When it comes to finding the perfect side dish to complement your meal, look no further than these heavenly Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes.
Imagine biting into a potato that’s crispy and golden on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside – that’s exactly what you get with this recipe.
These baby potatoes are seasoned to perfection with a delightful mix of garlic, herbs, butter, and Parmesan, then roasted to crispy perfection on a single sheet pan.
The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make, ensuring a hassle-free cooking experience. So, let’s dive in and explore how to create this mouth-watering dish.
Ingredients:
To kickstart your culinary journey, you’ll need to gather the following ingredients:
- 3 pounds of baby red potatoes: These are the stars of the dish, providing a soft, fluffy interior and a crispy exterior.
- 1/4 cup of olive oil: This helps to crisp up the potatoes and adds a rich, savory flavor.
- 6 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped or minced: Garlic adds a pungent, aromatic flavor that’s simply irresistible.
- Salt and fresh cracked black pepper: These seasoning staples enhance the natural flavors of the potatoes.
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning: This blend of herbs adds a complex, herby flavor profile.
- 3/4 cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese: Parmesan provides a salty, nutty flavor and helps to create a crispy crust on the potatoes.
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter: Butter adds richness and helps to brown the potatoes.
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish: This adds a fresh, herby finish to the dish.
- 1/2 cup of crispy bacon bits (optional): For those who want to add a smoky, savory crunch.
Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating the symphony of flavors and textures that make this dish so special. Now that we have our ingredients ready, let’s move on to the next steps of our culinary adventure.
Stay tuned as we delve into the art of choosing the right potatoes and mastering the roasting process to achieve the perfect Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes.
Choosing the Right Potatoes
Selecting the perfect potato is the first step to achieving roasted perfection. Baby red potatoes are ideal for this recipe, thanks to their waxy texture and ability to hold their shape during roasting.
However, feel free to experiment with small Yukon golds, German butterball, or fingerling potatoes for a slight variation in flavor and texture. Whichever variety you choose, ensure they are fresh and free from any sprouts or green spots.
A Step-by-Step Cooking Guide:
Achieving the perfect roast requires a bit of culinary finesse, but fear not, as we guide you through each step:
- Preheat and Prepare: Crank up your oven to a sizzling 400º F (200°C) and grease a large baking sheet with olive oil or a non-stick spray.
- Parboil for Perfection: Give your potatoes a quick pre-roast bath by parboiling them in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes. This ensures they are tender on the inside and ready to crisp up on the outside.
- Seasoning Symphony: In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese. If the Parmesan soaks up most of the oil, feel free to add a bit more to ensure a good coat.
- Flavoring the Potatoes: The combination of garlic, Parmesan, and herbs creates a flavor profile that is hard to resist. Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste, and if parsley isn’t your herb of choice, rosemary or thyme make excellent substitutes. Just be mindful if you’re using dried herbs, as they can be more potent than fresh.
- Coat and Crisp: Toss the parboiled potatoes in the garlic-Parmesan mixture, making sure each potato is evenly coated. Spread them out in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet, cut side down.
- Cooking Temperatures and Times: Roasting at a high temperature is key to achieving that desirable crispy exterior. A hot 400°F (200°C) oven is perfect for this recipe, but if you find yourself needing to multitask in the kitchen, you can lower the temperature to 350ºF (180ºC) and extend the roasting time to 1 hour to 1:20 hours.
- Roast to Perfection: Place the baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven and let the potatoes roast for 25 minutes. Make sure to give them a turn with tongs or a spatula after 15 minutes to ensure even browning and crispiness.
- Butter Bliss: While the potatoes are roasting, melt the butter and mix it with the freshly chopped parsley.
- Drizzle and Serve: Once the potatoes are golden and crispy, remove them from the oven, drizzle with the butter-parsley mixture, and toss to coat. If you opted for bacon bits, now’s the time to sprinkle them on.
- Serve and Savor: Your Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes are now ready to be served. Enjoy them hot out of the oven, and watch as they become the star of your meal.
With these steps, you’re well on your way to creating a side dish that’s not only delicious but also impressively easy to make.
Tips:
To elevate your potato game to the next level, consider these additional tips and tricks:
Broil for Extra Golden Goodness: For an even more golden and crispy finish, place the potatoes under the broiler for 2-4 minutes after roasting. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
To Parboil or Not to Parboil: While parboiling helps achieve a fluffy interior, you can opt to skip this step. If you do, simply extend the roasting time to 35-40 minutes.
Let Them Rest: Give the potatoes a moment to cool on the baking sheet after roasting. This ensures that the Parmesan sticks to the potatoes, not the pan.
Don’t Skimp on the Butter: The melted butter and parsley drizzle is the finishing touch that takes these potatoes to the next level. Make sure to use it generously.
What to Serve with Roasted Potatoes:
These potatoes are versatile and can complement a wide variety of main dishes. Here are some suggestions:
Meat Lovers: Pair them with Instant Pot Pork Chops in Creamy Mushroom Sauce or Oven-Baked Chicken Bites for a hearty meal.
Poultry Perfection: Try them alongside Tuscan Baked Chicken for a flavorful feast.
Seafood Sensation: Serve them with Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes for a luxurious dinner.
Storage and Reheating:
If you find yourself with leftover potatoes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the oven until they’re warmed through, covering with foil to prevent drying. These leftovers can also be repurposed into a potato salad or used as a topping for soups and stews.
Congratulations, you’ve just mastered the art of making Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes! This dish is a testament to the beauty of simplicity in cooking, proving that a few well-chosen ingredients can create a symphony of flavors and textures.
Whether you’re serving them up as a side for a family dinner or showcasing them at a special gathering, these potatoes are sure to impress.