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Crispy diner-style home fries from your kitchen are easier than you think with my recipe!
Are you a diner fan? There’s just something amazing about a classic diner and the meals you get there. It’s honest, homemade type meals that, when you’re traveling, make you miss home.
I’d have to say 99.9% of the time when I’d stop at a diner, I’d always get a huge breakfast.
There’s just something comforting when they set a huge plate of sunnyside-up eggs, crispy bacon, sausage, toast (always cut diagonally), and a heaping pile of crispy home fries.
All that was missing was me in my pajamas and some random tv show on in the background. Well now that I don’t travel as much, I still crave those crispy home fries so I had to recreate my Mom’s recipe. Let’s get started!
Grab Your Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- Oil
- Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Bell pepper
- Large red potatoes
- Seasonings
- Water
Let’s Make Home Fries!
- First, you need to saute up your onions and peppers. Now you don’t have to use them if you aren’t a fan. I add them as they are kind of a staple in diner home fries. Plus I love the flavor they impart into the potatoes.
- While the veggies are sauteing, you need to par-boil the potatoes for a bit.
Why boil the potatoes?
By doing this, you’re removing some of the starch from the potatoes. It also does 2 things:
- Helps them cook evenly
- By pulling some of the starch out, you’re forming almost a gelatinous layer on the potato. So when it cooks, it helps to dehydrate the potato thus giving you a crispy potato!
- Once the potatoes are par-boiled, add the butter to the pan with the sauteed veggies, add in the potatoes in a single layer.
- WITHOUT stirring, allow them to cook for 4-5 minutes. You want to move the potatoes during this time as you want it to brown up.
- Then, carefully flip and continue cooking.
- Once all sides are brownd, add the seasonings and enjoy!
Home Fries Suggestions
- Plated with sunnyside up eggs over top
- Covered in chili, cheese, and onions
- On a breakfast pizza with bacon, egg and sausage
- In a wrap or breakfast burrito
- In a bowl with chicken or ground beef, cheese and veggies
Ultimate Crispy Home Fries
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: potatoes
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: breakfast, side dishes
Crispy diner-style home fries from your kitchen are easier than you think with my recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup red pepper, seeded and chopped into small pieces
- 4 medium-large red potatoes, skin on and cubed
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2–3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy 12” skillet over medium-high heat. Do not let it smoke. Add the onion & pepper and cook until browned about 8-10 minutes. Do not let this burn. Stir frequently. When done, remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
- While the onions and peppers are cooking add the potatoes into a large saucepan. Add just enough cool water just until the tops of the potatoes are covered and they float slightly. Place the pan over high heat. As soon as the water begins to boil, remove from the heat and drain the potatoes in a colander. ~5 minutes.
- In the pan, the onions and peppers were sautéed in, place it back on the burner to medium-high and add the butter and remaining oil. When the butter foams, add the potatoes in a single layer, making sure each potato is touching the surface of the skillet. Allow to cook for 4-5 minutes WITHOUT stirring. You want the sides to brown. Once browned on one side, carefully flip and brown the other sides. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
- Once all the sides are crispy brown, add the onions and peppers back in and gently stir. Next add in the salt, black, pepper, and paprika. Stir gently and remove from heat.
- Enjoy!
Notes
If you’re a fan of smoked paprika, this is really good with garlic powder or hot sauce. Maybe some cumin or just plain salt and pepper.
Phillius Thomas says
I like your take on fries. These are definitely not traditional, but still look very delicious. The addition of the red pepper is a nice touch. Do you think it would ruin it if I used a different colored pepper though? Or maybe even more than one?
TKWAdmin says
Hi Philius!
See around here, these are deemed traditional home fries. No you could use any type of pepper; it all depends on your tastes. Ancho chilies would be awesome in this over a plate of chorizo eggs!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Kate says
Just wondering if you’ve ever made these with cubed frozen hash brown potatoes?
bob dickson says
i make these most every weekend , my daughters college age friends luv them, only for seasoning i use — onion salt -celery salt-paperika-clery flakes and parsley flakes, they prefer red potatoes to white boiling potatoes, cook mine in a cast iron skillet using smart balance instead of oil.
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much Bob! Love your twist on flavors!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
bob dickson says
tried your potatoes this evening , seasoned half your way and the rest using onion salt,celery salt ,paperika, celery flakes and parsely flakes. both were a hit with the kids. great recipie,
TKWAdmin says
Oh awesome Bob, thank you so much!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
TKWAdmin says
Kate,
No I have not. You could if you were short on time but to me, nothing beats the taste of fresh potatoes in this recipe!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
gretchens dad says
Erin could i sustitue onin powder instead of the chopped onion, i ake a dish similar but i use celery poder also–can;t wait to try yours
TKWAdmin says
It’s Lori, Erin is the girl that inspired me for this recipe. Nice to meet you 😉 Yes you can use onion powder in lieu of chopped onion. It’s all about personal taste.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Joe says
Used this recipe this morning, my wife and I both loved it. Reminds me a of dish called Potatoes Lester that I used to make but this came out much better. Great recipe, easy to follow directions!!
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much Joe!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Diandra Gwyn says
Followed this recipe this morning for breakfast!! My daughter & I enjoyed it. Thank you!!
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much Diandra! I’m thrilled that you and your daughter loved it!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Alan Holbrook says
Erin, I cook on an induction cooktop. That means that a watched pot does indeed boil. If I put the cubed potatoes in a pot, cover them with water, and put them on high heat, they will come to a boil within two minutes. Any suggestions about how to apply this to your recipe? Let them boil for a couple of extra minutes? Take them off the heat as soon as they boil, despite the time difference? I could experiment, but I don’t want to waste the potatoes.
TKWAdmin says
Hi Alan,
I’m Lori, nice to ‘meet’ you! You essentially want to just being the parboil process on the potatoes; just slightly before fork tender. Normal gas range is about ~5 minutes from cool water to first boil. If yours heats up in 2 minutes, then I would think you’d remove it then; at first boil. This is just to remove that initial hardness and some of the starch in the potato. The true cooking process of the potato is in the “2nd” cooking in the pan with the other ingredients.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Alan Holbrook says
Hi, Lori, thanks for the prompt reply. I’ll definitely give it a try very soon. If King Arthur’s quest was for perfect home fries instead of for the Holy Grail, I would have applied for knighthood, so I have high hopes for the recipe.
Of course, anything with potatoes, onion, and green pepper isn’t going to be bad. But I _WILL_ be adding a clove or two of minced garlic.
TKWAdmin says
You are most welcome Alan! I swear by this recipe and have been making it for years. Oh.. love your addition of garlic too! YUM!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Kevin says
Of course! Please, no powder. No disrespect… No ketchup. Bacon? Yes, please.
Jennifer says
I can’t wait to try these. They look so good.
TKWAdmin says
You will LOVE these!!! These are already on the menu for Christmas morning!
Merry Christmas and Best Kitchen Wishes!
Erin Eyster McKain says
You always were and always be a wonderful human being. That anyone treated you badly amazes me. You were one of those few seniors that took pity on this lowly backward shy freshman and befriended her, I will always remember how you and Craig treated me. I was lucky! Thank you for this recipe. I am no chef like you, but several of your recipes have entered into my special box and You my friend are DA BOMB!!!!
TKWAdmin says
Much love back to you Erin!