My father’s southern fried potatoes were one of my favorite dishes growing up. While the term fried potato might make one think of French fries, in the South it has a totally different meaning. Here is my southern fried potatoes recipe.
These potatoes are not deep-fried, but they are no less addicting. You may have even heard them called by a different name, such as country fried potatoes, fried potatoes and onions, Southern home fries, or home fried potatoes. Every region of the country has some version of this dish. Today I’m sharing mine.
Check out my new simplified version using leftover baked potatoes in the video below!
Ingredients:
- 4-6 potatoes (russet works best)
- 4 slices of bacon
- 2 tablespoons of bacon grease or bacon base
- 1 yellow onion
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of lard (optional)
Prepping Southern Fried Potatoes
First, we need to prep our ingredients. The first step is to peel all of the potatoes. You need to slice the potatoes relatively thin. I’d say around the thickness of a pencil. This will help them cook more quickly. After you have finished the potatoes, dice up the onion into rings around the same thickness.
The thin-sliced potatoes are how my dad used to make them. You can also chop them into cubes, which is the more widespread way of doing it. The best potatoes for southern fried potatoes are russet potatoes. These starchy potatoes will soften up nicely while keeping the crispy edges packed with flavor.
A simple method for getting perfectly soft fried potatoes is to use leftover baked potatoes. Bake your potatoes for about an hour in a 400-degree oven the day before. They will be easier to peel and mostly cooked.
Cooking My Southern Fried Potatoes Recipe
To start, you will need either a deep pan with a lid for the actual cooking. First, put the pot or pan on medium-high heat. Second, add the bacon and cook both sides until you have a bit of bacon grease in the bottom of the pan. Next, add the two spoons of extra bacon grease or bacon base. Lastly, turn the heat down to low.
The next step is to add the potatoes. To begin with, add half the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Next, layer about half the onions on top. Finally, add another layer of potatoes, followed by the remaining onions.
Depending on how many potatoes you have and how thick they are, the dish should cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Every 5 to 10 minutes you need to stir the potatoes to keep the ones on the bottom from overcooking. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
If the potatoes begin to dry out, add the lard or more bacon grease/base. The potatoes are done when they are soft all the way through.
What Can You Eat With Fried Potatoes?
Fried potatoes go great with a number of southern dishes. Fried chicken and pork chops are two of my favorites. They pair well with greens, such as turnips or collards. Black-eyed peas are another southern side they pair well with. You can sub them in for any starchy side dish, such as mashed potatoes, french fries, or even potato salad.
I love southern fried potatoes with chicken and rice as well. Check out my southern-style chicken and rice recipe here!
Fried potatoes are a great addition to a Sunday dinner. Looking for more Sunday dinner ideas? I have a mountain of information in my Ultimate Southern Sunday dinner ideas guide.
TLDR:
- Peel and slice potatoes and onions.
- Fry bacon.
- Cook potatoes and onions in bacon grease.
To sum up, that is my southern fried potatoes recipe. This southern side dish will make a wonderful addition to your Sunday dinner ideas. I hope you found this recipe helpful and it completes a delicious meal for you!
Southern Fried Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 baked potatoes
- 4 slices bacon
- 2 tbsp bacon grease/bacon base
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp pepper
Instructions
- Peel and slice potatoes into thin slices.
- Dice onion into the size and shape of your liking.
- In a deep sided skillet, fry bacon on medium-high heat until fat is rendered.
- Add potatoes and onions to the skillet. Lower the heat to medium-low.
- Generously season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
- Cover the potatoes and cook for 35-45 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Stir occasionally.
