Have These 16 Hearty Potato Sides on the Table in Under 45 Minutes

By Vicky McDonald

August 05, 2020

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Credit: magicallydelicious

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 filling and tasty side dish in a snap, check out some of our favorite quick and easy potato side dishes that are ready in less than 45 minutes.

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Microwave Baked Potato

Credit: France C

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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 cook 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.

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My Crispy Mashed Potato Pancake

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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.

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Instant Pot® Garlic Roasted Potatoes

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Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and ready in minutes. This recipe uses rosemary and thyme to add extra flavor to the potatoes, but you can use any other favorite herbs instead.

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Curried Cumin Potatoes

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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.

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Emily's Famous Hash Browns

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

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Quick and Easy Grilled Potatoes

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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!

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Lengenberg's Boiled Potatoes

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Three simple ingredients go into these simple German-style potatoes. They're the perfect side dish for bratwursts or schnitzel.

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Quick and Easy Home Fries

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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.

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Roasted Red New Potatoes

Credit: Dianne

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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.

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Chef John's Perfect Mashed Potatoes

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"This recipe will hopefully give you the proper techniques to turn out perfect mashed potatoes every time; always light, fluffy, and lump free," Chef John says.

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Cheesy Bacon Tater Tots®

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Tots crisp in bacon grease before jumping into the oven with Cheddar cheese. So is this one-skillet tots treat a side dish or amazing appetizer? Trick question, of course. It's both. All that and more, in fact: Add an egg on top, and it makes an amazing breakfast, too!

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Roasted Potatoes with Greens

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"Roasted potatoes mingle with fresh spinach in a sauce of garlic, butter, sea salt, and fresh rosemary. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and/or a good shredded hard cheese like Parmesan or Pecorino if you like," says recipe creator Lisa Nichols.

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Irish Champ

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"Looks similar to colcannon, but champ is native to the North of Ireland. It's made by blending scallions or green onions with creamy mashed potatoes. Great on its own, served steaming hot with extra butter, which will melt through it. But it's also the perfect side dish for good quality sausages," recipe creator Ita says.

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Oven Fresh Seasoned Potato Wedges

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Russet potatoes crisp up into classic oven fries with olive oil, Parmesan, and a little seasoning.

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Country Style Fried Potatoes

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We'd eat these skillet-fried potatoes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Agreed?

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Best Potatoes You'll Ever Taste

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The secret here is an herby mayonnaise mixture, which you spoon over the potatoes before setting them on the grill.

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By Vicky McDonald