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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Fried Potatoes and Onions with Fresh Rosemary

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This Fried Potatoes and Onions recipe is a delicious and guilt free twist on hash browns. It’s an easy and super hearty breakfast side dish. With golden potatoes, sweet onion, and a hint of rosemary, it’s simply delicious!

fried potatoes and onions served on a white plate with rosemary on top

These healthier fried potatoes have all of the savory goodness of hash browns without any of the guilt! It’s super easy to make, but tastes like restaurant quality potatoes.

These really are the best breakfast potatoes ever. One huge serving of this easy side dish has only 150 calories, is low in fat, and has a few grams of fiber for an added health boost.

Latest Recipe Video!

You only need a small amount of olive oil, the rest of the ingredients are pretty much in the title! Only need a sprinkle of salt and pepper for seasoning and you have a guilt free onion and rosemary potato hash recipe that’s bound to please!

Whether for breakfast or brunch, this potato hash recipe couldn’t be simpler! It’s great comfort food if you are hankering for a last minute Sunday brunch, or a quick and filling weekday breakfast.

Just 6 ingredients, you’ll most likely have all of them already. You can pretty much leave the potato hash alone while you cook up the rest of your meal. Easy!

We ate them with a bit of ketchup, and just couldn’t get enough. They kind of felt like home fries, they were so addicting. I guarantee this will become your new favorite side dish for any meal of the day!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Simple and Quick
  • Only 6 pantry ingredients
  • Fresh Herbs for Intense Flavor
  • An excellent dinner side or breakfast dish
  • Crispy Potatoes
  • Less Oil
  • Caramelized Sweet Onions

How To Make The Best Fried Potatoes With Onions

Ingredients

ingredients for fried potatoes and onions

Baby Red Bliss Potatoes: Red potatoes are perfect for this dish. I like their crunchy edges (thanks to leaving the skin on) when you cook them. You could also use yukon gold potatoes, for this recipe. Definitely leave the skin on, as it gives this potato dish a great texture. Potato skins are also high in B vitamins, and fiber. T

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Personally, I think olive oil is the best oil to fry these potatoes. It’s heart healthy, and gives the diced potatoes a nice caramelization. You only need a little bit of olive oil – using less oil keeps the calories and fat down.

Red Onion: You may also use white onion or yellow onion if your prefer. Red onion is slightly sweeter than yellow or white, which compliments the potatoes and the rosemary well.

Fresh Rosemary: Fresh herbs are best to add at the end of the cooking process. I really like the fresh herbal flavor of the rosemary. If you don’t have fresh, you can use dried. I recommend 1 tsp of dried rosemary, rather than the 1 tablespoon that the recipe calls for when using fresh.

Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Don’t forget to season to taste!

Equipment Needed

Instructions

Cook The Onions: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and saute for about 5 minutes.

onions in a pan

Add The Potatoes: Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and continue to pan fry until golden brown and the potatoes are cooked through. Season to taste with salt and ground pepper.

potatoes in a pan

Cook Until Crispy: To cook faster, cover the pan and cook on low heat for about a couple minutes at a time, stirring in between. About 5 minutes before the potatoes are done, stir in fresh rosemary.

potatoes onions and herbs in a pan

Note: If you like potatoes that are super soft on the inside but super crispy on the outside, I recommend boiling or baking the potatoes until they’re about 2/3 of the way cooked. Then let them cool, then dice them and follow steps 1 and 2 above!

Recipe FAQs

Are red potatoes healthy?

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap, because they are high in carbs and starch. However, when consumed in moderation, potatoes can be an excellent addition to your diet. They contain fiber and nutrients, plus they are very satiating and versatile. While they do contain carbs, these are healthy complex carbs that are high in fiber. Potatoes are also high in vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese and antioxidants. Their nutrient contents can vary depending on the type of potato and cooking method.

Should you dry potatoes before frying?

If you are deep frying potatoes, it is best to dry them before frying. However, if you are frying them in a sauté pan, it is not necessary. If you prefer, you can always dry your potatoes before adding them to the sauté pan. Dice the potatoes, add to paper towel, and air dry for 10 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel, then add to the sauté pan.

What are the best potatoes for frying?

It depends on what you’re making! For these delicious pan fried potatoes, red potatoes or yukon golds are great. If you’re making french fries, I recommend russet potatoes because of their starchy texture.

Why are my fried potatoes soggy?

If your potatoes are soggy you’ve either used the wrong type of oil, or the wrong type of potato. If the potatoes are too starchy, like russet, that can cause soggy potatoes.

fried potatoes and onions served on a white plate with rosemary on top

How to Serve Fried Potatoes and Onions

This versatile side dish is delicious served with scrambled eggs, healthy omelettes, quiches, or any of your favorite breakfast dishes. These fried potatoes also work well for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

How to Store

Allow the potatoes to cool completely. Then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Variations and Substitutions

More Veggies: Diced bell peppers and tomatoes can be added to these fried potatoes and caramelized onions for a hearty vegetable filled skillet. Top with a fried egg for a complete meal.

Different Oils: I prefer to use a small amount of olive oil to cook my potatoes for a crispy finish. Other oils that work well when trying to achieve a crispy consistency include ones that have a high smoke point such as avocado oil, canola oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, almond oil, grape seed oil, peanut oil, or sesame oil.

More Spices: Try adding chili powder for a bit of heat, or a little paprika and garlic salt / garlic powder for a different flavor!

Expert Tips For This Potato Hash Recipe

  • Use baby red potatoes: they have a hint of sweetness and they are waxy, so they hold their shape for a great bite!
  • To cook faster, put a lid on the pan and cook on low, but make sure you stir occasionally.
  • Stir in fresh rosemary at the end of the cooking time.
  • Use a cast iron skillet for super crispy potatoes.
  • Peanut oil is another good oil to use for crispy potatoes, although it is not the healthiest choice.
  • Allow the oil to get hot before adding the potatoes.
  • Add the potatoes in a single layer, don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • You can place a cover on the skillet to help them cook initially, but take the lid off to finish the potatoes so that they are crispy and don’t end up soggy. Keeping the lid on during the entire cooking time will result in soggy potatoes.
  • Slice or dice your potatoes so that they are the same size and cook evenly.
  • You only need enough oil to keep them from sticking to the pan. Too much oil can result in soggy potatoes.
fried potatoes and onions served on a white plate with rosemary on top

More Healthy Breakfast and Brunch Recipes!

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🎥 Watch How to Make It

fried potatoes and onions served on a white plate with rosemary on top
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5 from 6 votes

Fried Potatoes and Onions with Fresh Rosemary

This Fried Potatoes and Onions recipe is a delicious and guilt free twist on hash browns. It's a hearty and super tasty breakfast side dish. With golden potatoes, sweet onion, and a hint of rosemary, it''s simply delicious!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 140kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

  • 1 lb baby red potatoes diced with skins on
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small red onion finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and continue to sauté until golden brown and the potatoes are cooked through. To cook faster, cover the pan and cook on low heat for about a couple minutes at a time, stirring in between. About 5 minutes before the potatoes are done, stir in fresh rosemary.
  • Note: If you like potatoes that are super soft on the inside but super crispy on the outside, I recommend boiling or baking the potatoes until they're about 2/3 of the way cooked. Then let them cool, then dice them and follow steps 1 and 2 above!

Notes

Expert Tips  
  • Use baby red potatoes: they have a hint of sweetness and they are waxy, so they hold their shape for a great bite!
  • To cook faster, put a lid on the pan and cook on low, but make sure you stir occasionally.
  • Stir in fresh rosemary at the end of the cooking time.
  • Use a cast iron skillet for super crispy potatoes.
  • Peanut oil is another good oil to use for crispy potatoes, although it is not the healthiest choice.
  • Allow the oil to get hot before adding the potatoes.
  • Add the potatoes in a single layer, don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • You can place a cover on the skillet to help them cook initially, but take the lid off to finish the potatoes so that they are crispy and don’t end up soggy. Keeping the lid on during the entire cooking time will result in soggy potatoes.
  • Slice or dice your potatoes so that they are the same size and cook evenly.
  • You only need enough oil to keep them from sticking to the pan. Too much oil can result in soggy potatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.4g | Protein: 3.2g | Fat: 2.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 303.6mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 1.5g

Posted In…

Vegetarian Side Dishes ·

These vegetarian side dishes are tasty enough to be the star of the show! Here you’ll find easy, healthy plant based side dishes that are packed with veggies, and are bursting with flavor. 

Some favorites include this vegetable au gratin, my roasted broccoli with potatoes, this jalapeno artichoke dip, and these healthy whole wheat vegan dinner rolls!

Try any of these veggie side dishes for the perfect accompaniment to your main entree, or pair them with a soup or salad to turn them into a light main meal.

16 responses to “Fried Potatoes and Onions with Fresh Rosemary”

  1. Just by imagining how it smells and how good it tastes makes me want it so bad! Thank you for this. I am a big fan of potatoes and i am so excited to try this recipe or yours!5 stars

  2. This is perfect as a dinner side too, not just breakfast, and it works so well with chicken schnitzel!5 stars

  3. Hi, I just want to drop by to let you know that I’ve added this recipe for my toddler’s meal this week and he loved it A LOT!!! Thank you~~5 stars

  4. What a great alternative for hash browns! Love how easy it is to put together. It makes it such a wonderful dinner meal!5 stars

  5. I so love ur recipe because I was looking for easy hash brown recipe. PERFECT. U r so good!!! Thank u for sharing ur wonderful cooking knowledge without having to sign up for something or sign in. 😊

  6. Hi! I just made these for a lazy Sunday breakfast and they were perfect! I subbed a yellow onion, added some minced garlic, and only had fresh thyme on hand – still delicious! I loved your suggestion of keeping a cover on the potatoes and onions while they cooked. I kept the lid on, stirred intermittently every 2-3 minutes and after about 15 minutes they were perfect (soft with plenty of crispy bits). I took a nibble every now and again to test ‘em between stirs. I added a smidge more pepper and salt throughout, too. We threw some hot sauce and a fried egg on top and haven’t had such a satisfying breakfast in a long time. Thanks for making our morning special!5 stars

  7. I was looking for a hashbrown recipe to make for my Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed that I’m planning this weekend and then I saw this! Such perfect timing 🙂

    • How perfect!! 🙂 I’m sure this will be a great addition to your breakfast in bed – have a great Valentine’s Day!

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