Country Potatoes
Ligia Lugo
Published:
November 22, 2025
Last Modified:
November 29, 2025
Crispy potatoes, sweet and crunchy bell pepper, and plenty of savory seasonings come together to create a staple side dish for breakfast! The key is using the right type of potato and not being shy with the seasonings.
I recently did some meal planning for a weekend away with girlfriends, and while I always jump at the chance to plan and cook meals for the people I love, I of course don’t want to get stuck in the kitchen doing work the whole time.
For that reason, these delicious Country Potatoes play a central role in any good breakfast spread. I can make a whole dish of them ahead of time and set it out for everyone to take at their leisure. It works because they taste just as great at room temperature as they do when they’re piping hot!
Plus, they are an example of one of my favorite meal planning hacks which I’m going to let you in on: choose side dishes that can pull double duty! In addition to being a stellar breakfast food, these country style potatoes work just as well as alongside lunch and dinner dishes like my Tofu Burgers or Portobello Mushroom Steaks.
Ingredient Notes
- Olive oil – Choose regular or light olive oil here as we will be cooking at high and moderate heat for a decent amount of time. Avoid the extra virgin olive oil as it will be prone to burning. You could also use avocado or vegetable oil if you prefer.
- Red potatoes – I use red skinned potatoes for this recipe because their lower starch content gives them a firmer texture that holds up during skillet frying. Russet potatoes and yukon gold potatoes will do the job too, but they may break down a bit more easily as compared to the red potatoes.
- Red bell pepper – Red bell peppers are a staple ingredient in classic home fries! They add sweetness and a textural bite to these crispy-creamy potatoes.
- Shallot – A member of the onion family with a milder flavor and more delicate texture as compared to regular onions. I happened to have one in my pantry so I used it for this recipe and loved the results, but an equal amount of minced yellow onion or white onions will work perfectly fine too.
- Garlic – A couple of fresh garlic cloves really amps up the flavor profile of these potatoes!
- Paprika + Dried thyme + Salt – I used these three spices to create a simple seasoning blend for my country potatoes. I used sweet paprika but smoked or hot paprika (if you like it spicy!) would be great too.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté potatoes. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a hot skillet on medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and season a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are partially softened.
- Add bell pepper. Stir chopped red bell pepper into the potatoes and add another tablespoon of oil. Stir to combine and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add aromatics. Add minced shallot, chopped garlic, and remaining olive oil. Stir well, reduce to medium heat, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
- Season and cook. Season the potato mixture with paprika, thyme, and additional salt to taste. Cook and stir for about 3 more minutes, until the potatoes and vegetables are softened through with golden brown crispy edges.
- Finish and serve! Pile your country potatoes into a serving bowl and serve as desired!
Tips From Ligia
For the crispiest country-fried potatoes:
- Once peeled and cubed, cover the potatoes with cold water and soak for about 30 minutes before cooking with them. The cold water helps to remove excess starch and they will crisp more easily.
- Thoroughly dry the potato cubes on clean kitchen towels or paper towels before frying. Wet foods don’t crisp very well, not to mention the fact that they can cause hot oil to splatter.
- Make sure your oil temperature remains constant, at about 350℉. Frying in hot oil that is at an even temperature will result in the most crispy, crusty potatoes possible.
How To Store
Refrigerating Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cooked potatoes can get a little funky in terms of texture once frozen and defrosted, so I recommend keeping these out of the freezer.
Reheating You can either reheat your potatoes in a hot skillet over medium heat until warm, or arrange them on a baking sheet and place in the oven preheated to 350℉ for 10-15 minutes until the are hot all the way through with a crispy exterior.
Country Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 5 red potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1 inch pieces
- Salt, to taste
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into a hot skillet on medium-high heat. Add the cubed potatoes and season a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until partially softened.
- Stir chopped red bell pepper into the potatoes and add another tablespoon of oil. Cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add minced shallot, chopped garlic, and remaining olive oil. Stir well, reduce to medium heat, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
- Season with paprika, thyme, and additional salt to taste. Cook and stir for about 3 more minutes, until the potatoes and vegetables are softened through with golden brown crispy edges.
- Pile your country potatoes into a serving bowl or enjoy them alongside our tofu burgers!
