Our best potato side dishes, all together in one post. We have everything from baked, roasted and mashed potatoes to flavourful potato salads too. This roundup features 12 of our best potato side dishes, all together in one place. A variety of easy potato dishes that elevate the humble potato to something warming, comforting and truly marvelous to eat.
I’m a great fan of potatoes and when asked my favourite way to serve a potato my answer varies greatly depending on my mood. In the summer I don’t think you can beat a potato salad, but then again what about a new season Jersey royal dripping with butter and perhaps some freshly chopped chives?
Then as the days turn colder it’s comfort we all look for in our food. I might think a bubbling and layered dauphinoise is just what I want, but then again there’s creamy mash. The list of possibilities is endless and my choice on the day comes down to my mood!
In this post we not only show you a variety of potato side dishes, but also what are the best potatoes to choose for each dish and how to store them.
What flavours work well with potatoes?
Potatoes make a perfect side dish as they soak up the flavours of anything that you decide to pair them with. Potatoes are versatile, they work in creamy dishes, in fresh tasting side dishes, with herbs and spices, in fact with just about anything!
When it comes to flavouring potatoes the list is endless. Here are some suggestions of ingredients that pair well when combined with potatoes:
- FRESH HERBS: garlic; thyme; rosemary; chives; parsley; mint; dill; coriander leaf; wild garlic and horseradish
- SPICES: cumin; coriander; chilli; nutmeg and turmeric.
- VEGETABLES: asparagus; onions; spring onions; lemon; olive; pea and watercress
- DAIRY: butter; cream; creme fraiche; hard cheeses (like cheddar, gruyere and Parmesan)
The best potatoes to choose?
When it comes to cooking with potatoes it is important to choose the right potato for the job. But any potato will do – right? In theory yes, but choosing the right variety of potato will make all the difference to the finished dish! Potatoes fall into 2 main categories, waxy potatoes and floury potatoes.
For example, technically you can roast either of these varieties of potato and they will taste great. However, if you are looking for the ultimate roast potato that’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, only a floury potato will do. You can roast waxy potatoes, add to a sheet pan dinner dish, they will just hold their shape and be firm to the bite. However, they will not have the crispy skin of a floury roast potato.
So what’s the difference between waxy and floury? It all comes down to the amount of starch in the potatoes. Rule of thumb, waxy potatoes have lower amounts of starch whereas floury potatoes have higher levels of starch.
Waxy Potatoes
Waxy potatoes are firm in texture when you bite into them, these potatoes hold their shape once cooked. A waxy potato makes a great boiled potato. Finish it off with a sprinkle of salt and a knob of butter and you have potato perfection right there. Waxy potatoes also make the best potato salad, I often leave the skin on for extra flavour.
Anya, Charlotte, Cornish Kings or Jersey Royals are all great example of waxy potatoes. Bags of potatoes marked “new potatoes” fall into this category too.
Floury Potatoes
Floury potatoes are sometimes called starchy potatoes as they contain higher levels of starch. It is the starch in these potatoes which makes them fluff up during cooking. Floury potatoes are ideal for mashed, roasted or baked potatoes. They also make the best chips!
Maris Piper, King Edwards, Roosters and Russett potatoes are all great examples of a floury potato.
All Purpose Potatoes
These are the potatoes that fall somewhere in the middle! They are a little waxy and a little floury and good all rounders. Desiree potatoes fall into this category.
How to store potatoes?
Store potatoes in a cool, dry and dark place as exposure to light causes then to rot. Too much light will turn potatoes green making them bitter and inedible. Throw out fully green potatoes as they contain toxins.
Don’t store potatoes in airtight containers or plastic bags as they will start to sweat and therefore rot. Potatoes need to be ventilated, so place then in a paper or fabric bag which will allow the air to circulate whilst keep the light out.
Potato side dish recipes
What we have collected here are a selection of different types of potato side dishes. Some will be familiar, some a little different, but all packed full of great flavour.
Quick potato side dishes
When it comes to quick potato side dishes you really can’t beat my Creamy Easy Mustard Mash. This simple side can be cooked and on the table in the time it takes the potatoes to boil. We’ve flavoured ours with butter, cream and Dijon mustard, but this recipe is really adaptable and the recipe post gives you other great flavour suggestions.
Best potato variety: floury/starchy potatoes
Best crispy potato side dishes:
I don’t know many people who don’t love my Best Crispy Roast Potatoes. They are a joy to eat, crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. An absolute must to accompany any roast dinner or Sunday lunch.
Best potato variety: floury potato
My Garlic & Thyme Roast Potatoes are a great addition to the dinner table. Crispy roast potatoes that are crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy in the centre. These herby potatoes are roasted in oil, with fresh garlic and thyme which add an extra layer of flavour.
Best potato variety: floury potato
Easy Hasselback Potatoes with Thyme Butter are baked in the oven, a delicious side dish that will work with any main course. Thin slices are cut 3/4 of the way through the potato, allowing the potato to crisp up in the oven, before being drenched in thyme butter.
Best potato variety: waxy or floury potato
Layered potato side dishes
Potato Pave or compressed potatoes, are a great make-ahead potato side dish. Easy to prepare, this dish can be baked and portioned in advance, before being heated up just before serving. This is one of my go-to recipe when I’m cooking for family and friends.
Best potato: floury potato
My Easy Boulangere Potatoes are a side dish I cook often as it takes no time at all to prepare and the oven really does all the hard work. Thinly sliced potato, layered with onion and garlic, covered with a light vegetable stock and baked in the oven, this easy potato side is simple, yet tasty cooking.
Best potato: floury potato
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love my Easy Dauphinoise Potatoes. Thin slices of potato, layered up with onion, garlic and cream, the perfect accompaniment to the Sunday roast.
Best potato: floury potato
My Easy Fondant Potatoes are popular with everyone I serve them to. Golden and crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. They are cooked in butter with garlic and thyme, and these flavours are absorbed into the potato while it cooks, making this a delicious potato side.
Best potato: floury potato
My Best Pan Fried Potatoes with Garlic and Thyme are one of my favourite easy potato side dishes. I like to use new potatoes, leaving the skin on the potatoes, and sauteing in olive oil until crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy in the centre.
Best potato: waxy or floury
Something a bit different!
Potato & Cheese Croquettes are a versatile potato dish as they can be served in a number of ways. Served here with tomato sauce and a basil oil, they make a great appetiser or dinner party starter. They can also be served as a potato side dish along with any main course.
Best potato: floury potato
My Potato Galette is a savoury take on a more traditional sweet pastry galette. Thinly sliced potatoes baked on a bread base and flavoured with a sprinkling of dried herbs. This makes a great alternative potato side dish, but also works well served with a crisp salad for a light lunch option.
Best potato: waxy potato
Best potato salad recipes
I love potatoes and when it comes to cooking with them, a good quality potato salad is hard to beat. Below we have three of the best potato salad recipes, all flavoured differently and with different textures. I don’t think you can have enough recipes for potato salad in your repertoire!
When it comes to the best potato side dishes for the BBQ I don’t think you can beat a good potato salad.
My Creamy Potato Salad with Bacon & Chives can be served warm or cold. The crispy bacon add a salty crunch to the soft potatoes and cuts through the creaminess of the dressing. The chives add a burst of freshness while the Dijon mustard adds gently warmth to the dressing. This salad is one I get requested to cook more than any other, a great BBQ side as you can prepare it in advance and chill until ready to serve!
Best potato: waxy potato
Warm potato salads
When it comes to simplicity you can’t beat this Warm Vegan Potato Salad. This salad is served warm and combines potato with roasted red peppers (from a jar), spring onion, sun-blush tomatoes (from a jar) and parsley. Olive oil, garlic and sherry vinegar make for a really light dressing. This salad can be prepared in the time it takes to boil your potatoes!
Best potato: waxy potato
Warm Potato Salad with Wild Garlic is the salad I like to make in late Spring when the Jersey royal potatoes are in season and our woodland floors are carpeted with wild garlic. This is a short growing season so I like to make the very best of these seasonal stars while they are around. The light olive oil dressing is combined with parsley, mustard and lemon.
Best potato: waxy potato
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery
Monday 13th of December 2021
What a fab collection of potato dishes! They truly are such versatile veggie!
Lesley
Tuesday 14th of December 2021
Thank you Midge, I couldn't agree more - there is so much you can do with the humble spud.
Rebecca - Glutarama
Monday 13th of December 2021
Such a useful guide ladies, people don't realise there are so many different types of potato out there and you need to know your potatoes depending on what you plan to make - nobody likes mash with waxy lumps in it!
Lesley
Monday 13th of December 2021
Thank you Rebecca, I couldn't agree more. I think we are all guilty of falling back on the same few recipes when it comes to potatoes. And no - nobody every thanks you for mash made with waxy potatoes - it goes all wrong!
Cat
Saturday 11th of December 2021
I absolutely love potatoes. I'll start at the top and work my way through these fantastic looking recipes.
Lesley
Monday 13th of December 2021
Me too Cat, I love that potatoes are so versatile and you can add anything to them and they taste great.
Jacqui Bellefontaine
Wednesday 8th of December 2021
You can never have too many potato recipes. The only issue is which one to make first they all look so scrummy.
Lesley
Wednesday 8th of December 2021
Thank you Jacqui, I couldn't agree more - it's choosing where to start.
Janice
Tuesday 7th of December 2021
This is a fabulous resource! I love potatoes and they are just so versatile.
Lesley
Tuesday 7th of December 2021
Thank you Janice, me too. Potatoes are a favourite side dish in my kitchen, I just like how versatile they are.