Country Fried Potatoes

Country fried potatoes are ridiculously easy to make and are the perfect accompaniment for breakfast or brunch. They are also a great way to use up leftover cooked potatoes and work with any potato variety, including white skin, red, or even sweet potatoes!

This is a very basic recipe which you can jazz up in all sorts of ways! We like to add some healthy veggies to the mix - mushrooms, sweet peppers, and onions all work well - and the addition of meats like cooked sausage or bacon turn the dish into a complete and satisfying meal. 

If you want to add vegetables to your country-fried potatoes, the best option is to saute them in the pan ahead of adding the potatoes. You don't need to brown them - just cook them until softened and they can brown along with the potatoes once you've added them.

Cooked meats won't need to be added until just before the end of the cooking time, to give just enough time to warm them through.

You can also add fresh herbs of your choice. Chives work well, or you can add something like oregano to give a more Mediterranean flavor.

The guidelines for this recipe suggest chilling the cooked potatoes before using them. That's because they are far less likely to stick to the pan as you cook them if they are properly chilled. 

Make sure the pan you use is large enough to keep the potatoes in a single layer. If they are piled up in the pan, they won't cook evenly and will even start to steam in places. This will turn them mushy and you won't achieve that lovely crisp texture you are hoping for.

If you want a more complete potato brunch recipe, this Kielbasa Breakfast Skillet is a good one to try. Other yummy recipes to include on your breakfast or brunch menu are this Sausage Strata, or this unique Sweet Potato Benedict. For something sweet, be sure to try this Chai Tea French Toast recipe too!