Cast Iron Skillet Home Fries (Crisp!)
These crispy cast iron skillet home fries are perfect for any meal and are simple to make. We love them with the usual suspects at breakfast but also serve them with steak. That’s how much we love them.
With this simple, foolproof method,, you don’t need to worry about undercooked potatoes or burnt onions. If you have leftover baked potatoes, skip the microwaving step.
Cast Iron Skillet Home Fries
Equipment
- Large (10-inch or more) cast-iron skillet
- Stiff spatula
- Sharp knife
- Microwave safe dish (for precooking the potatoes)
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds potatoes (4 cups diced potatoes) about 4 medium potatoes, scrubbed clean
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup minced onion
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
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Instructions
- Precook the potatoes. Dice the potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. While the potatoes cook, move on to the next step.
- Cook the onion. Heat the skillet on low and add the butter. Cook the diced onion until softened, translucent, and beginning to brown (about 5 minutes). Remove the onion to a small plate and set aside.
- Brown the potatoes. In the same skillet (no need to clean the pan), heat the vegetable oil on medium until hot but not smoking. Place the precooked potatoes carefully in the skillet in a single layer. Allow them to brown without stirring for about 5 minutes. Flip and let cook another 5 minutes. Leave them alone as much as possible so they will brown.
- Add the onion and additional seasoning. Add the onion back into the skillet. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne. If you'd like to add any additional seasoning, add it now. Stir and cook another 5 minutes until everything is hot. Serve.
Notes
More Tips:
After you microwave or rinse the diced potatoes, make sure to dry them with a clean towel. Having too much water can stop them from getting crispy.
A cast-iron skillet is great for this recipe because it holds heat well, making browning even. If you don’t have one, use another heavy pan for the best results.
Make sure your skillet is hot before adding the potatoes to prevent sticking and ensure they cook evenly.
Start cooking the onions on medium-low heat, but switch to medium-high heat to brown the potatoes for the perfect crispy texture.
Wait before flipping the potatoes. Let them sit and brown on one side before turning. This patience pays off with a better crust.
Stirring too often can cause the potatoes to break down and become mushy. Let them cook without stirring for a few minutes at a time.
Key Ingredients and Tools
A heavy skillet: This helps the potatoes have a crispy outer layer by distributing heat evenly.
A microwave-safe dish: This is useful for quickly precooking the potatoes.
A sharp knife: This is necessary for dicing the potatoes evenly, ensuring that they cook uniformly.
Butter: This adds flavor and helps to brown the onions and potatoes.
Cayenne pepper: A small amount gives a subtle spiciness; if you don’t have cayenne, crushed red pepper flakes can be used instead..
These home fries are just the thing for a cozy and delicious meal! They’re easy to make, and you can customize them to your liking.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.