Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Garlic parmesan smashed potatoes is an easy side dish to make. Dutch baby potatoes are parboiled, brushed with garlic oil, and then smashed on a sheet pan. Add some Parmesan cheese and they come out of the oven soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Plus, they take only ten minutes to prep.
Parmesan smashed potatoes are my new favorite potato recipe. They are so easy to prepare: no need to peel, slice, dice, or mash.
They are only very lightly smashed, which I find to be far easier. Unlike mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes don’t require any peeling or a bunch of other ingredients. All you need is a few simple ingredients, a hot oven, and a sheet pan to get creamy potatoes that have crispy edges. It’s a super easy potato side dish!
Ingredients
- Baby potatoes
- Olive oil – this helps crisp up the outside of the potatoes.
- Minced garlic cloves
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper for garnish
Potatoes: I like baby Dutch potatoes but you can also use any other kind of potato. A waxy potato (like new potatoes or baby red potatoes) will have a creamier texture and ones with more starch will be fluffier. You can use large potatoes (like Yukon Gold potatoes) and cut them into smaller pieces, but I think it’s easier to use small ones.
Flavorings: I like the garlic and Parmesan flavors, but you can flavor your smashed potatoes with dried herbs, different kinds of cheese, or even flavored olive oils. You can also add fresh herbs like fresh rosemary or thyme before you bake the potatoes.
How to Make Smashed Potatoes
- You’ll want to boil the potatoes first until they’re fork-tender.
- While the potatoes boil you can make the garlic and olive oil mixture. You will brush it over the top of the smashed potatoes before they go in the oven.
- Place the boiled potatoes on a sheet pan and use a potato masher to smoosh them. I lightly smash them because they don’t need to be completely flat. Brush them with the olive oil and garlic and the uneven tops will get extra crispy as they bake!
- Bake them for about 18 minutes and then sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the top. Leave them in the oven for a few minutes or until the cheese has melted.
The potatoes come out very flavorful and make a delicious side dish. I love that they are soft and creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside combining the best of both worlds. I also love the garlic parmesan flavors, but you could easily customize the potatoes with different herbs and cheese or switch out the olive oil for butter.
More Side Dish Recipes
Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 lb baby dutch potatoes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
- chopped parsley, for garnish
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash potatoes and then place into a large pot and fill with enough water to completely cover potatoes. Cover pot with a lid and bring water to a boil. Leave lid partially uncovered and boil the potatoes for about 15 minutes, or until they are fork tender. Remove potatoes from water.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Cover a large baking sheet pan with foil. Spray surface with a cooking oil spray. Place cooked potatoes onto sheet pan.
- Using a potato masher, press down on the potatoes so that they flatten but are still in one piece.
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic and olive oil. Brush tops of potatoes with olive oil and garlic, evenly dividing the garlic among the potatoes. You may need to scoop some of the garlic onto the potatoes.
- Roast potatoes for about 18 minutes or until tops start to turn golden brown and crispy. Set your oven to a low broil and broil potatoes for about 3-5 minutes to further crisp up the skin. When potatoes are about 1 minute from reaching desired crispness, sprinkle tops with cheese and place back into the oven for an additional 1 minute (still at a low broil) or until cheese is melted. Remove potatoes from oven. Garnish with parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let potatoes cool slightly before serving.
I made them but baked them in a 450 degree oven for 35 minutes before smashing them with the bottom of a glass. I used garlic butter and the parmesean cheese.
thank you for sharing!
Hey Kirbie – I make a version with smoked potatoes, garlic infused olive oil, topped with creme fraiche. We first had this type of potatoes at Sitka & Spruce in Seattle
Your version sounds so much better!
These look so yummy and I love the no-peeling-necessary part! These pictures are making me hungry!
I hate peeling potatoes!