Crispy Roasted Potatoes (The Secret Is Baking Soda!)

If you love potatoes that are golden and crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside, these Crispy Roasted Potatoes are for you! My secret is baking soda! Adding it to the water when parboiling the potatoes helps break down the surface of the potatoes, creating those delicious crispy edges when they’re roasted. It’s a simple trick that takes your roasted potatoes to the next level.

These potatoes are perfect for Sunday dinner, holiday meals, or honestly, any night you’re craving a really good side dish. Pair them with your favorite main course, and watch how quickly they disappear!

Maria Koutsogiannia

Maria is the creator of FoodByMaria and your go-to Greek food expert for cozy, flavor-packed recipes. Inspired by her Mediterranean roots, she brings traditional Greek flavors, feel-good ingredients, and a whole lot of joy to everyday cooking.

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This recipe has over 200 five-star reviews, and that’s just proof it delivers every damn time! Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving the perfect potato, this is a side dish you’ll bookmark and make again and again.

Why You’ll Love These Crispy Roasted Potatoes

• The texture: Crispy, golden edges with a fluffy, tender center. It’s the perfect texture you want in a potato.
• Simple ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy to make delicious roasted potatoes, just a few pantry staples and some fresh herbs.
• Versatile: Serve them alongside your favorite protein, add them to a holiday spread, or enjoy them on their own with your favorite dipping sauce.
• The baking soda trick: A simple addition to the parboiling water makes a big difference in how the surface of the potatoes roasts.

Ingredients

You don’t need a long ingredient list to make these deliciously crispy roasted potatoes. Here are a few of the key ingredients that make this recipe work.

• Russet Potatoes: Russets are a great choice for roasting because their starchy texture gives you a fluffy interior. For this recipe, you’ll peel and quarter them so they cook evenly.
• Baking Soda: This is the (not so) secret ingredient! Baking soda makes the parboiling water alkaline, helping break down the potatoes’ outer surface so it can crisp up beautifully in the oven.
• Sea Salt: You’ll notice two amounts of salt in the recipe. The 2 tablespoons are for seasoning the parboiling water, while the additional 1 teaspoon seasons the potatoes before roasting. You aren’t adding all that salt directly to the potatoes!
• Olive Oil and Butter: These help the potatoes roast to a golden finish while adding richness and flavor. You can use olive or avocado oil, and sub butter for vegan butter if preferred.
• Garlic: There is nothing better than garlic and potatoes.
• Fresh Thyme: Adds a delicious herby flavor that pairs perfectly with the garlic and buttery potatoes.

How to Make Crispy Roasted Potatoes

The magic of this recipe comes from combining a quick baking soda parboil with roasting in a hot oven. You don’t need a complicated technique, but there are a few things worth knowing.

The baking soda parboil: The potatoes are parboiled in salted water with baking soda before roasting. This helps soften the outside of the potatoes while the centers become tender.

The flavor: Oil, butter, garlic, and thyme bring everything together. These simple ingredients add so much flavor without overpowering the potatoes.

The roasting: The potatoes roast on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 425°F. Give them enough room on the pan so they aren’t crowded together. You want them to roast, not steam!

For the exact ingredient quantities, cooking times, and step-by-step instructions, follow the recipe card below.

Tips for Making Crispy Roasted Potatoes

• Keep the cuts consistent: Try to quarter your potatoes into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
• Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet: Give the potatoes some breathing room. If they’re piled on top of each other, they won’t roast as evenly.
• Use russet potatoes: They’re the potato used in this recipe and are a great option for that fluffy-on-the-inside texture.
• Follow the baking soda amount in the recipe card: The amount matters, and this recipe uses a specific parboiling method. Don’t mix and match measurements from other roasted potato recipes.
• Use parchment paper: This recipe is designed for a parchment-lined baking sheet, so there’s no need to preheat a separate tray of oil.

Variation: Roasted Potatoes with Seasoned Salt & Avocado Mayo Dip

If you like this recipe, try my variation of these Crispy Roasted Potatoes that uses a yummy seasoned salt instead of thyme and is paired with a avocado mayo dip for dipping!

Ingredients:

• 2-2.5 lbs Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
• water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2-3/4 cup avocado oil
• 1 tbsp fresh minced rosemary
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 tbsp smoked, kosher or sea salt
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 cup avocado or regular mayo
• 1 large garlic clove, pressed
• 1 tbsp fresh minced chives
• 1 tsp fresh minced rosemary
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

How to Make:

1. Peel and cut the potatoes – Chop the two ends of the potatoes off, slice the large middle section in half lengthwise then chop those in halves depending on the size of the potato.
2. Add peeled potatoes into a large pot with salt and baking soda. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, parboil for 8-10 minutes until fork tender but not falling apart.
3. Strain the potatoes in a colander and then put them back into the pot with the lid on and gently shake them to lightly fluff them up, for about 30 seconds.
4. Preheat the oven to 425F. Once preheated, add Avocado Oil to a roasting pan or sheet pan, making sure to cover the bottom of the pan (about 1/2-3/4 cup of oil). Place the pan in the oven to warm the oil for 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and carefully add in the potatoes. Gently toss the potatoes in the hot oil and make sure they’re in a single layer on the pan. Place in the oven for 60-70 minutes, tossing gently in the oil every 20 minutes, until the potatoes have a golden brown color all over.
6. While the potatoes are cooking -Make the seasoned salt:  Mix together the 1 tbsp fresh minced rosemary, lemon zest from one lemon, 2 tbsp smoked / kosher / or sea salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder. Set aside.Make the mayo: In a small bowl mix together the avocado mayo, 1 garlic clove pressed, 1 tbsp fresh minced chives, 1 tsp fresh minced rosemary, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1/2 tsp kosher salt. Set aside.
7. Once the potatoes are cooked and golden brown all over, remove from the oven. Take the potatoes out of the pan with a slotted spoon and add to a bowl. Toss the potatoes with the seasoned salt and then serve with the mayo on the side.

What to Serve with Crispy Roasted Potatoes

The best thing about these crispy roasted potatoes? They go with just about anything! Here are a few of my favorite pairings:

• Salmon Kebabs: A delicious pairing when you’re craving something fresh and flavorful.
• Greek Chicken Souvlaki: Because juicy chicken and crispy potatoes are always a good idea.
• Mezze Spread: Add these potatoes to a spread of dips, veggies, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
• Greek Salad: Something fresh and crunchy to balance out the warm, savory potatoes.

How to Store Crispy Roasted Potatoes

These potatoes are at their best when they’re fresh out of the oven. That’s when you get the contrast between the crispy exterior and fluffy middle that makes them so delicious.

If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in a shallow, covered container within 2 hours of cooking.

Just keep in mind that the texture will change once the potatoes are refrigerated. I recommend making this recipe fresh when possible, especially if you’re serving it for a special occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions

4.84 from 188 votes

Crispy Roasted Potatoes

These easy Crispy Roasted Potatoes are the perfect side that everyone will love. Roasted to the perfect consistency we all love!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

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Course Wedge

Cuisine Greek-Inspired, Mediterranean, Vegan

Servings 5

Calories 289

Servings: 5

IngredientsInstructionsNutrition

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 L water – depending on the size of your pot
• ▢ 6 medium-sized russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
• ▢ 2 tbsp. sea salt
• ▢ 1 tbsp. baking soda
• ▢ 3 tbsp. olive oil
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves, pressed, grated or finely chopped – this is important.
• ▢ 1 tbsp. vegan butter
• ▢ 1 tsp onion powder
• ▢ 1 tsp sea salt
• ▢ ½ cracked pepper
• ▢ 3 tbsp. fresh thyme smashed to release the scent

Instructions 

Start Cooking

1. Bring a large pot to a boil and add the salt and baking soda.  Add the potatoes and parboil them for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 425F and line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Remove from water, strain and transfer to a large bowl. To the bowl, add the salt, pepper, onion powder, oil, garlic and butter. Stir gently.
4. Transfer potatoes to a baking sheet. You need to make sure each potato has room to breathe and is cut-side down.  You may need to use two baking sheets depending on how many potatoes you cook.
5. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven, flip each potato and evenly distribute with fresh thyme.
7. Cook for another 20 minutes or until perfectly crispy and golden.
8. Serve with fresh lemon (optional) but highly recommended if enjoyed with a fresh salad or greens.
9. But honestly, you can…Enjoy. With. Anything.

Notes

Tip: Use russet or baby potatoes!

NutritionHide Nutrition

Serving: 5Calories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 47.7gProtein: 5.8gFat: 9.8gSaturated Fat: 1.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.4gSodium: 3307.3mgFiber: 3.7gSugar: 1.6g