These crispy oven-roasted cottage fries are the perfect shape for dipping! They make a great side dish for chicken, meatloaf, burgers, and sandwiches. You can make these delicious cottage fried potatoes with only a few basic ingredients and 10 minutes active prep time.
Note: this post was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2023 with improved instructions.
This easy cottage fries recipe will be your new go-to potato side dish! They are delightfully crispy and brown on the outside and tender and soft on the inside. And, the flat shape means they are perfect for dipping.
These potatoes are also versatile; they pair well with many different entrees including burgers, sandwiches, chicken dishes, and meatloaf. Or, you can even use them as a base for a whole new dish - potato nachos, anyone?
Finally, you can make them with only a few basic pantry ingredients and with only 10 minutes active prep time!
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What are cottage fries?
Cottage fries, aka "cottage fried potatoes," are potatoes (usually Russet, see below for more on that!) that have been sliced crosswise into fairly thin disks, between ¼ - ½ inch in thickness. The potato rounds are then coated in oil and seasonings, and either pan-fried or roasted at high heat in the oven until crispy.
Cottage fries are so great because they are easy to prepare (much easier than french fries!). And, you only need a few basic ingredients to make them. Basically, cottage fries are like french fries' laid back cousin (and every bit as delicious, in my opinion!).
What is the best type of potato for cottage fries?
I recommend using Russet potatoes; these are the same type of potatoes that are usually used for french fries. They crisp up nicely on the outside and give that fluffy interior we love in french fries.
Yukon gold potatoes would also work well. I have also made this recipe using sweet potatoes which also worked nicely!
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Oil: I used olive oil, but if you have your own favorite oil you like to roast with, such as canola oil or peanut oil, feel free to use that instead.
- Paprika: this gives the potatoes a lovely color! For even more flavor, substitute smoked paprika.
- Dried thyme: if you don't have dried thyme, you can substitute 2 teaspoons fresh thyme instead. Or, you can substitute another dried herb such as rosemary, parsley, or oregano.
- Russet potatoes: this variety of potato is perfect for roasting in the oven. (I discussed more about other types of potatoes that can be used in the intro section above.)
Step by step photos
Here is a step by step breakdown on how to make cottage fries. If you'd like to see a brief slideshow of these steps, check out my cottage fries web story!
1. First of all, get your oven pre-heating to 425 degrees F/220 degrees C. Then, mix up the seasonings and set aside.
2. Now, turn to the potatoes. Give them a good scrub to remove any dirt on the outside and dry them. Slice them horizontally into ⅓ inch (8.5 mm) thick slices. Try to slice the potatoes evenly so they cook at the same rate.
3. Use paper towels or a clean lint-free kitchen towel to pat the excess moisture off both sides of the potatoes. This helps the skin to crisp in the oven - I talk more about this in the Tips and tricks section below!
4. Now dump the potatoes out onto a baking sheet in a big pile. Drizzle the oil overtop and toss them well with your (clean) hands so each potato slice is evenly coated in the oil. You can use tongs too if you like, but I like using my hands, it's much quicker!
5. Spread the oiled potatoes out evenly on the baking sheet, so no two pieces are touching.
6. Next, sprinkle the potatoes with half of the seasoning blend. Flip the potatoes and sprinkle the other side with the rest.
(If you prefer to just toss the potatoes with the seasoning mix instead and then spread them out on the pan, you can do that too. I just find sprinkling to be slightly neater and more even, but either way works.)
7. Place the baking sheet in the pre-heated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet and flip over each piece.
8. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 13 - 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are well browned and cooked through, like this:
Tips and tricks
How to get crispy cottage fries
When testing this recipe, I tried several different preparation methods for the potatoes, in an attempt to perfect the perfect crispy skin: (1) just cutting and tossing with oil; (2) patting the cut potatoes dry then tossing with oil; and (3) rinsing the potatoes first, then patting dry before oiling.
Method 1 resulted in delicious potatoes, but they were a little less crispy on the outside than methods 2 and 3. Rinsing the potatoes before patting dry resulted in very crispy skin, but they seemed a little tough when biting into one. I think this was especially true because the potatoes are quite thin compared with the size of a typical roasted potato.
So, for me, #2 was the winner - simply patting the excess moisture off the potatoes before tossing with oil. The potatoes were crispy on the outside without being tough, and tender on the inside!
All that being said, if you are in a hurry, you can of course skip this extra step and just slice the potatoes and toss with oil. They will still be delicious and without a side-by-side comparison, the difference won't be as noticeable.
Other tips and tricks
- I used Morton Kosher salt for this recipe (whereas I usually use Diamond Crystal for my more recent recipes!). To substitute regular table salt, just use ½ teaspoon. Or, salt to taste.
- If you notice at the halfway mark that the potatoes are browning more on one side than the other, rotate the baking sheet front to back when placing it back in the oven for the second half of cooking.
- The cook times for the recipe are based on slicing the potatoes ⅓ inch thick - if your potatoes are thinner or thicker than this, you may need to adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Cook times will also depend on your individual oven. So, just keep an eye on the cottage fries during the last few minutes of cooking, and be prepared to either remove them a little early, or cook them for a few additional minutes if needed.
Seasoning ideas
You don't need to feel constrained by the seasonings I included in this recipe! If you want to mix up your cottage fries recipe a little bit, try one of these seasoning ideas out:
- You can add additional herbs or spices to the seasonings already listed in the recipe. Try adding one or more of the following: dried rosemary, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, or red pepper flakes (for some spiciness!).
- Or, replace the seasonings entirely with your own spice blend, such as Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or even Old Bay! But, be sure to check if the seasoning blend has salt already in it. If not, I suggest adding salt as well so the potatoes aren't bland.
- But, however you choose to season your cottage fries, I suggest including the paprika or using a spice blend with a reddish hue (like Old Bay), because it gives the potatoes a gorgeous color.
Serving suggestions
Cottage fries pair really well with almost any main course. Try them with any type of sandwich or wrap, or a protein such as grilled chicken or fish. Here are a few recipe suggestions to serve with your cottage fries:
Dipping sauce suggestions
And of course, due to their unique flat shape, cottage fried potatoes are just calling out for an amazing dipping sauce to go with! Beyond basic ketchup (which is also delicious don't get me wrong!), try serving your cottage fries with one of these tasty sauces:
Storage and reheating instructions
- Any leftover cottage fries can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 - 4 days.
- Or, store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To reheat leftover cottage fries from the fridge, place the potatoes on a baking sheet and heat in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 5 - 6 minutes, or until heated through.
- To reheat frozen cottage fries, place the potatoes on a baking sheet (directly from the freezer). Heat in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 7 - 8 minutes, or until heated through, flipping the potatoes halfway through the cook time.
Recipe FAQs
This is a matter of personal preference! I've made it both ways and they are both delicious. I do like that the skin provides a slightly different texture when biting into one of the fries, plus, it saves a step to not peel! But, if you don't like potato skins, then the recipe also works well with peeled potatoes.
These cottage fries taste best served hot and fresh. But, you can store leftovers in the fridge or freezer to reheat later. See the above section Storage and reheating instructions for more info!
In my opinion, rinsing the sliced potatoes in water before making the cottage fries is not necessary. As I explained in the Tips and tricks section above, I got the best results simply by patting the (unrinsed) potato slices dry before baking.
Related recipes
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Print📖 Recipe
Cottage Fries
These crispy oven baked cottage fried potatoes are great for dipping and go well with any main course, including burgers, sandwiches, and chicken!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: side dish
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 20 ounces (567 g) russet potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes)
- 2 tablespoons oil (see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, or salt to taste (see note 2)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F (220 °C).
- Mix together the paprika, kosher salt, dried thyme, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Scrub the potatoes to remove any dirt on the skin. Pat the potatoes dry. Cut them horizontally into ⅓ inch (8.5 mm) slices. Thoroughly pat both sides of the potato slices dry with paper towels or a clean, lint-free kitchen towel.
- Place the potato slices on a sheet pan. Drizzle the oil over the potatoes and toss them with clean hands or tongs to evenly coat the potatoes in oil.
- Spread the oiled potatoes out evenly on the sheet pan. Sprinkle the potatoes with half of the seasoning mix. Flip the potatoes and sprinkle the other side with the remaining seasoning.
- Bake the potatoes in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and flip each potato slice over using tongs or a spatula. Bake for an additional 13- 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are browned on the outside and tender on the inside. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
I used olive oil, but you can use any oil you prefer to roast with, such as canola oil or peanut oil.
For this recipe I used Morton kosher salt. To substitute regular table salt, use ½ teaspoon. To substitute Diamond Crystal kosher salt, use 1 ¼ teaspoon. Or, salt to taste.
Instead of the seasonings listed here, feel free to use your own favorite spice blend, such as Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or Old Bay!
If you notice at the halfway mark that the potatoes are browning more on one side than the other, rotate the baking sheet when placing it back in the oven for the second half of cooking.
Cook times listed here are based on slicing the potatoes ⅓ inch (8.5 mm) thick - if your potatoes are thinner or thicker than this, you may need to adjust the cook time accordingly. Cook times will also depend on your individual oven. Keep an eye on the potatoes during the last few minutes of cooking, and be prepared to either remove them a little early or cook them for a few additional minutes if needed.
The nutrition information below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. The nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brands and exact amounts of ingredients used. See our full nutrition disclosure policy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ recipe
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1.7 g
- Sodium: 369 mg
- Fat: 6.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 22.7 g
- Fiber: 3.4 g
- Protein: 2.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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