10 Quick and Easy Potato Side Dishes

We all love baked potatoes and creamy casseroles, but sometimes we don’t have the time to let those taters roast away in the oven for an hour or two. When you need a hearty and tasty side dish in a snap, check out some of our favorite quick and easy potato side dishes that are ready in about 30 minutes.

1. Microwave Baked Potato

It doesn’t get much faster, or easier, than this. When you don’t have time to bake a potato in the oven the old-fashioned way, you can still have the classic side dish, but in a fraction of the time. Home chef Gina Garner recommends placing the potato in a paper bag while microwaving, to help add extra steam. Remember that the size of the potato and the wattage of your microwave will affect the cooking time, so check on your spud every few minutes.

Photo by LilSnoo

2. My Crispy Mashed Potato Pancake

The trick to this easy potato pancake is using leftover mashed potatoes from a previous night’s meal. With the addition of some kitchen staples, you can turn something old into something new. Mix and match the herbs, depending on what you have on hand, or toss in a little shredded cheese, for an extra cheesy and gooey pancake.

Photo by Carson’s Mommy

3. Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes are cut into wedges, then baked in the oven until crisp on the outside and tender in the center. These are a perfect side dish for your next burger night. Feel free to substitute the vegetable or soybean oil with canola, safflower or any other high-heat oil you have on hand.

Photo by ROXFISH03

4. Curried Cumin Potatoes

Whether you’re cooking up an Indian-inspired feast, or simply roasting a chicken for dinner, these spiced potatoes are the perfect side. Check the ingredients in your curry powder: you may not need to add additional cumin or turmeric. Kiwicook added a splash of low-fat coconut cream along with the stock, to give her dish a rich and creamy gravy.

Photo by KSanders

5. Emily’s Famous Hash Browns

You can easily eat these hash browns for breakfast or dinner. These restaurant-quality hash browns are crisp on the outside and firm on the inside. To save even more time, shred the potatoes and onions together in a food processor.

Photo by KGora

6. Quick and Easy Grilled Potatoes

When you’re ready for your next cookout, and the barbecue is fired up, throw a few potatoes on the grill. The potatoes are pre-baked in the microwave, then caramelized on the barbecue. Stylistmama likes to top her grilled potatoes with sour cream and green onions, and we think that’s a great idea!

Photo by abapplez

7. Smushed Apples and Sweet Potatoes

Perfect for the holiday table, or the dinner table, apples and sweet potatoes are blended together for a sweet and creamy side dish. You can use any tart baking apple in this dish. To make it even faster, MommyWithaPhD suggests poking a few holes in the potatoes, wrapping them in a paper towel, and microwaving them for about 8 minutes.

Photo by larkspur

8. Quick and Easy Home Fries

Crisp, roasted, and seasoned potato pieces are the perfect side dish for brunch or dinner. The key to crisp potatoes is to dry them off with a paper towel before cooking, then don’t stir too often while they are in the pan (which helps form a nice crust). Throw in a little diced bell peppers and onions for additional color and flavor.

Photo by magicallydelicious

9. Roasted Red New Potatoes

If you like the style of home-fried potatoes, and already have the oven on, try this version, which requires even less fuss. This recipe is super simple, using only oil, salt, and pepper. If you want to add a pop of color or flavor, sprinkle with dried herbs, like thyme or oregano, while roasting, or top with fresh chopped herbs, like parsley or chives, after roasting.

Photo by bd.weld

10. Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes

We admit, we’re stretching the 30-minute rule here, but only because it doesn’t get much easier than this recipe. Toss the potatoes in your slow cooker, and by the time you get home, your sides are ready! Wrapping the potatoes in foil helps them to steam, and eliminates any clean-up afterwards.