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Southern Style Pan Fried Potatoes with Onions

A white plate piled high with golden brown, crispy fried potatoes mixed with caramelized onions.
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Make these classic pan fried potatoes for shatteringly crisp edges and a tender inside. This Southern style recipe uses bacon grease and onions for old-fashioned flavor, perfect for breakfast or dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup bacon grease (or substitute with butter or oil)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare the potatoes: Place the diced potatoes in a bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak for at least 15 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain them well and pat them completely dry with paper towels. This step helps achieve crispy fried potatoes.
  2. Heat the fat: Place a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron works best) over medium-high heat. Add the bacon grease and let it heat until shimmering.
  3. Cook the potatoes: Add the dried potatoes to the hot skillet in a single layer if possible. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Let the potatoes cook undisturbed for 5 to 7 minutes until the bottom side is golden brown and crispy.
  4. Stir and continue cooking: Stir the potatoes gently, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Continue cooking, stirring every 5 minutes, for about 15 to 20 minutes total, until the potatoes are tender inside and golden brown outside.
  5. Add aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Push the potatoes to one side of the skillet. Add the sliced onions to the empty side and cook them until they soften and begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes.
  6. Combine and season: Stir the onions into the potatoes. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and garlic powder over everything. Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly, to coat the potatoes evenly.
  7. Serve immediately for the best texture.

Notes

  • For extra crispy fried potatoes, make sure your potatoes are completely dry before they hit the hot fat.
  • If you do not have bacon grease, use an equal amount of vegetable oil or unsalted butter for buttery fried potatoes.
  • If you want a diner style potato flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika with the other seasonings.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/fried-potatoes-southern-style-pan-fried-onions/