As someone who cooks often, I can confidently say that cooking for one can be daunting after a long day. So I look for simple dishes and quick-cooking ingredients. While I’m a huge potato lover, I rarely have the time or energy to try one of the trendy recipes that require two cooking cycles, like twice-baked potatoes and crispy smashed potatoes.
However, this viral potato recipe, which calls itself “the world’s best potatoes,” immediately caught my eye as a very approachable dish, whether you’re cooking for one or a crowd. They require just four ingredients and one round of baking, can be assembled in the time it takes to preheat the oven, and are packed with flavor. Plus, these savory baked potatoes have a gorgeous, crispy, seasoned Parmesan crust.
They even make delicious leftovers, a big plus when you're cooking for one. You can crisp them up in the oven to enjoy as a side dish or dice them up to add to breakfast hash.
Simple Recipes / Christina Manian
How to Make the World's Best Potatoes
Here's what you need to try these potatoes at home:
- 1 1/4 pounds red potatoes
- 3 tablespoons butter, dairy or vegetable
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Dan O's Original Seasoning (or your favorite seasoning salt)
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Melt the butter and pour it into a baking dish. I used a 12-inch oblong ceramic dish. Next, mix your parmesan and seasoning into the butter until it forms a paste. Spread this paste evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
Cut the potatoes in half and make diamond-shaped cuts on the cut side, being careful not to cut into the potato. Arrange them, cut side down, in the baking dish.
Bake the potatoes until they are tender and a golden crust forms on the bottom. It took me about 40 minutes. Don't be surprised if the butter is still bubbling. Let them sit for 5 to 15 minutes to make sure the crust sticks to the potatoes and doesn't burn your mouth.
I serve mine with plain Greek yogurt and Greek yogurt mixed with sriracha, since I almost always have those ingredients on hand. However, sour cream would be perfect.
Simple Recipes / Christina Manian
Tips for trying these viral potatoes
To make this process go smoothly on your first try, here are my tips:
- Choose your potatoes wisely: Choose potatoes that are roughly equal in size. This ensures that your potatoes cook evenly and at the same speed.
- Use a paring knife to score your potatoes: While your regular chef's knife is great for cutting potatoes in half, I found it dangerous to slice them. Instead, opt for a small paring knife to make the cuts safely.
- Do not overload the baking dish: Don't overcrowd the pan to ensure the seasoned Parmesan crust adheres to the potatoes. If the cut side of the potato is not in contact with the seasoned crust, it is unlikely to stick.
- Season to taste: I recommend two teaspoons of Dan O's Original Seasoning. If you like your potatoes a little spicier, you can add up to a tablespoon of this popular seasoning to your dish.
