Cast Iron Skillet Home Fries
No-fail method for making home fries with a crisp exterior and tender inside. Customize to your family's taste for a crowd pleasing side dish any time of day.
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
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
For the best browning, make sure not to put too many potatoes in the skillet at once. If needed, cook them in separate batches to make sure each piece gets crispy.
If the potatoes are browning too fast, turn down the heat to prevent burning. But if they're not browning enough, increase the heat a little.
Mixing butter with vegetable oil adds flavor and helps the potatoes brown without burning.
Add seasoning to the potatoes after they have browned. This prevents the salt from making them soggy by drawing out moisture during cooking.
You can also add other ingredients like chopped bell peppers, fresh herbs, or a sprinkle of cheese for a different flavor.
Aside from salt and pepper, you can also try using spices like paprika, garlic powder, or a bit of smoked paprika for more flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 400mg | Potassium: 484mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 151kcal