Our Crispy Potatoes Recipe Guarantees Maximum Crunch

Mashed or roasted, deep fried or boiled, I’ve never met a potato recipe I didn’t like. However, there’s something irresistible about a satisfying, crackly outside and a starchy, soft inside—so when we saw Jeremy Scheck’s video for making crispy potatoes on TikTok, we knew we had to try it for ourselves. (The video has almost 20 million views—so you know it has to be good!) His method includes boiling and baking the potatoes, so we tried the same and added our own touch for some guaranteed crunch as you go.

Do You Need to Boil Potatoes Before Roasting?

We have plenty of roasted potato recipes that don’t require boiling first, such as this roasted potatoes recipe. However, if you have the time, boiling them with salt in the water gives them some extra flavor. In theory, it’s similar to salting the pasta water when you cook noodles.

However, in this recipe for crispy potatoes, boiling the potatoes isn’t optional because we also add a few teaspoons of baking soda to the water, which provides more benefits than just added flavor. Taste of Home senior food editor Peggy Woodward explains what the baking soda does: “Adding baking soda to the cooking water creates an alkaline environment, which breaks down the exterior of the potato, creating a soft, pasty layer. When that pasty layer is baked, the moisture evaporates, leaving behind an extra crispy exterior.”

This simple step does take a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it in the end!

What Type of Potato Makes the Best Crispy Potatoes?

Knowing which types of potatoes to use in different cooking methods is key to successful potato recipes. Using the wrong spud can result in a potato salad that falls apart when you stir it or mashed potatoes that become gummy when overworked.

We chose russet potatoes for this recipe. “Russets are the best for this recipe because of their high starch content compared to red or waxy potatoes. The high starch content means they’ll absorb more water and the exterior will break down more than a waxy potato would,” says Peggy.

Cutting your russets into the right size pieces is key as well. We quarter the potatoes, but you can cut them a bit smaller if you like.

How to Make Crispy Potatoes

This recipe, inspired by Jeremy’s method, was developed in our Test Kitchen. It serves 6 people, about 1 potato per person.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds medium russet potatoes, peeled and quartered (about 6)
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1: Boil the potatoes

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add 2 quarts of water. Stir in the baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil.

Step 2: Simmer the potatoes

Reduce the heat and cook, uncovered, until almost tender (for about 8 to 10 minutes). Drain.

Step 3: Mix the seasoning

In a large bowl, combine the boiled potatoes, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic powder, pepper and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.

Step 4: Prepare the potatoes for the oven

Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the bottom of a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Arrange the potato pieces 1 inch apart over the oil.

Step 5: Bake the potatoes until crispy

Roast until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Tips for Making Crispy Potatoes

TMB Studio

Can you boil potatoes without baking soda?

Yes, but your potatoes may not turn out quite as crispy if you skip the baking soda. “Not adding baking soda leaves the pH of water neutral—it’s neither acidic nor basic. It cooks more evenly and does not break down on the exterior like it does when exposed to alkaline liquid,” says Peggy.

What other types of oil can you use to make crispy potatoes?

If you don’t want to toss your potatoes with olive oil, you have a few alternatives. Bacon fat or butter would be a good swap for the olive oil if that’s what you have on hand.

What other seasonings can you put on crispy potatoes?

Our recipe includes a fairly basic combination of seasonings, so feel free to spice it up! Scheck uses paprika, oregano and Old Bay seasoning, which would all be great additions to your potatoes. Dried rosemary, cumin and ground mustard would also be good choices.

What do you serve with crispy potatoes?

Treat the crispy potatoes like you would french fries and serve them with hamburgers, hot dogs or any other of your favorite grilling recipes. Otherwise, baked chicken and other proteins like steak would serve as wonderful pairs for crispy potatoes. A green side salad would round out each plate as well.