingredients

  • 6 medium potatoes, red or white, cooked and chilled

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, or shortening

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for country fried potatoes gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Slice or dice the cooked, cooled potatoes into bite-sized pieces; set aside.

    Sliced potatoes on a cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil or shortening to the hot skillet.

    Cast iron skillet with oil

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. When the oil is hot, add the potatoes, spreading into a single layer. Cook without stirring or turning until the potatoes are golden brown on one side.

    Potatoes in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Turn them over and brown on the other side.

    Potatoes flipped over and cooking on the other side, in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot.

    Country fried potatoes cooked in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • If you're cooking potatoes specifically to use in this recipe, boil or steam them the night before for the best results.
  • To cook the potatoes in the microwave: arrange them in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and microwave on 100 percent power for about five to seven minutes. 
  • Or boil the cut potatoes in water on the stovetop until tender but not falling apart.
  • Let the potatoes dry well and chill in the fridge before frying to prevent them from sticking in the pan.

Recipe Variations

There are plenty of ways to customize country-fried potatoes:

  • Sauté about 1/4 cup of chopped onion in the skillet until translucent. Add the potatoes to the onions and continue cooking following the instructions above.
  • To make potatoes O'Brien, dice the cooked potatoes and add them to the skillet with about 3/4 cup of finely chopped onion and green and red bell pepper. Cook, while stirring and turning, until the potatoes are browned.
  • Add fresh chopped chives and parsley to the potatoes just before they are finished cooking.
  • Toss in some diced ham or bacon just before the potatoes are done.
  • Top the fried, hot potatoes with shredded cheddar cheese or cheese sauce.
  • Top the finished potatoes with gravy (such as a sausage gravy).
  • Just before serving time, sprinkle the potatoes with a little sweet paprika or a low sodium Cajun seasoning blend.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
351 Calories
14g Fat
51g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 351
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 177mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 51g 19%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 33mg 163%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 1416mg 30%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)