One bite of these Skillet Breakfast Potatoes, and youโ€™ll be hooked! Perfectly seasoned with crispy exteriors and fluffy interiors.

Skillet Breakfast Potatoes freshly made and ready to be enjoyed.
chelsea

Authorโ€™s Note

Fluffy On The Inside, Crispy On The Outside!

Growing up, my dad didnโ€™t cook much, but his breakfast potatoes were legendary. I lived for those mornings when heโ€™d serve up a big plate of crispy potatoes with eggs.

Thereโ€™s just something about themโ€”theyโ€™re perfect with scrambled eggs, in a breakfast burrito, or alongside sweet brunch dishes like crepes.

These breakfast potatoes are everything you wantโ€”crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and packed with flavor.

After testing a few variations, I found that cutting the potatoes smaller and tweaking the seasoning mix made all the difference. Trust me, these are the crispiest, most delicious potatoes youโ€™ll ever make!

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All the ingredients used in this recipe prepped out for easy preparation.

Skillet Breakfast Potato Ingredients

  • Gold potatoes: Ideal for creamy texture and flavor. Thin skins mean no need to peel!
  • Unsalted butter: Enhances flavor.
  • Olive oil: Adds richness; use extra virgin.
  • Garlic powder: Offers great flavor without the risk of burning, unlike fresh garlic.
  • Onion powder: Subtle sweetness; use fresh onion for a stronger flavor.
  • Paprika: Use smoked paprika for smokiness, and sweet for mild flavor.
  • Optional herbs: Fresh thyme or parsley adds the perfect finishing touch!
Potatoes being diced into cubes for these Skillet Breakfast Potatoes.

How To Make Skillet Breakfast Potatoes

  1. Prepare potatoes: Scrub, dry, par-cook, and dice.
  2. Cook potatoes: In butter and oil until crispy.
  3. Serve: Season, garnish, and enjoy!

Quick Tip

No microwave? Steam on the stovetop instead!

How To Use Skillet Breakfast Potatoes

  • Side dish: Pair with eggs andย baconย (or your protein of choice).
  • Breakfast bowl: Combine with eggs, cheese, and avocado.
  • Burritos or tacos: Add to tortillas with eggs and your fave toppings.
  • Breakfast hash: Mix with veggies, and top with egg.
  • Meal prep: Ready-to-go breakfasts for the week.
  • Snack dip: Enjoy as a lunch or dinner side with ketchup orย fry sauce.
Butter, oil, veggies, and seasonings being added to a pan and all being cooked together.

What To Serve With Skillet Breakfast Potatoes

  • Scrambled Eggs: Or however you like your eggs prepared!
  • Breakfast sausage or bacon: Adds protein.
  • Fruit: As a fresh option.
  • Toasted Bread: Perfect topped with honey butterย and jam.
  • Avocado: Creamy and filling.
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt: Plus some salsa!
  • Cheese: Adds a nice richness.
Freshly cooked Skillet Breakfast Potatoes ready to be enjoyed.

Storage

Leftovers?

  • Cool: Allow Skillet Breakfast Potatoes to cool to room temperature.
  • Refrigerate: In an airtight container, chill up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Spread on a baking sheet, then store in a freezer bag, for up to three months.
  • Reheat: Oven or air fryer at 400ยฐF until warm and crispy.

More Breakfast Favorites:

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5 from 1 vote

Skillet Breakfast Potatoes

One bite of these Skillet Breakfast Potatoes, and youโ€™re hooked! Perfectly seasoned, crispy outside, and fluffy insideโ€”theyโ€™re irresistibly good.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 as a side

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes 4 heaping cups once cut, see note 1
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons paprika smoked if you prefer
  • fresh thyme or finely chopped parsley, optional garnish

Instructionsย 

  • Clean and thoroughly dry potatoes. Pierce them all over with a fork.
  • Cook in microwave 90 seconds. Flip potatoes and cook for another 90 seconds. Continue microwaving in 60-second intervals, flipping each time, until a knife can be inserted into the center with some resistance. (Total microwaving time about 3.5โ€“5 minutes. See note 2.)
  • Now you can refrigerate โ€™em overnight for tomorrowโ€™s breakfast or cool quickly by popping in the freezer while preparing the other ingredients. (Potatoes are easier to chop when theyโ€™ve been chilled.)
  • Once cooled, dice potatoes into even 1/2-inch pieces.
  • In a 12-inch or larger skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat until butter melts and begins to sizzle. Carefully add diced potatoes in a single layer. Sprinkle with seasoning ingredients and mix through. Cook 8โ€“12 minutes, flipping and stirring about every 3 minutes to ensure even browning. Adjust heat as necessary. Avoid excessive stirring to achieve desired crispiness!
  • Once cooked, remove from heat and adjust seasoning to taste. Add fresh herbs if desired and enjoy hot!
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Preferably use Yukon Gold or other tender-skinned potatoes. If using potatoes with a thicker skin, peel before using. Cut potatoes into even sizes for uniform cooking.
Note 2: If potatoes are microwaved too long, theyโ€™ll become mushy in the skillet. Exercise caution here.
Storage: Cool potatoes to room temperature. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months. Reheat in oven or air fryer at 400ยฐF until crispy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

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

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 1 vote

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2 Comments

  1. Ella says:

    5 stars
    I forgot the freezer step but microwaving the potatoes was the KEY in making these. I fried mine a lot longer just because thatโ€™s how my family likes them but thanks for giving my weekends potatoes life!

    1. Chelsea says:

      Iโ€™m so glad these skillet breakfast potatoes were a hit! Thanks for your comment!