Smashed Roasted Potatoes

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These smashed roasted potatoes offer the best of both worlds: the tender, creamy texture of mashed potatoes combined with the crispy, caramelized exterior of roasted potatoes. They make a perfect accompaniment to seared steak or roasted pork tenderloin with roasted veggies on the side. We love the creaminess of baby yellow potatoes, but any baby potato will work well.

an overhead view of the Smashed Roasted Potatoes served on a white plate
Photo:

Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
6

Simply seasoned, these Smashed Roasted Potatoes go with just about any protein you want to serve them with. Fiber-filled baby potatoes become creamy on the inside from cooking in the water first. After being smashed, they get a buttery, garlicky drizzle that encourages a crispy caramelized exterior when roasted. Grassy chives add a fresh finish, creating a perfect potato. Keep reading for expert tips, including what other types of potatoes will work for this recipe.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • You can steam the potatoes instead of boiling them: Microwave them in an inch of water for about 5 minutes (checking the potatoes every 1 to 2 minutes) or use a steamer basket over boiling water on the stovetop (10 to 15 minutes).
  • It’s best to smash the potatoes with a large Mason jar or sturdy glass measuring cup. The larger surface area ensures the potatoes don’t fall apart. 
  • Mix lemon pepper with the butter instead of the other spices for a different flavor profile.

Nutrition Notes

  • Potatoes, the star of this recipe, are nutritious and filling. Their fiber slows down their digestion, especially when the skin is left on, as it is in this recipe. This will help you feel full longer. Potatoes’ fiber also acts as a prebiotic, providing food for your gut’s beneficial bacteria. And potatoes are abundant in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure, and vitamin C, which supports a healthy immune system as well as skin health.
  • Garlic and paprika both made our list of the world’s healthiest spices due to their potential health benefits. Paprika may help reduce inflammation, and garlic is known for its ability to potentially lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Of course, to reap these benefits, you need to include them in your diet often. Even when used in small amounts, over time, the health benefits of these herbs and spices will add up.
an overhead view of the ingredients to make the Smashed Roasted Potatoes

Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

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Ingredients

  • 24 ounces yellow baby potatoes, scrubbed

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • ¾ teaspoon salt

  • ¾ teaspoon ground pepper

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh chives

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.

  2. Place 24 ounces potatoes in a large pot; cover with water by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, uncovered, until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain and let stand for 5 minutes to cool.

    an overhead view of the boiled potatoes cooling in a colander

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

  3. Meanwhile, melt ¼ cup butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon each paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and ¾ teaspoon each salt and pepper; remove from heat.

    an overhead view of the butter and seasoning being stirred in a pan

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

  4. Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking sheet. Gently smash each potato with the bottom of a Mason jar. Drizzle with the butter mixture; carefully flip to coat both sides.

    an overhead view of the potatoes being smashed with a jar

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

  5. Roast until crispy and browned all over, about 25 minutes.  Transfer to a large plate and sprinkle with chives.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this recipe ahead?

    You can prepare the potatoes by boiling and smashing them up to 3 days ahead. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake them, drizzle with butter and seasoning and proceed with the recipe. This dish is good for 3 to 5 days stored in the refrigerator, although the potatoes won’t be as crispy as when you first made them.

  • Can I use a different type of potato?

    Absolutely. We used yellow baby potatoes, which are waxy potatoes. This variety holds its shape during boiling, is easier to smash and bakes up creamy and sweet. Other waxy potatoes that you can use are fingerlings and red potatoes.

  • Why are my smashed potatoes falling apart?

    Overcooking is the likely culprit. Cooking time depends on the size of the potato, so we recommend testing the potatoes with a fork or knife while boiling them. If the utensil slides through easily, the potato is done cooking.

  • What should I serve with Smashed Roasted Potatoes?

    These potatoes make the perfect side dish for chicken, steak, fish, pork chops, hamburgers and veggie burgers. However, they’re so good, you might be tempted to snack on them or serve them as appetizers.

EatingWell.com, September 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

161 Calories
8g Fat
21g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size ⅔ cup
Calories 161
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 3g 5%
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Vitamin A 78µg
Vitamin C 24mg 26%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 0mg 2%
Folate 20µg
Vitamin K 8µg
Sodium 273mg 12%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 29mg 7%
Potassium 512mg 11%
Zinc 0mg 4%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm

Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators.

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