What’s the Best Potato for the Job?
Updated: May 26, 2022Potato salad not turning out like Mom's? Au gratin a mushy mess? You might be using the wrong spud. Discover which types of potatoes work best in which dishes for mealtime success.
Whether mashed or baked, roasted or fried, you can’t beat potatoes for comfort. But your carb-o-licious dish might get a thumbs-down review if you don’t select the right spud. Potatoes fall into one of three categories: starchy, waxy and all-purpose. For the best results, match your tator to your recipe. Here’s what you need to know about the choices:
Russet (aka Idaho)
These oblong potatoes are perfect for mashing and baking due to their thick skin and fluffy flesh. Their high-starch content makes them the perfect choice when making French fries, too.
Red (aka New)
These waxy potatoes are the darlings of the salad set because they look great, keep their shape, and offer a creamy texture. They’re low in starch and high in moisture so they’re perfect when boiled or roasted.
White Potatoes
Similar looking to Russets, use these guys when the recipe calls for boiling potatoes. Because they hold their shape so well, they’re also great in casseroles, soups and stews.
Round Potatoes (aka Irish)
Use these like you’d use white potatoes—in stews, soups and casseroles. They have thinner skins than most varieties, but they hold up nicely during long cook times.
Yukon Golds
When you don’t know what potato to use, turn to Yukon Golds. These all-purpose spuds have just the right combo of starch and moisture to hold up to nearly any cooking technique, including grilling, yet they come out golden on the outside and tender on the inside.
Sweet Potatoes
This one is a no-brainer. Simply use sweet potatoes when a recipe calls for them. That’s it! What’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? Don’t worry about it. Just stick to sweet potatoes for sweet potato recipes, and you’ll be just fine.
Before You Buy
No matter which type of potato you need, choose ones with healthy skin—no cuts, bruises or blemishes. If you see a bit of green under the potato skin, put that spud back in the bin. You want potatoes that are firm and feel heavy for their size. Once you get them home, store them in a cool, dark, dry spot. Keep them out of the refrigerator. Right before using, scrub your spud with a vegetable brush, and use a small knife to remove any potato sprouts or “eyes.”
Now that your know what potato’s best for the job, you can get cooking…or baking, boiling, grilling or roasting.
Start With These Recipes for Serious Potato Lovers
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
This contest-winning casserole combines the flavors of loaded baked potatoes with the creamy richness of mashed potatoes to delicious effect. As a bonus, the dish can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until ready to bake and eat.
Herbed Party Potato Wedges
These simple baked potato wedges are a perfect side for any roast dish, but they're also a popular party appetizer. Serve them hot or at room temperature—both are delicious.
Rosemary Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
Sweet, meltingly tender caramelized onions make these classic roast potatoes unforgettable. Rosemary leans into the sweetness, but you can use any woody, hardy herb like oregano, thyme or marjoram.
Pepper Jack Hash Brown Casserole
Prepare yourself for a decadent treat! These cheesy hash brown potatoes bake up to an ooey-gooey bite, while a potato chip crumb topping adds crispy crunch. Feel free to swap out the cheeses in the recipe for whichever ones you have on hand.
Buffalo Wing Potatoes
This recipe is the perfect easy party food. Cubed potatoes slow cook in a simple buffalo sauce, resulting in a zesty dish that's great alongside burgers, chicken or potluck fare.
Slow-Cooker Baked Potatoes
Crave the comfort of a baked potato but don't want to turn on the oven? Make them in the slow cooker instead. This method is perfect in warm weather or on a busy day.
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato Stuffing
One of our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, stuffing is cozy but fairly plain, requiring gravy to add moisture and flavor. This version is tasty enough to eat on its own though. Pair with a roasted chicken, or serve at a holiday table for a totally new taste.
Mini Sweet Potato Pies
These bite-sized pies are a fun baking project to cook with kids. The best part is that it uses store-bought pie crust to make the baking process so much simpler when you're crunched for time or don't want the added mess.
Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
Can loaded baked potatoes be elegant? These open-face potato rounds definitely make the cut. Serve at a party to please guests of all ages.
Cleo’s Potato Salad
This creamy potato salad looks classic, but instead of seasoning with ordinary mayonnaise, it uses bacon drippings to make a tasty, savory sauce. The result is an upgrade to any barbecue.
Pressure-Cooker Lemon Red Potatoes
Free up stove space and cook a side dish in your pressure cooker! The lemon adds a fresh brightness that offsets the steam cooking. If you don't own a pressure cooker yet, these are our favorite models.
Skillet Potatoes with Red Pepper and Whole Garlic Cloves
Want major garlic flavor without pulling out the garlic press? Try cooking whole cloves. Here, the cloves almost caramelize and turn sweet and creamy, a delicious match with potatoes and peppers.
Cheddar and Chive Mashed Potatoes
Make these super rich cheddar mashed potatoes when you're craving an indulgence. Gild the lily with a topping made of crispy fried onions or leave it off for a purely creamy bite.
Breakfast Sweet Potatoes
Looking for an easy breakfast? Try these tasty sweet potatoes, which are both filling and packed with vitamins. Roast the potatoes ahead of time so there's less to do in the morning.
Chiles Rellenos Breakfast Bake
Chiles rellenos are traditionally a labor of love. This breakfast bake simplifies the process, while still delivering the same spicy, cheesy, delicious chile flavor.
Mediterranean Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Packed with flavor from the herbs and feta cheese, these mashed potatoes taste super fancy; you wouldn't even know they're made in a slow cooker! Pair these potatoes with a turkey-based meat loaf and your favorite veggies.
Sweet Potato and Crab Soup
This creamy seafood soup is absolutely delicious. Using canned crab meat makes it simple (and a tad more affordable). It's equally welcome at a fancy party or a special family dinner.
Turkey Sliders with Sweet Potato “Buns”
Looking for a creative gluten-free appetizer? These "sliders" are sandwiches between slices of sweet potato. Be sure to swap out gluten-free breadcrumbs if you do need them GF.
Bacon-Gruyere Smashed Potatoes
These skillet potatoes have a perfectly balanced flavor. Low-cooked onions turn sweet and jammy, boiled potatoes offer creamy comfort and cheese and bacon add savory richness. Serve it as a side, or top it with a fried egg for a one-bowl dinner.
Cinnamon-Sugar Sweet Potato Pastries
Looking to use up leftover mashed potatoes (sweet potatoes, in this case)? Think outside the dinner plate and make these stuffed crescent roll pastries.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Gorgonzola Spread
These grilled potato slices taste equally great with plain or sweet potatoes. The simple dressing of lemon juice, olive oil and mayo gets an earthy boost from crumbled Gorgonzola cheese.
Easy Scalloped Potatoes
A comfort food like grandma used to make, scalloped potatoes are totally cozy, but can get a bit...heavy. This recipe lightens up the cream and fat content without sacrificing flavor.
Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins
Buffalo chicken meets crispy potato skins! These restaurant copycat appetizers are a total crowd pleaser. Serve them as an appetizer or bring them to a potluck if you're on snack duty.
Best Ever Potato Soup
The title says it all—this soup is among our top-rated recipes. It's everything you want in a classic potato soup: cozy, thick, creamy and savory. While the added Velveeta is creamy and easy, you can also swap for your favorite meltable cheese.
Loaded Smashed Taters
Use thin-skinned potatoes to make this bowl of smashed potatoes. The thin skin of baby Yukon golds or red potatoes will easily mix into the creamy mash, lending a few chewy bites here and there.
Simple Au Gratin Potatoes
Au gratin potatoes may sound fancy; they're a classic French recipe, after all. But think peasant food rather than fine dining—good food, prepared simply, with a hint of indulgence. Use a high starch potato, like a Russet, to ensure the creamy sauce is thick but not curdled.
Roasted Potato & Green Bean Salad
Inspired by German potato salads, this dish is both creamy and tangy thanks to the vinegar-based dressing. Green beans add a delicious snap, and the bacon strips add a perfect balance of saltiness.
Mexican Roasted Potato Salad
This dish is a cross between roasted potatoes and potato salad, with a southwestern twist. Tasty, crispy-edged red potatoes are tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing and spiked with green chiles, black beans and spices.
Lemon Roasted Fingerlings and Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts used to be the ugly duckling of vegetables, but when roasted, they have a super savory flavor and a crunch that's absolutely delicious. Next time you crave roasted potatoes, give this updated dish a try.
Sharp Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes
This is yet another creamy, cheesy potato casserole you'll want to make in the wintertime. Here, a mix of cheddar cheeses and mustard lend a warm golden color to the potatoes. A sprinkle of dried basil or oregano would be a tasty addition.
Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites
These savory appetizers are a lighter (but equally delicious) alternative to bacon-wrapped sausages. Sweet potatoes plus bacon plus maple syrup coating equals an appetizer so yummy, you might even want it for breakfast.
Potluck Candied Sweet Potatoes
Candied sweet potatoes are a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side dish, but there's no reason not to make them year-round. This recipe is easy to make in a slow cooker, saving room in your oven for the rest of your dinner.
Potato Pumpkin Mash
Mashed potatoes but make them festive! This pumpkin potato mash is a festive holiday side dish that packs in extra flavor (and vitamins). Swirl the mash together in a clear serving dish for optimal presentation.
Pretty Duchess Potatoes
Need a side dish with wow-factor? Try these whirled potatoes. They look incredibly special, but are easy to pipe out with a pastry bag (or even a ziptop plastic bag).
Sweet Corn and Potato Gratin
Need to convince kids to eat their veggies? Try this gratin, which combines corn and potatoes with a crispy, irresistible crumb topping.
Makeover Streusel-Topped Sweet Potatoes
Love candied sweet potatoes but want a lighter option? Try these sweet and crunchy potatoes, topped with a reduced-fat buttery, crumbly struesel.
Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Butter
Mixing yellow and sweet potatoes makes for a colorful presentation on a serving platter. The savory and sweet flavors also balance well. Top this dish with sprigs of fresh thyme when serving with a fancy dinner.
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Is it asparagus season yet? As soon as it is, make this dish. Roasting asparagus gives it a meaty, slightly charred flavor that's absolutely delicious and a nice change from the classic steamed or boiled asparagus.
Cheddar & Spinach Twice-Baked Potatoes
No need for a side salad when you spike your potatoes with a healthy dose of spinach. It's a tasty, lighter take on comfort food. Serve during a party or a family dinner for an elevated side dish.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Homemade sweet potato fries are a real treat. Cook them in an air fryer to get all of the crispy flavor and none of the splattering oil.
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Cinnamon Cream
These crispy sweet potato pancakes are more like a cross between pancakes and hash browns. Shredding sweet potatoes makes them quicker to cook and adds a hearty texture. It's a perfect candidate for breakfast for dinner.
Cilantro Potatoes
A big bunch of cilantro lends a Middle Eastern flavor to simple skillet potatoes. Serve this dish alongside kabobs or a hummus platter.
Potato Soup
Want to upgrade a simple creamy potato soup? This recipe adds a jar of roasted red peppers for rich sweetness. You can also use homemade roasted peppers or sauteed peppers if you have some on hand.
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread
Like bananas and pumpkin, mashed sweet potatoes taste delicious in quick breads. They add natural moisture and sweetness and are a tasty base for the raisins and walnuts that dot the bread.
Campfire Hash
This hearty one-pot meal tastes good whether it's cooked over a campfire or on the stovetop. The base recipe calls for sausages, potatoes, corn and chiles, but you can mix and match sausage flavors, vegetables and seasonings however you like.
African Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Chicken and peanut butter may sound like a mismatch, but it's actually one of the most popular flavor combinations in African cuisine. The savory peanut butter balances the sweet potatoes and the heat from the green chiles perfectly.
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
This mashed potato recipe bakes the spuds in a casserole dish at the same oven temp as many roasted meat and fish dishes. As long as you're turning on the oven, you might as well fill it up!
Easy Potato Rolls
A fun way to eat up leftover mashed potatoes? In these tasty, airy dinner rolls. These are delicious with just about anything, and leftover rolls freeze well.
Colcannon Potatoes
A classic Irish dish, colcannon potatoes are made with floury white potatoes, green cabbage, onions and rich butter. For a modern take, substitute the cabbage with your favorite hearty, leafy green.
Baked Potato Pizza
Not every pizza has to be topped with red sauce and mozzarella. This recipe transforms a pizza crust into a kind of flatbread topped with the flavors of a loaded baked potato.
Classic Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Since mashed potatoes feature on many holiday menus, it's helpful for the host to make them ahead of time. This recipe makes it simple. After preparing the mash, refrigerate overnight and bake or slow cook the next day.
Party Potatoes
A tangy take on classic mashed potatoes, these party potatoes are packed with garlic and onion flavors. Top with your favorite meltable cheese. This recipe can be made the night before cooking, but hold off on topping with breadcrumbs until you're ready to bake, otherwise they'll get soggy.
Loaded Potato Salad
Want to re-create crunchy restaurant potato skins at home? Try this simple twist, which transforms an appetizer into a crowd-pleasing salad rich with the flavor of potato skins and bacon.
Loaded Stuffed Potato Pancakes
You'll want to save some leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe. These potato cakes, stuffed with a tasty cream cheese filling, make an excellent side dish at dinner or a filling lunch in themselves.
Cottage Potatoes
It's an open secret that the topping of a casserole is often the best part. Here, simple boiled potatoes are covered in a mix of chunky peppers, onions, pimientos, cheese and breadcrumbs, resulting in a crunchy and colorful blanket of deliciousness you'll want to eat out of the dish.
Sweet Potato Wedges with Chili Mayo
Salty sweet potato fries can handle a lot of heat. Spice lovers will adore this chili-spiked dipping sauce, which is also yummy with plain roasted or raw veggies.
Potato Chowder
Creamy cheese and bacon dial up the flavor of this simple potato soup. Serve with crackers and an easy salad for an old school lunch that still satisfies.
Sausage and Hashbrown Breakfast Pizza
Pizza, for breakfast? Why not? A package of crescent rolls transforms into a buttery crust, which is scattered with frozen hash browns and bits of sausage. The easy ingredients make it perfect for the morning after a sleepover or on a camping trip.
Roasted Tater Rounds with Green Onions & Tarragon
Slicing potatoes into rounds to cook is a clever trick: The texture is right in between a crispy chip and a chewy roasted potato, satisfying both cravings at once. Use your favorite herbs (or whatever's growing in your garden) to season the rounds.
Loaded Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
Bring this to your next potluck, and you'll take home a clean dish. This clever potato dish combines the crisp of potato skins with the flavor of loaded potatoes.
Golden Mashed Potatoes
A neat trick for updating mashed potatoes is also a simple one: add another mashable veggie to the mix. Here, carrots add a golden tint, but you can also use winter squash or sweet potatoes for the same effect.
Scored Potatoes
Love the flavor of baked potatoes but not the long cook time? Try this cooking method, in which baking potatoes are sliced before going into the oven. Another bonus is that they get extra crispy and flavorful.
Roasted Greek Potatoes with Feta Cheese
While lots of potato recipes feel more welcome in cold weather—hello, cozy butter and cheese—this one is made for a balmy day. The Mediterranean flavor pairs well with simple grilled meats or a vegetarian spread.
Creamy Hash Brown Casserole
You probably have all of the ingredients for this rich side dish in your pantry already! The casserole comes together in minutes, but it still feels special thanks to the rich filling and cornflake crumble topping.
Creamy Mushroom-Potato Bake
Sauteed onions and mushrooms elevate a simple pan of mashed potatoes. In fact, this bake is so flavorful, you might not even need gravy. For best results, use a really good brand of butter, like Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter.
Spicy Sweet Potato Chips & Cilantro Dip
Turn up the heat with a bowl of spicy, crispy sweet potato chips. Make the creamy, cooling dipping sauce while the thinly sliced potatoes bake in the oven, then serve as a snack or as a side to a sandwich wrap.
Homemade Potato Salad
One of our most popular potato salad recipes has a controversial ingredient: sugar. The sweetness balances the richness of the mayo and the zing of vinegar.
Triple Mash with Horseradish Bread Crumbs
The zesty bite of horseradish is just the thing to wake up a sleepy cloud of mashed potatoes. The recipe calls for a mix of root vegetables—rutabaga, parsnips and potatoes—though you can use any root veggie you like (or just the potatoes).
Coconut-Pecan Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be tricky to roast, since they can vary wildly in size and density and, thus, cooking time. Popping them in the slow cooker makes it easy to cook a large quantity of potatoes, no matter what size.
Deluxe Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to mashed potatoes, most recipes feel pretty deluxe, what with all the cream, butter and salt. This recipe stands out for a simple reason: its use of tangy dairy (sour cream and cream cheese), which make for incredibly savory mashers with a kick.
Braised Dill Potatoes
Braising is an almost foolproof cooking method. The ingredients cook submerged, but not covered, with a flavorful liquid at a low and slow temperature until they're tender and richly flavored. Because the cooking temperature is low, it's almost impossible to overcook anything you braise, making it a great option for newer cooks. Meat, poultry, fish, beans and most vegetables—including these potatoes—are delicious braised.
Favorite Cheesy Potatoes
This casserole cooks up in a trusty 13x9-in. pan. Make it ahead and refrigerate it or freeze it until ready to bake. These decadent potatoes make for a festive side dish at a football potluck or holiday party.
Herbed Potato Packs
When it's grilling season, we love tossing foil-wrapped veggie packs on the grill. Vegetables cook quicker in the foil than straight on the grill, and since they're essentially swaddled in seasoning, they're super flavorful too.
Cheese & Herb Potato Fans
Slicing whole potatoes like accordions before baking serves a couple purposes. First, it makes them cook faster and more evenly. Second, it deepens the flavor of the potato, letting it soak in seasoning and oil as it cooks, and making the exposed edges crisp up a bit. Not bad for a small effort.
Ranch Potato Casserole
It's always handy to have a few make-ahead casserole recipes in your back pocket. Anyone who loves ranch dressing will enjoy this tasty, crunchy bake.
Spanakopita Mashed Potatoes
Keep the peels on when you make these mashed potatoes. They add a ton of nutritional value, as well as a pleasant texture to the mash. The Greek flavors are an unexpectedly yummy twist on a classic recipe.
Hash Brown Broccoli Bake
When cooking for fussy eaters, it can help to mix green vegetables with cozier foods. Here, broccoli is blanketed in crunchy hash browns and your favorite kind of cheese.
Creamy Sweet Potatoes
The secret ingredient in this sweet potato casserole might surprise you: oranges! Not only does the citrus fruit match the color of sweet potatoes, but its sweet yet tart flavor also adds a complementary acidity that balances the dish.
Air-Fryer French Fries
It's much easier (and tidier) to air-fry french fries than to deep fry (and it's a little bit healthier too). Take care to cut the potatoes into similar sizes so they cook and crisp evenly.
Grilled Potatoes & Peppers
This sweet and savory mix of potatoes, peppers and onions tastes delicious alongside brunch or supper. The veggies cook in one large foil packet, which minimizes prep time.
Originally Published: October 25, 2017
