Potatoes Lyonnaise

If I could eat one food with every meal, it would be potatoes. And while mashed potatoes, baked potatoes and French-fried potatoes are great potato recipes for lunch and dinner, it’s fun to break the routine from time to time. That’s where potatoes Lyonnaise come in. Originating in Lyon, France, Lyonnaise potatoes (or pommes de terre à la lyonnaise) are an essential pan-fried potato recipe when you’re looking for something casual that can also pass as upscale.

Cooked in butter until perfectly crisp, Lyonnaise potatoes get an extra punch of flavor from sweet, lightly caramelized onions and an aromatic blend of herbs and spices. While some recipes will add a touch of vinegar and even some cheese, we kept ours simple and refined. Make it any night of the week with ingredients you already have!

Serve potatoes Lyonnaise with homestyle comfort foods like Mom’s famous Sunday roast chicken or meat loaf. When you want to have a date night at home, pair the pan-fried potatoes with cedar-plank salmon or ribeye steak with flavored butter. It’s a good thing this is a recipe you can dress up or down, because after trying it once you’ll want to make these spuds all the time.

What are the best potatoes for potatoes Lyonnaise?

The best potatoes for Lyonnaise potatoes are starchy ones, like Yukon Gold or russet potatoes. The starches help the sauce cling to the potatoes evenly. Red potatoes, which are a bit waxier, won’t yield the same results. There’s a best potato for every job, though, so if you have waxy potatoes to use up, consider making potato salads or even grilled potatoes.

Ingredients for Lyonnaise Potatoes

• Potatoes: Thinly sliced potatoes are not just the secret to great scalloped potatoes, they’re the key to making fantastic potatoes Lyonnaise. For this recipe, the potatoes should be no thicker or thinner than 1/4 inch.
• Butter: Butter helps crisp the potatoes as they cook and gives them a decadently rich flavor. We recommend splurging on a high-quality butter brand for the best flavor possible, especially when using recipes with minimal ingredients.
• Onion: A bit of thinly sliced onion adds textural variation and a mildly sweet onion flavor, which balances the buttery potatoes.
• Salt: Boiling Lyonnaise potatoes in salt water is a critical first step because it improves their final texture, making them crisp on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.
• Herbs and spices: A dash of pepper and a sprinkle of fresh rosemary season the potatoes with a wonderful woodsy aroma and peppery bite.

Directions

Step 1: Boil the potatoes

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring 2-1/2 quarts of water and a teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add the potatoes, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the potatoes, uncovered, until they’re slightly cooked but still al dente, about three minutes. Drain the water.

Editor’s Tip: Boiling potatoes may seem like an extra, unnecessary step, but there’s actually a lot of cool food science happening here that really improves this recipe for potatoes Lyonnaise. Blanching the potatoes when making baked French fries has a similar effect.

Step 2: Saute the onions

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the onions and set them aside.

Step 3: Cook the potatoes

In the same skillet, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: If you want potatoes Lyonnaise that are as golden and crisp as oven-smashed potatoes, resist the urge to stir the potatoes too frequently. Give them a chance to brown, undisturbed, before stirring.

Step 4: Season and combine

Return the onions to the pan and season the potatoes with the rosemary and pepper. Toss to combine and continue to cook until heated the onions are heated through. Serve Lyonnaise potatoes warm.

Potatoes Lyonnaise Variations

• Make truffled Lyonnaise potatoes: For a truffled take, drizzle the potatoes with 2 teaspoons of truffle oil and a pinch of truffle salt just before serving, and finish them with a shower of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
• Use other herbs: If you don’t love rosemary, you can swap it for another herb or herb blend. Thyme, parsley or herbs de Provence are other popular picks for Lyonnaise potato recipes.
• Add vinegar: Adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to the salted boiling water is another trick that can improve the texture of the potatoes. The vinegar tenderizes the potatoes while also strengthening the cells that hold the potatoes together, so they maintain their shape better when frying.

How to Store Potatoes Lyonnaise

Lyonnaise potatoes should be stored in an airtight food storage container and kept refrigerated.

How long do potatoes Lyonnaise last?

Potatoes Lyonnaise are best enjoyed within three to four days for the best taste and freshness.

How do you reheat potatoes Lyonnaise?

Just like reheating fries, Lyonnaise potatoes are best reheated with a method that helps them crisp back up. For the best results, warm them on the stovetop over medium heat with an extra tablespoon of butter until they’re crispy.

Potatoes Lyonnaise Tips

What’s the best way to slice potatoes for Lyonnaise potatoes?

Our favorite kitchen gadget for slicing potatoes thinly and evenly is a mandoline slicer. Handheld and tabletop options exist, and most are adjustable, so you can slice your vegetables to the exact thickness the recipe calls for. Be careful, though! Mandoline slicers are super sharp. Use a cut-resistant glove to prevent any mishaps in the kitchen.

Don’t forget to cut away any sprouts on your potatoes before peeling them.

How do you prevent sliced potatoes from turning brown?

If you need to do some prep work but are worried about your potatoes turning brown, simply toss the sliced potatoes into a pot with enough cold water to cover them completely. Store the pot in the fridge for up to 24 hours or until you’re ready to cook. The water will protect the potatoes from the air and prevent them from oxidizing. Green potatoes are a different story. Those aren’t safe to eat, and you shouldn’t include them in this recipe.

What can you serve with potatoes Lyonnaise?

This recipe for potatoes Lyonnaise can be served with a variety of dishes. Try them with a honey-baked ham or slow-cooker beef burgundy. Round out your menu with a favorite garden salad and a batch of brioche rolls, and you’ll have a meal fit for French royalty.