These aren’t just your average potato sides – they’re the dishes that disappear first at every gathering. I’ve put together 12 crowd-pleasers that’ll have people asking for seconds before they’ve even finished their first helping.
1. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
This dish is pure comfort food with its creamy, velvety texture from heavy cream, milk, and melted cheddar cheese. The aromatic thyme and bay leaves give it that perfect savory depth that makes it impossible to stop at one serving. Trust me, make extra because people will come back for thirds.
2. Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
These are ridiculously simple and work with pretty much any dinner you’ve got planned. The parmesan at the end gives them a nice salty finish that sticks to the crispy edges; it’s that little touch that takes them from good to “where’s the recipe?”
3. Roasted Ranch Potatoes
I love these because they use ingredients I always have sitting around in the pantry. The ranch powder might clump up at first, but once you toss them around, it distributes evenly and creates this addictive coating that nobody can resist.
4. Roasted Broccoli and Potatoes
This is a solid dinner side that gets both vegetables cooked just right – the potatoes get a 20-minute head start so everything finishes together. It’s one of those dishes that makes you feel like you’re eating healthy while still getting all that roasted, crispy goodness.
5. Spicy Roasted Potato Wedges Recipe
These wedges are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, coated with smoky paprika, garlic powder, and just enough cayenne to give them a kick. Each bite delivers that perfect combination of spice and comfort that’ll have everyone reaching for more.
6. Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This is such a smart way to make mashed potatoes without standing over the stove stirring constantly. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you handle everything else for dinner; plus, the garlic gets mellow and sweet during the long cooking time.
7. Baked Potatoes with Broccoli Cheese Sauce
This is comfort food at its absolute best – fluffy baked potatoes topped with rich cheese sauce loaded with broccoli. It’s like getting the loaded potato and the vegetable side all in one dish that nobody can complain about.
8. Mustard Potato Salad
This is a classic Texas-style potato salad that’s tangy and creamy without being too heavy on the mayo. The yellow mustard gives it a nice bite that balances out the richness; it’s the kind of potato salad that actually has personality.
9. Creamy Red Skin Potato Salad
This is a classic potato salad that’s creamy without weighing you down – the red skins stay on for extra texture and the dressing has just enough tang. It’s perfect for cookouts because it holds up well and gets better as it sits.
10. Creamy Red Potato Salad
This is my go-to potato salad for BBQs because the red potatoes hold their shape way better than russets. The lemon keeps everything bright instead of that heavy, mayo-forward taste that some potato salads get stuck with.
11. Homemade Potato Salad with Bacon and Eggs Recipe
This potato salad is loaded – crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, bright tomatoes, and briny olives all mixed into a rich mayo-sour cream base. The Dijon mustard ties everything together with just enough sharpness to cut through all that richness.
12. Sweet Potato Hash Recipe
This sweet potato hash is hearty and savory with just a hint of natural sweetness, spiced with chili powder for warmth. The creamy richness balances out the heat perfectly; it’s one of those sides that works just as well at brunch as it does at dinner.
