Classic Roasted Potatoes

This oven roasted potatoes recipe comes out crispy and seasoned to perfection! Red potatoes and fresh herbs make a classic pairing.

Why mash potatoes when you can roast them to a golden crisp? We’ve always been partial to a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside potato. To us, the mushy stuff just doesn’t compare. (Though these Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are close!) We’ll show you how to make our favorite Roasted Potatoes, oven roasted red potatoes that are baked until crispy with garlic powder, then showered with fresh herbs. It’s easy and you barely need to think about it. Ready to get started?

Best variety to use for roasted potatoes

What’s the best potato for roasted potatoes? Turns out there’s an answer to that. The best choice is a waxy potato, a potato with thin, shiny skin and a creamy flesh. Because they’re low in starch, they hold their shape when roasting. We like roasted red potatoes best, but you can use any type of waxy potato. Here are our top picks for the type of potato to use for these oven roasted potatoes:

• Baby red potatoes: Our favorite are baby red potatoes: they have the best creamy flavor and they look stunning
• Fingerling potatoes: This type of potato is small, brown and looks like long, thin fingers. It also has a fabulous flavor and works well here
• Red potatoes (chopped): If you can’t find baby red potatoes, use any type of red potato and chop it into 1/2-inch cubes
• New potatoes: Technically new potatoes aren’t a variety but simply freshly harvested potatoes. Usually new potatoes are small waxy potatoes. Sometimes you can find a variety of colors (brown, yellow, red and purple). See also: these Roasted Mini Potatoes.

Oven roasted potatoes ingredients

Roasted potatoes are the perfect side dish because they call for only a handful of ingredients! Once you’ve got your potatoes, here’s what you need for the rest of the recipe:

• Waxy potatoes like baby red potatoes (see above)
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh thyme or other fresh herbs like oregano, chives or rosemary

Want another variation? Try these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

How long to roast potatoes

You barely need a recipe for roasted potatoes! You simply need to know the oven temperature and how long to roast potatoes…and of course, approximate oil and salt quantities! Jump to the full recipe below, or review these tips. How long to roast potatoes?

• Roast 1/2-inch chopped potatoes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes. The timing does depend on the exact size of potatoes.
• You don’t have to stir. Place them cut-side down to get crisp and golden brown.
• How to season roasted potatoes? Plan on 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil and ½ teaspoon kosher salt per pound. Then you can get fancy with other flavors: keep reading…

Flavor variations for roasted red potatoes

Our basic oven roasted potatoes recipe features garlic powder on the potatoes while roasting. This is important: don’t try to add fresh garlic in the oven! At such a high temperature, fresh garlic will burn. Once the roasted potatoes are golden and crisp, sprinkle with fresh thyme. It’s a time-honored flavor combination that’s effortlessly simple. But want to take that even further? Here are some ideas:

• Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic burns in the oven, but you can add it afterwards! Use a small garlic clove and grate it over the top of the warm potatoes. Add a drizzle of olive oil then stir, mixing up any clumps with your fingers.
• Lemon juice: Love potatoes with a lemon kick? Add squeezes from a few lemon wedges after baking.
• Parmesan cheese: Take it even further over the top with Parmesan! Add ½ cup shredded cheese 15 minutes into baking. It comes so intensely crispy and savory, you’ll be addicted. (We took a cue from our Parmesan Potato Wedges.)

More simple roasted side dishes

Love roasting vegetables? They’re the ideal easy side dish, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special meal (like Thanksgiving or Christmas). Here are all our master methods for making roasted vegetables:

• Epic Roasted Broccoli or Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Here’s how to roast broccoli and cauliflower. Or try Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower!
• Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze The oven gets these sprouts beyond crispy.
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes The buttery, roasty flavor is unreal.
• Roasted Mushrooms You’ll be in heaven with these savory, herb-scented shrooms.
• Roasted Bell Peppers These sweet and tender peppers are the stuff dreams are made of.
• Roasted Carrots, Roasted Root Vegetables, or Roasted Carrots and Onions Make these root vegetables shine.
• Roasted Zucchini and Squash Here are summer’s best crops, roasted.
• Perfect Roasted Eggplant This roasted eggplant is mind-bogglingly creamy and delicious.
• Roasted Kale Leafy greens are great roasted too!

This roasted potatoes recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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More potato recipes

These roasted red potatoes are at the top of our list of potato recipes! But here are a few more that are top contenders:

• Go crispy with fries: try Greek Fries, Seasoned Fries or Baked French Fries
• Opt for Steak Fries with Honey Mustard
• Bake them into a Classic Baked Potato or Loaded Baked Potatoes
• Boil a pot of Perfect Boiled Potatoes or Boiled Red Potatoes
• Whip up some wedges with Baked Potato Wedges or Parmesan Potatoes
• Mash them into a creamy puree with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Grill them up with Perfect Grilled Potatoes, Grilled Potatoes in Foil or Grilled Baked Potato
• Grab your cast iron skillet for Pan Fried Potatoes