Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions are the ultimate Slavic comfort food. Easy to make, a crispy side dish that everyone will enjoy. Ready in 30 minutes! Tastes even better when topped with a Mushroom Sauce!
I think every Slavic kid remembers their mom or babushka making Russian Pan Fried Potatoes. Especially the smell of frying onions wafting through the air. I even remember the old, deep style frying pan she used, she had her favorite pan for frying. It's such an easy side dish, part of our regular dinner rotation.
Why You'll Love Fried Potatoes and Onions
- Flavorful and Crispy - a delicious golden-brown crust that adds a pleasant crunch to the dish.
- Simple - all you need is a pan, oil or butter, and some sliced or diced potatoes. Nothing complicated.
- All Day Food - a versatile potato side dish that can be served with breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
- Comfort Food - satisfying, rustic meal with potatoes, nostalgic comfort food that takes you back to your childhood.
Ingredients
- Large Potatoes
- Onion
- Oil
- Seasoning
- Fresh Dill or Green Onion - for garnish
What Potatoes are Best for Frying?
The best potatoes for frying are the potatoes growing in your garden or on your pantry shelf. You might be picking up a theme here, this is a basic, rustic potato recipe. It's true that there are different varieties of potatoes that have a lower starch naturally.
- Waxy Potatoes varieties - low starch, and include new potatoes, French Fingerling and Red Bliss
- Yukon Gold - all rounder, great for frying
- Idaho or Russet - dense and low moisture
- Any Potato - use the potatoes you have, even better if they're on sale!
When to Serve Pan Fried Potatoes
Pan Fried Potatoes can be served at any time of day. It's a side dish that you can also enjoy as a filling meal. Slavs will never say no to potatoes, ever!
- Breakfast? It's an excellent substitute for hash browns alongside your eggs.
- Making lunch? These Russian style potatoes will always satisfy.
- How about an easy side dish for your roast chicken dinner? Definitely yes!
How to Pan Fry Potatoes and Onions
- Prepare Potatoes - slice peeled potatoes, cut them in half lengthwise and chop evenly into strips or pieces
- Fry - Heat oil in pan, and add the potatoes. Don't stir for a few minutes
- Add Onions - thinly slice onions and add to potatoes after 10 minutes
- Flip - using a flipper, carefully flip and fry until crispy, limit flipping to allow crust to form
- Season - with salt and pepper
- Garnish - sprinkle with fresh dill or green onions
Sauce for Pan Fried Potatoes
Everyone knows I love sauce. I try to sauce everything I can, it drives my wife nuts! 🤣 Here are my saucy suggestions. Fried Potatoes with Mushrooms are one of my favorites and a classic!
- Chanterelle Mushrooms (лисички) - Perfect as a mushroom sauce, or just sautéed with a cognac for extra flavor
- Nothing! They taste amazing just like this!
- Ketchup - potatoes and ketchup always go hand in hand
- Smetana - Sour Cream and potatoes were friends long before Ketchup came long
- Creamy Garlic Sauce - who doesn't love garlic?
- Creamy Horseradish Sauce - you'll love the sharp kick of horseradish
- Creamy Honey Mustard - not traditional, but the perfect accompaniment to potatoes
What Oil to Use for Pan Fried Potatoes
A neutral tasting oil is best for frying potatoes. You can also fry with bacon fat, tallow or lard, or a mix of butter and oil, but plant based oils are usually a bit healthier when frying. Here are some suggestions:
- Sunflower Oil
- Canola Oil (rapeseed oil)
- Corn Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Extra Light Olive Oil
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Slice Thin - change how you chop the potatoes. Slice in half lengthways, place cut side down on cutting board and slice into thin semi-circle pieces before frying - makes it nice and crispy
- Salt After - don't salt while frying, it will release the juices resulting in soggy potatoes
- Soak - for crispier potatoes , soak or rinse them in water to wash off the potato starch
- Flipping - resist urge to constantly flip the potatoes, especially at towards the end of your frying. The goal is a nice and crispy crust on your potatoes
- Add Bacon - fry bacon, then use the bacon fat to cook the potatoes, before adding back the bacon into the fried potatoes
- Don't Skip the Dill - fresh dill brings it all together by adding classic Eastern European flavors
Can you Pan Fry Potatoes Without Boiling?
Yes. There is no need to parboil potatoes before frying them. However, if you do, slice the potatoes into thicker, chunkier pieces, so they don't fall apart while frying.
Should I Soak Potatoes in Water?
This pan fried potatoes recipe doesn't require soaking, unless you want to. The reason why potatoes are soaked in water is to remove starches from the potatoes. When frying, this will give you a nice crispy potato. Alternatively, give them a rise in a colander, pat dry and you're good to go.
- Soak sliced potatoes in bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.
- Drain and place on paper towel or remove excess water.
Potato Recipes You'll Love!
- Moroccan Roasted Potatoes
- Crispy Asian Roast Potatoes
- Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
- Veal Orloff Potato Bake
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Truffle Mashed Potatoes
- Sliced Duck Fat Potatoes
- French Onion Soup Potato Bake
Russian Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions (Жареная картошка с луком) is a simple, rustic dish, that takes me back to my childhood. Ultimate rustic comfort food, the crispy potato bits are my favorite! Gluten free, vegan and delicious. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Ingredients
- 4 large potatoes
- 1 onion sliced
- 2 tablespoons oil for frying
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh dill or green onion to garnish optional
Instructions
How to Make Pan Fried Potatoes
- Peel and slice the potatoes into bite size pieces. Can be thinly sliced semi-circles, wedge style, or cut like fries.
- Heat the oil in over medium-high heat in a frying pan. Carefully add the potatoes into the hot oil. Keep uncovered.
- Fry potatoes until crispy about 20 minutes. Do not constantly or rapidly stir potatoes, waiting 3-4 minutes before flipping. You want a crispy crust to form on the potatoes.
- At the halfway point of frying potatoes, add the sliced onions to the potatoes. Continue to cook until the potatoes are crispy.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped fresh dill or green onions.
Video
©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2016, updated June 2023
Gala
Did make fried potatoes so long! Need to make it tonight and featured on my website too! Great recipe! I like fry on bacon fat or vegetable oil with touch of butter. When done I remove potatoes and add onion to same skillet and fry it on medium heat by onion soft and slightly golden. Place on the top of potatoes and serve. So good with simple Russian vegetable salad!
Peter's Food Adventures
So tasty with bacon fat!! A classic Russian comfort food! 😋
Rich
A childhood favorite of mine as well. My mother would make it with eggs for dinner. You are 100% correct about the potato thickness. They come out nice and crispy on the outside but not overdone on the inside. I make it myself now too. I also use butter along with the oil. It gives the potatoes a nice flavor and browns nicely. Mom never used onions when I was growing up but my wife loves onions in it.
Peter's Food Adventures
Thanks for checking it out! Adding some butter is a great idea! 😊
Valya @ Valya's Taste of Home
This is my husband favorite! You are absolutely right! Tastes so much better than hash browns for sure.
PetersFoodAdventures
It's definitley a staple at our house, I love the crispy ones! 🙂
Amber
Looks awesome! Like the fresh spring onions to give it some colour!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks Amber, and extra flavour too! 🙂
Anna
So much better than mashed potatoes, isn't it?
PetersFoodAdventures
yes indeed!!! 🙂
Sadie's Nest
Just a winning combination!
PetersFoodAdventures
I know, right? Delicious! ????????
lynne hoareau
Agreed !
lynne hoareau
Yum, really looks good 🙂 The addition of the onions...nice 🙂
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks Lynne! The onions take plain fried potatoes to the next level! 🙂