Your favorite side dish just got better as these roasted Smashed Fingerling Potatoes with garlic take potatoes to a whole new level of flavor. Crispy outer skin with a tender filling that brings comfort to every bite.
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Everyday mashed potatoes take a second seat to these crispy smashed potatoes! In fact, this is one of my go-to favorite side dishes any time I’m serving a crowd.
These are easy to make with only 6 ingredients and the flavor is one we keep coming back to. They’re so good that my kids even request them!
With a light, herby garlic flavor they pair well with any main course and are so popular I’ve had to double the batch more than once.
If you want to "wow" the table, this is the side dish to rely on.
If you are looking for another easy and delicious side dish, my Honeynut Squash Recipe With Pinenuts or the Italian Potato Salad for a sure-fire hit!
Jump to:
What Are Smashed Potatoes?
This potato variation has gained popularity in recent years and with good reason, it’s delicious! Smashed potatoes are exactly as they sound; potatoes that are smashed.
They are typically made by boiling smaller potatoes and then pressing them down until they burst open. From there you’ll drizzle and season them before baking them to perfection.
Similar to a french fry, smashed potatoes are crispy on the outside but have a light, pillow-like fluffiness on the inside.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
The potatoes do not have to be fingerling. Any small potato, like the ones pictured above, will do.
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Variations
There are so many ways to give a pop of flavor to smashed potatoes that you can easily make a new one each and every week.
While I love the subtle blend of herbs and garlic, below are a few fun new flavors to try:
- Cheesy - sprinkle on some parmesan cheese for a comforting cheesy blend or top them with cheddar cheese.
- Spicy - if you want to add some heat to your side dish you can easily add some chopped jalapeno peppers to the smashed potatoes or sprinkle on red pepper flakes.
- Herbs galore - though rosemary and thyme are favorites, you can swap those out for tasty creations like basil, parsley, chives, or, feel free to use Italian seasoning. While fresh herbs taste the best, you can use dried herbs.
- Saucy - drizzle them with Homade Basil Pesto Sauce, chimichurri, greek yogurt, Lemon Tahini Dressing, or a homemade lemon dill sauce for a burst of flavor.
- Spices - feel free to use garlic powder. If you do, substitute 1 teaspoon in this recipe. If you would like to ramp up the flavor you can also add 1 teaspoon onion powder as well. While I don't add black pepper, it would also be a nice addition.
- Topping - if you want to take this recipe to the next level, add some green onions or cooked chopped bacon to the top prior to serving.
How To Make Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
Step 1: Fill a large pot with cold water and about a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil. Place the petite potatoes into the boiling water and cook until mostly soft, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 2: Remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and place them on an aluminum foil-lined large rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Let them cool briefly.
Spray the bottom of a cup, glass, or bowl with non-stick spray, and then gently smash each potato down with the bottom of the cup, glass, or bowl.
Step 3: Heat the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small pot on the stove until you have melted butter. Add the rosemary, thyme, and garlic in a microwave until the butter is melted. Using the garlic butter, gently spoon it over the potatoes.
Step 4: Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit until crispy, about 30 minutes.
Hint: Make sure you spray the bottom of your cup or bowl before you smash the potatoes so the potatoes do not stick to the bottom.
How To Serve
Smashed potatoes are the perfect recipe because they’re so versatile! Serve them as an easy side dish for a holiday meal or make them into an appetizer for game-day.
If you’re serving them as an appetizer, offer up any (or all!) of the following dipping sauces with them:
- Sour cream or Labneh
- Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce
- Chipotle mayo
- Ranch dressing
- Guacamole
- Greek Yogurt
- Chimichurri
- Basil Pesto Sauce
- Lemon Garlic Tahini
- Lemon Dill Sauce
- Homemade Brown Butter Truffle Steak Sauce Recipe (Keto)
Put out a few toothpicks with the potatoes and you’re good to go.
Looking for another delicious potato recipe? These air fryer hash browns are a simple idea for breakfast or dinner!
Storing Your Leftover Potatoes
Leftovers aren’t a problem with this recipe. But if you do find yourself with some extra, store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
To reheat them, place them in the oven and bake the smashed potatoes for roughly 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until they’re semi-crispy once more.
Expert Tips
Though this smashed fingerling potatoes with rosemary, thyme, and garlic recipe is pretty straightforward and uses simple ingredients, there are a few things to take note of.
For best results, don’t over-boil the potatoes. You want them to still be slightly firm. Also, let them cool every so quickly on the large baking sheet pan before smashing them. This helps them stay crisp.
Line the baking tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Once the potatoes crisp up, they’ll stick to the pan if you don’t.
Leave a little room between each potato when you place them on the sheet. They do expand a bit as you smash. Do not stack the potatoes on top of each other or they won’t get crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smashed potatoes are cooked and eaten with the skin on. They’re typically boiled, then smashed down and finally roasted, which results in a crispy outer casing. Mashed potatoes are peeled, boiled, and then mashed for a light and fluffy texture. Smashed potatoes are typically small-sized potatoes.
Baby potatoes (which are small or fingerling potatoes) work best for smashed potatoes because you want the skin over the entire potato. Using different colors of potatoes will be delicious.
Typically, smashed potatoes fall apart if they’ve been overcooked when boiling. Try to leave a little bit of firmness to the potatoes so that they hold together better when smashing.
Smashed potatoes make a delicious weeknight side dish or can be served as part of a larger meal. With tender potato flesh covered in crispy seasoned skin, they’re a crowd-pleaser no matter what.
Season them simply with herbs, garlic, and salt if you wish to pair them with a main course or use them as an appetizer or snack with a dipping sauce. Either way, you’ll have your guests asking for seconds and this will become one of your favorite recipes.
If you would like another recipe that is simple and easy, look at the Ninja Foodi Roast Potatoes recipe or these honey glazed Air fryer parsnips look delicious!
Other Side Dish Recipes
Did you try this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section and leave a ⭐️ rating and review. Share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
xoxoxo
Gwen
Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs potatoes fingerling or small new potatoes
- 12 oz unsalted butter
- 4 tbsps fresh rosemary roughly chopped
- 4 tbsps fresh thyme
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450℉.
- Fill a large pot with cold water and about a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil.
- Add the potatoes and boil until slightly soft, about 15-20 minutes. They should pierce easily with a fork.
- Prepare a large rimmed sheet pan by covering it in aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked potatoes and place them in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Spray the bottom of a cup, bowl, or glass with non-stick spray.
- Smash each of the potatoes about ¾ quarters of the way to the bottom of the pan.
Herbed Garlic Butter
- Melt the butter in a pan on the stove or in the microwave using a microwave safe bowl.
- Add the garlic, rosemary, and thyme to the butter.
- Spoon the butter over the smashed potatoes.
- Sprinkle Kosher salt over the potatoes to taste. (I like a lot of salt with my potatoes!)
- Roast until crispy, about 25-30 minutes.
Anonymous says
A favorite!