Easy Potato Recipes

by Marsha McDougal
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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville test kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

We’re not going to argue whether or not the Potato is America’s favorite vegetable; but what we can say is that it is certainly one of our favorite budget-friendly, easy to transform vegetables and the star of today’s Easy Potato Recipes roundup! We’ve put together all of our favorite potato recipes from the best potato salads, creamy potato soups and crispy roasted potato recipes. Save this list for the next time you’re looking for a new twist on the ultimate comfort food.

Collage of Easy Potato Recipes with title text in the middle.

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Potato Salad Recipes

Potato salads are definitely the star of the show when it comes to summer cookouts, potlucks and BBQs. Here are our top picks!

1. CLassic Southern Potato Salad

Classic Southern Style Potato Salad

overhead view of a a bowl full of potato salad with celery, relish and eggs on the sides
This classic Southern Style Potato Salad uses both mustard and mayonnaise for a super flavorful dressing that is rich, tangy, and creamy.
4.92 from 12 votes
$5.56 recipe / $0.70 serving Get the Recipe

If you want a Classic Southern Style Potato Salad recipe then you definitely want to start here! It’s creamy, tangy, rich and has the perfect amount of crunch.

2. German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad

Close up overhead view of a bowl of German Potato Salad in a bowl.
German Potato Salad features thickly sliced potatoes, crispy bacon, onions, and a rich and tangy mayo-free vinaigrette dressing.
4.91 from 11 votes
$4.79 recipe / $0.79 serving Get the Recipe

If you prefer mayo-free potato salads, like myself, then you’ll love this German Potato Salad recipe! It includes thick cut potatoes, a good amount of crispy bacon and a tangy mayo-free dressing.

3. Cajun Potato Salad

Cajun Potato Salad

Close up overhead shot of Cajun Potato Salad in a bowl.
Cajun Potato Salad is creamy, spicy, smoky, and absolutely packed with flavor! It's the perfect side dish for any summer gathering.
4.58 from 7 votes
$5.22 recipe / $0.87 serving Get the Recipe

Time to liven up the traditional potato salad with this spicy, flavorful Cajun Potato Salad! It has a little bit of a kick thanks to the cajun seasoning and a dash of hot sauce, but it still maintains that creamy, delicious flavor and texture that we all love.

4. Herby Potato Salad

Herby Potato Salad

side view of a platter full of herby potato salad.
This Herby Potato Salad has tender baby potatoes, a bright and zesty lemon-Dijon vinaigrette, and a healthy dose of fresh herbs.
5 from 3 votes
$4.50 recipe / $1.13 serving Get the Recipe

This simple and fresh Herby Potato Salad is the perfect alternative when you want a lighter potato salad as a side for a quick & easy dinner meal.

5. Pesto Potato Salad

Pesto Potato Salad

Overhead view of parsley potato salad in a bowl.
Parsley Pesto Potato Salad is an inexpensive, filling, and vibrantly flavored side dish that's perfect for any summer meal.
5 from 4 votes
$5.31 recipe / $0.89 serving Get the Recipe

Calling all pesto lovers! This Pesto Potato Salad combines a super easy and budget-friendly homemade pesto with baby gold potatoes for a vibrant, flavorful potato salad recipe!

Baked Potato Recipes

Baked potatoes are inexpensive and the perfect blank slate for lots of different toppings and loaded potato ideas!

6. Classic Baked Potatoes

How to Make Baked Potatoes

Side view of baked potatoes lined up, seasoned with pepper and butter
How to make the best baked potatoes with flavorful, crispy skin and fluffy insides in three easy steps. Baked potato topping ideas included!
4.86 from 7 votes
$1.26 recipe / $0.31 each Get the Recipe

What’s better than a classic Baked Potato? We decided to share all of our favorite tips to make simple, baked potatoes along with some easy topping ideas.

7. Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potatoes

A fork digging into a broccoli cheddar stuffed potato
Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Potatoes are a vegetarian comfort food classic. Perfectly baked russet potatoes with a rich and creamy broccoli cheese sauce!
4.60 from 32 votes
$6.76 recipe / $1.69 serving Get the Recipe

Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Baked Potatoes are such a fun mash-up between comfort food and good-for-you food.

8. Loaded Smashed Potatoes

Loaded Smashed Potatoes

overhead view of loaded smashed potatoes on the baking sheet
These loaded smashed potatoes are boiled until tender and fluffy, baked until golden and crispy, and piled high with toppings!
5 from 7 votes
$4.97 recipe / $0.99 serving Get the Recipe

If you’ve never had smashed potatoes before, let’s just say you’re totally missing out! These Loaded Smashed Potatoes are boiled, smashed and baked until crispy and then loaded with all of your favorite toppings.

9. Sheet Pan Kielbasa, Potatoes & Green Beans

Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans

Sheet pan roasted kielbasa potatoes and green beans with a spatula
Sheet pan meals don't get any easier or more delicious than this Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans dinner.
4.82 from 55 votes
$9.47 recipe / $2.37 serving Get the Recipe

When you need a simple & easy dinner recipe, this Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans meal is the way to go! You only need six ingredients with very little hands on time.

10. Potatoes Au Gratin

Potatoes Au Gratin

Close up overhead view of potatoes au gratin being scooped out of the casserole dish.
Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce make this Potatoes Au Gratin recipe pure potato casserole heaven.
4.62 from 13 votes
$5.33 recipe / $0.67 serving Get the Recipe

Potatoes Au Gratin – a truly classic comfort food dish with thinly sliced potatoes in a rich and creamy sauce.

Mashed Potato Recipes

I grew up loving mashed potatoes! My mom made the best homemade mashed potatoes -and still does :) but what I love most is that they can go as a side dish with almost any meal. They’re creamy, buttery and simple to make. Here are a few of our favorite ways to make mashed potatoes.

11. Classic Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Mashed potatoes being scooped out of a bowl.
Follow these easy steps to make the smoothest, fluffiest, cloud-like mashed potatoes you've ever had! Plus ideas for more flavor add-ins.
5 from 4 votes
$2.29 recipe / $0.45 serving Get the Recipe

We can’t think of anything that’s better than a big bowl of buttery Mashed Potatoes. These classic mashed potatoes are fluffy, creamy and easy to make in just a few steps.

12. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Close up of mashed potatoes in the slow cooker with melted butter and a wooden spoon
Slow cooker mashed potatoes are the perfect hands-off method for making rich and creamy mashed potatoes for the Holidays!
4.41 from 32 votes
$2.99 recipe / $0.50 serving Get the Recipe

No more babysitting a pot of boiling potatoes. These Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes makes cooking creamy, homemade mashed potatoes super easy and convenient.

13. Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Super close up side view of a bowl of olive oil mashed potatoes garnished with rosemary and a drizzle of olive oil
These dairy-free Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes are light, fluffy, and seasoned with hefty dose of garlic, rosemary, and cracked black pepper.
4.86 from 7 votes
$2.33 recipe / $0.39 serving Get the Recipe

These Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes are a lighter, but still delicious alternative to the classic mashed potatoes with butter or sour cream. They’re perfect for vegans or those with dairy allergies!

14. Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes

Fluffy as a cloud and with a rich buttery finish, these Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes will be the star of any weeknight dinner or holiday meal! Budgetbytes.com
Fluffy as a cloud and with a rich buttery finish, these Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes will be the star of any weeknight dinner or holiday meal! 
4.59 from 17 votes
$2.05 recipe / $0.34 serving Get the Recipe

Garlic plus Mashed Potatoes might just be a match made in heaven! These Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are infused with an easy garlic herb seasoning and absolutely perfect as a side dish to any meal.

15. Colcannon

Colcannon

Colcannon is a simple Irish recipe that combines two hearty but inexpensive ingredients to make a delicious and filling side dish. BudgetBytes.com
Colcannon is a simple Irish recipe that combines two hearty but inexpensive ingredients to make a delicious and filling side dish. 
4.93 from 28 votes
$3.64 recipe / $0.46 serving Get the Recipe

Colcannon is a great budget-friendly recipe that combines two inexpensive vegetables to make a super filling and delicious dish.

Potato Soup recipes

Can we all just agree that there aren’t too many things better than a big, warm and cozy bowl of potato soup? Adding potatoes to any soup recipe instantly elevates it to an entirely new level. Here are our top picks for the best potato soups!

16. Loaded Potato Soup

Loaded Potato Soup Recipe

overhead view of a bowl of loaded potato soup with toppings.
Loaded Potato Soup is like your favorite baked potato with all the fixins, like bacon, sour cream, green onion, and cheese, but in a bowl!
4.94 from 29 votes
$6.16 recipe / $1.02 serving Get the Recipe

The mother of all potato soup recipes – in my opinion :) Loaded Potato Soup is thick, creamy and has the perfect combination of chunky potato pieces and velvety smooth soup base. Load it with all your favorite toppings for the perfect comfort food.

17. Zuppa Toscana

Zuppa Toscana

Overhead view of a bowl of Zuppa Toscana with a spoon dipping into the center.
Zuppa Toscana is a creamy, filling, and flavorful soup with Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale. Just like The Olive Garden's, but made from scratch!
4.82 from 145 votes
$7.51 recipe / $0.94 serving Get the Recipe

Our version of Zuppa Toscana includes Italian sausage, kale, creamy potatoes, white beans and a choke full of flavor! It’s a hefty does of vegetables and every bit of delicious.

18. Smoky Potato and Chickpea Stew

Smoky Potato Chickpea Stew

This Smoky Potato and Chickpea Stew is a hearty and filling plant-based dish that will keep you full and warm this winter! BudgetBytes.com
This Smoky Potato Chickpea Stew is a hearty and filling plant-based dish that will keep you full and warm this winter!
4.92 from 125 votes
$5.74 recipe / $0.96 serving Get the Recipe

This hearty and delicious Smoky Potato Chickpea Stew is full of lots of veggies and simmered in a smoky, warm broth that is perfect year-round but especially during the winter season.

19. Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup

Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup

Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup is rich and creamy without being overly heavy. Eat your vegetables and enjoy them, too! Budgetbytes.com
Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup is rich and creamy without being overly heavy. Eat your vegetables and enjoy them, too! 
4.97 from 51 votes
$6.37 recipe / $2.12 serving Get the Recipe

This Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup recipe is super creamy and satisfying without being overly heavy. It mixes half potatoes and half cauliflower for extra fiber while still maintaining that delicious potato soup flavor.

Roasted Potato Recipes

We definitely saved the best category for last! Roasted potatoes are easy to make, can usually be made all on one sheet pan and it’s a lot less fuss when it comes to clean up. Roasting the potatoes at a higher temperature also gives the potatoes crispy edges while keeping the inside creamy and soft. You can easily toss these potato recipes in the oven and let them work their magic while you prepare the rest of your meal!

20. Oven Baked Steak Fries

Oven Baked Steak Fries

Overhead view of a plate full of steak fries with three dipping sauces
These incredibly crispy, thick cut, oven baked steak fries are seasoned to perfection with steak seasoning for maximum flavor in every bite! 
4.96 from 21 votes
$0.94 recipe / $0.47 serving Get the Recipe

These Oven Baked Steak Fries are slightly addicting – don’t say I didn’t warn you. They’re baked to perfection, perfect for dipping or dunking and can be enjoyed as a simple side dish…or main dish if you’re like us!

21. Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

A platter full of roasted breakfast potatoes with eggs, coffee, oranges, and bacon on the side
These Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes cook in the oven, leaving your hands and pans free to cook your eggs and enjoy a stress-free breakfast!
5 from 7 votes
$1.92 recipe / $0.48 serving Get the Recipe

Add these Smoky Roasted Breakfast Potatoes to your next big weekend breakfast or brunch for a simple, hands off side dish.

22. Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

Roasted Potatoes

close up of parmesan roasted potatoes garnished with parsley
This roasted potato recipe is deliciously golden and crispy with soft, fluffy potato on the inside. The perfect side for breakfast or dinner!
4.86 from 7 votes
$2.37 recipe / $0.59 serving Get the Recipe

These Parmesan Roasted Potatoes are about as easy as it gets when it comes to budget-friendly side dishes. They’re super flavorful thanks to the grated parmesan and a simple seasoning mix and they roast beautifully in the oven. Perfect for snacking, a side for dinner or even the base of a breakfast bowl.

23. Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are an easy, flexible, and DELICIOUS side dish that can be paired with just about any meal. Keep this go-to recipe handy! Budgetbytes.com
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are an easy, flexible, and DELICIOUS side dish that can be paired with just about any meal. Keep this go-to recipe handy!
5 from 8 votes
$3.58 recipe / $0.90 serving Get the Recipe

Switch things up with these delicious Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. They’re made with just 6 simple ingredients and oven roasted for an easy dinner side dish!

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  1. Hello, I think that these were great suggestions and everything. However, I would like a dish were it includes potatoes and a protein of sorts! Thank you, have a great rest of your day.