Southern fried potatoes and onions and peppers too if you like is an easy skillet side dish you’ll love. Cheap and full of flavor it similar to our Air Fryer Potatoes and Onions but made on the stove with your main dish.

Fried Potatoes with Onions
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Onions and potatoes fried in a skillet is an easy side dish you can enjoy with any main dish every single week. With russet potatoes, red, Yukon or fingerlings of your choice until crunchy or tender with a golden brown to your liking. (affiliate links present)

Pan Fried Potatoes with Onions and Peppers

Now if you wanted a really deep sweeter flavor you could make Caramelized Onions with Brown Sugar and then set aside to cook the taters crispy to serve together. That of course takes much longer and done the way directed below is rather quick. About 10 minutes is all you need depending on the thicknesses.

During the holidays when I have leftover meat I have made Green Beans with Ham and Potatoes with it. Another veggie is nice too if you have it but this go around I thought I should pair it down to explain how just these two should be fried up together.

fried red potatoes and onions
Pan Fried Potatoes with Onions and Peppers

Fried Potatoes with Onions and Garlic

You could in a way make this in a pressure cooker too like we did with our Diced Instant Pot Potatoes. You’d just saute onions with a bit of oil, salt and pepper first. Remove and follow these directions. Then combine the two for best results. Red potatoes were used but Yukon gold or russets would work just the same.

I have even sliced and used others like with our Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes, you just always need to remember that the thickness needs to be the same with every single piece. You don’t want some to still be underdone while others are too soft.

  • 2-3 type of potatoes you like, skin-on and sliced
  • 1 c onion slices
  • Minced garlic
  • Steak seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp onion or garlic powder
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

If you are hosting a Fish Fry but want some sides to go with it you can easily use the same pan for all the things since oil is necessary for all of the ingredients.

sliced potatoes on stove
Fried Potatoes with Onion

Pan Fried Potatoes with Onions Recipe in Cast Iron Skillet

In the past when I have made Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions but have leftovers I will bring those out, heat taters until halfway done and add a large scoop of these on top. They can continue warming together and the sweetness can coat the outside as they fry which creates a really great duo.

  • Leave potato skins on, rinse potatoes and remove all dirt. Dry with paper towels. Cut into slices, all the same thickness.
  • The thinner they are the crispier they will get. Slice 1/2 a yellow onion and/or green bell peppers into slices.
    • Fill a bowl with cold water and submerge your slices. Cover bowl and put into fridge for 2-3 hours ideally (optional step but if you want them as crisp as possible this is what is needed)
  • Lay potato slices on paper towels and gently press down to remove all moisture from the outsides. This will get them crisp!
  • In a bowl toss potatoes and onions with 2 tbsp of olive oil and seasonings so everything is coated.
  • Over medium high heat heat oil in your large frying pan until warmed, then add garlic for 2 minutes to heat.
  • Add slices into the pan in a single layer, overlapping the least amount.
  • This may mean that 2 batches are necessary to get the desired crisp texture on the outsides.
  • Cook the potatoes for a few minutes on each side so both sides become a deep brown, season with a pinch of salt and pepper along the way.
  • Serve hot with your main dish!

Alternatively you can cook this outside too!! Use our Smoked Potatoes and Onions for those directions right beside your meat.

Just one of our easy Few Ingredient Recipes that can be tweaked as far as the seasonings you use. If pairing with fish add some Old Bay in there, beef goes well with steak seasoning, etc. Takes less time than Sliced Potatoes in Oven but with similar results. Jump to recipe card below and let us know what you think.

Pan Fried Potatoes with Onions Recipe in Cast Iron Skillet

Italian Fried Potatoes with Onions

Italian seasonings work well in this dish as well. Especially if you are going with that theme for dinner with chicken parmesan or something, that would be a great choice.

Why won’t my fried potatoes get crispy?

You may have skipped one of the steps. You can do it faster by skipping the soaking or drying but if you want crispy fried potatoes you need to take the time to;
1. After slicing potatoes you should add into a bowl with cold water, cover and let them sit 2-3 hours.
2. Remove slices from the water and lay on paper towels, press gently to absorb water from outside.
3. Use peanut or olive oil for fried onions and potatoes like we show you here.

What is the best oil for frying potatoes?

If you want very very crispy potatoes you should use an oil with a high smoke point so it doesn’t burn but allows you more time to crisp in your pan. Peanut oil works well for that but will alter the flavor a bit. Five Guys uses this for their French fries!

Italian Fried Potatoes with Onions
Fried Potatoes with Onions
5 from 2 votes

Fried Potatoes with Onions

By The Typical Mom
Pan fried potatoes with onions and garlic is a cheap side dish you can add peppers to as well. Tender in cast iron skillet or cook to crispy.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
Servings: 4
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Equipment

  • 1 skillet
  • 1 Bowl

Ingredients 

  • 1.5 lbs. red potatoes, or russets, sliced
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5 tsp lawrys
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 onion, sliced

Instructions 

  • Leave skins on, rinse potatoes and remove all dirt. Cut into slices, all the same thickness. The thinner they are the crispier they will get.
  • Fill a bowl with cold water and submerge your slices. Cover bowl and put into fridge for 2-3 hours ideally (optional step but if you want them as crisp as possible this is what is needed)
  • Lay potato slices on paper towels and gently press down to remove all moisture from the outsides. This will get them crisp! Slice 1/2 an onion into slices.
  • Preheat skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add potatoes and drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil on top with garlic. Mix well to coat potatoes. Sprinkle with seasoning and mix well to coat.
  • Cover and continue to cook over medium heat for 7 minutes. Do not stir while covered. Remove lid and add onions, stir to mix well. Cover and continue to heat (without stirring) for an additional 7 minutes.
  • Remove lid and continue to cook 1-2 minutes more or until tender to your liking on inside.

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz, Calories: 226kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Sodium: 614mg, Potassium: 827mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 14IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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