Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes are made with Yukon gold potatoes, minced garlic, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Add butter, oil, and garnish with fresh parsley to make them complete. These are one of my favorite side dishes to make. 

Crispy smashed potatoes are one of the easiest potato recipes to make. It’s also one of my favorite delicious recipes that everyone loves to devour. There aren’t too many steps to this recipe and they turn our perfect every single time. 

This is one of those side dishes I can usually get half of my picky eaters to devour. The funniest part of having picky eaters is that once they try the recipe, they tend to love them. 

You can head down below and grab the full printable recipe card with all of our tips, tricks, instructions, and notes. If you’re not in a hurry, keep reading below. 

What Ingredients Do I Need:

• Yukon Gold Potatoes (I prefer the smaller sized potatoes)
• Minced Garlic (I keep a huge jar of this in my refrigerator)
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese (not canned, use fresh)
• Olive oil (EVOO)
• Butter (unsalted)
• Salt

These potatoes come together rather quickly and they usually easily times with my main course meals. 

How to Make Crispy Smashed Potatoes

1. Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring the water to boil. Add 1 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp of butter, and 6-8 small/medium sized potatoes. Boil the potatoes for 15 minutes. 
2. Remove the pot from the heat and drain the potatoes. Carefully remove the potatoes and place them on a prepared baking sheet. 
3. Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Take a potato masher and carefully smash down the potatoes. 
5. Add olive oil and minced garlic to a small dish. Use a basting brush and brush the potatoes with the oil and garlic mixture. 
6. Roast the potatoes in the oven for 10 minutes. Carefully watch the last couple of minutes to make sure the crispy potatoes don’t get too brown. 
7. Remove the potatoes from the oven.  Sprinkle fresh parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley. 

Smashed Potatoes FAQs

What’s the difference between mashed potatoes and smashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes are cooked and boiled longer until they are soft and easy to mash. Usually they are made creamier by adding milk, butter, sour cream, and/or cream cheese. Smashed potatoes are removed from the water before they are soft and smashed down with the potato remaining one solid piece. They are then brushed with butter or oil and roasted in the oven to become crispy. 

How long do you boil a potato?

Mashed potatoes are generally boiled longer, typically 20-25 minutes. Smashed potatoes are typically boiled for less time to keep them from becoming too soft. 

What potatoes should I use for smashed potatoes?

I personally prefer to use Yukon gold potatoes but you can also use red potatoes or even small russet potatoes. 

What toppings work best on smashed potatoes?

I love to keep mine simple and brush with olive oil and garlic when cooking. I often add parmesan cheese and top with fresh parsley before serving. You can also add sour cream, bacon, and top with green onions for a loaded potato. 

What do you serve with this side?

I love to serve these potatoes with a lot of different dishes. Some of my favorites are with brisket, barbecue ribs, and blackened chicken in garlic butter sauce. However, you can serve these smashed potatoes with just about any main dish. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Make sure you come back and leave a rating after you’ve made it. To do that, just head down to the recipe card below. 

Do you have any suggestions for variations? Leave a comment and let me know! Our readers may also want to try different variations of these potatoes. 

If you’re on social media, be sure to tag me in your recreation. You can find me on Instagram at #pinkwhenjen and tag me @pinkwhenjen. Feel free to tag me on Facebook and Pinterest, too. 

Thanks again for stopping by! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does. It’s a perfect quick and easy side dish that the whole family is sure to enjoy.