27 potato sides so good the main dish can wait

Potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser, and these 27 potato sides are so good that the main dish can wait. From crispy roasted wedges to creamy mashed favorites, each recipe is easy to make and full of flavor. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight or a dinner with friends, these potato sides will have everyone asking for seconds.

Overhead shot of a bowl of homemade gnocchi

Potato Gnocchi. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Sweet Potato Fries

Image shows a glass filled with Sweet Potato Fries.
Sweet Potato Fries. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These sweet potato fries bake until golden and crisp on the outside while staying soft inside. Their natural sweetness mixes perfectly with a sprinkle of salt or your favorite dip. They’re easy to make and bring bold flavor to any dinner. These fries are a potato side, so good that the main dish can wait.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries

Mashed Potatoes

Overhead shot of a bowl of mashed potatoes in a blue bowl with parsley sprinkled over it.
Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Mashed potatoes turn out creamy, smooth, and full of buttery flavor without being heavy. A pinch of salt is enough to bring out the natural taste. They pair with almost anything and are simple to make. This classic side is always a hit and can easily steal the spotlight at dinner.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy scalloped potatoes in a casserole dish on a blue wooden table.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Thin potato slices bake in a rich cheese sauce until the top is golden and crisp. The inside stays soft, creamy, and comforting. This side dish is hearty but easy to make. Cheesy scalloped potatoes are perfect for a potato side that can take over the table.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Smoked Brie Potato Gratin

Image shows a closeup of a casserole of Smoked Brie Potato Gratin.
Smoked Brie Potato Gratin. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Layers of thin potatoes bake with smoky brie until the center is creamy and the top turns golden. The mix of cheese and tender potatoes makes each bite rich and satisfying. This dish is simple to prepare but feels special on the table. Serve it and watch it outshine the main plate.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Brie Potato Gratin

Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic

This photo shows a cast iron skillet with oven roasted potatoes with spinach and garlic on a blue wooden background.
Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Roasted potatoes are crisp outside and stay tender inside, while garlic adds bold flavor. Spinach and feta give a fresh, salty touch that balances the potatoes. This side is easy to make and full of flavor. These roasted potatoes often end up being the star of the dinner.

Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic

Potato Gnocchi

Bowl of homemade gnocchi with parmesan
Potato Gnocchi. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Potato gnocchi cook quickly and stay soft while soaking up sauce, butter, or cheese. Their pillowy texture makes them comforting and easy to enjoy with almost any meal. They’re simple to cook and taste rich without being heavy. Gnocchi can quickly become a potato side that everyone asks for.

Get the Recipe: Potato Gnocchi

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Two crispy air fryer hasselback potatoes with chives, garlic and butter on a white plate.
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Thin slices fan across each potato and crisp in the air fryer while the inside stays soft. A sprinkle of garlic, chives, and salt makes this dish look impressive but easy to make. These potatoes are flavorful and satisfying. Hasselback potatoes often steal attention from the main course.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Homemade Tater Tots

Homemade tater tots on a baking sheet.
Homemade Tater Tots. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Grated potatoes are shaped into small bites and fried golden brown with crisp edges and soft centers. They bring back classic flavors while being simple to make at home. Tots are fun to eat and full of flavor. This potato side can grab more attention than the main dish.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Tater Tots

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Small baking dish with scalloped potatoes.
Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Thin potato slices bake with cream until the top is golden and the inside is tender. The simple ingredients create a rich, comforting flavor. This side is easy to make and full of hearty taste. Scalloped potatoes like these can easily become the focus of any dinner.

Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Mashed Potato Cakes

Image shows delicious mashed potato cakes.
Mashed Potato Cakes. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

Leftover mashed potatoes form cakes with a crispy golden crust and soft, cheesy centers. Each bite is warm, comforting, and full of flavor. These cakes are easy to cook and satisfying to eat. They’re potato sides that can sometimes outshine the rest of the meal.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Cakes

Oven Baked Potato Wedges

A plate of crispy Oven Baked Potato Wedges.
Oven Baked Potato Wedges. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Thick potato wedges roast up golden and crisp on the outside while staying soft and fluffy inside. They are easy to season and come together without much work. Every bite is hearty and full of flavor. These wedges are one of those potato sides that people keep reaching for, even when the main dish is right there on the table.

Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Potato Wedges

Air Fryer French Onion Baked Potatoes

Loaded baked potatoes topped with melted cheese, green onions, and crispy fried onions, served on a wooden surface with a small bowl of more crispy onions in the background.
Air Fryer French Onion Baked Potatoes. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Potatoes bake in the air fryer until the skin is crisp and the inside is soft and creamy. French onion flavors add richness and a hint of sweetness that make each bite satisfying. This side is quick to prepare but tastes special. These baked potatoes can easily become the star of the table.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer French Onion Baked Potatoes

Maple Garlic Sweet Potato Casserole

A round dish of sweet potato casserole topped with pecans and herbs, set on a green cloth with serving utensils nearby.
Maple Garlic Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Sweet potatoes are mashed with maple syrup and garlic for a creamy side that mixes sweet and savory flavors. The smooth texture makes it easy to serve next to almost anything. This dish is simple but full of flavor. It proves potato sides can take center stage at dinner.

Get the Recipe: Maple Garlic Sweet Potato Casserole

Air Fryer Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Closeup of crispy smashed potatoes with dill and chili slices.
Air Fryer Crispy Smashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Small potatoes are smashed, seasoned, and crisped in the air fryer while staying soft in the center. The edges get golden and crunchy, creating a mix of textures that is fun to eat. These potatoes cook quickly and taste amazing with minimal effort. They make a potato side that everyone notices first.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

Sweet potato bites topped with guacamole and bacon.
Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted sweet potato slices are topped with creamy guacamole and crispy bacon. Each bite combines sweet, salty, and creamy flavors in a satisfying way. This side is easy to make but bold in taste. It can get more attention than the main plate at dinner.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Four twice baked potatoes in a small baking dish.
Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Potatoes are baked, scooped, and filled with cheese, sour cream, and spices before returning to the oven. The crispy skin and creamy filling make every bite rich and satisfying. This dish is simple to prepare but feels special. Twice-baked potatoes like these can easily steal the spotlight from the main course.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes in a white ramekin topped with sour cream and green onions.
Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bite-sized potatoes are roasted until crisp and are topped with gooey cheese and a bit of spice. Each forkful mixes soft, creamy centers with crunchy edges. This side is easy to make and full of flavor. Fiesta potatoes often draw more attention than the main dish.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Air fried red potatoes in an air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Red Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Red potatoes cook quickly in the air fryer until the skins turn crisp while the insides stay soft and creamy. A little oil and simple seasoning are all it takes to bring out their natural flavor. This potato side is easy to make, quick to cook, and always satisfying. Put them on the table, and they often end up being the one dish people keep going back to, even when everything else is right in front of them.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Crock pot with sweet potato casserole with pecans and marshmallows.
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Sweet potatoes cook until smooth and creamy, then get topped with pecans and marshmallows. The mix of textures gives each bite a sweet, crunchy, and soft flavor. This dish is easy to make ahead and brings bold flavor to the table. It can steal the show from the main plate.

Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Air Fryer Diced Potatoes

Golden diced potatoes in a white bowl with a sprinkle of herbs and seasoning.
Air Fryer Diced Potatoes. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Diced potatoes roast in the air fryer until golden and crisp while staying soft inside. They are seasoned just right for a side that goes with any meal. Quick, simple, and satisfying, this potato side is easy to make any night. These diced potatoes often become the part of dinner everyone remembers first.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Diced Potatoes

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Close-up of a plate of fried snacks, with one piece broken open to show a spiced potato filling.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Bite-sized sweet potato tots crisp in the air fryer while staying soft and tender inside. They’re easy to season and pair well with almost any dip. These tots are simple, fun to eat, and full of flavor. Put them on the table and watch how quickly they become the potato side that everyone reaches for before the main dish even gets touched.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Closeup of fingerling potatoes roasted in air fryer coated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme dressing.
Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Fingerling potatoes roast until the skins turn crisp while the insides stay creamy. Their mild flavor takes on any seasoning you choose and works with almost any meal. This side is simple to cook but tastes rich and satisfying. These potatoes may be small, but they often end up being the part of dinner everyone remembers and talks about long after the plates are cleared.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Air Fryer Baked Potato

Baked potatoes made in an air fryer with a crispy texture.
Air Fryer Baked Potato. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Air frying a potato leaves the skin crisp while the inside turns soft, fluffy, and ready to fill. They are simple to split open and add cheese, butter, or your favorite toppings. This potato side is quick, versatile, and always satisfying. Serve them and notice how they quietly steal the spotlight, becoming the dish that people keep coming back to, no matter what else is on the table.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baked Potato

Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans with parsley, salt, and pepper.
Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Roasted potatoes and green beans cook together until tender and lightly crisp. They are simple to season and bring a mix of textures to any dinner. This side is easy to prepare but packed with flavor. Put it on the table and watch how it transforms a meal into one where the potatoes and vegetables are the stars, people can’t stop reaching for.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

Golden roasted air fryer baby potatoes on a serving plate with a wooden and metal spoon.
Air Fryer Baby Potatoes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Small baby potatoes crisp quickly in the air fryer while staying soft and tender inside. They’re easy to season and pair well with almost anything on the menu. This side is simple, fast, and full of flavor. Serve them and notice how these little potatoes quietly become the dish that everyone remembers and praises long after the main course is finished.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

Aloo Gobi Masala

Aloo gobi masala in skillet with naan bread.
Aloo Gobi Masala. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Potatoes and cauliflower cook with spices until tender and full of flavor. The dish is hearty, well-seasoned, and easy to serve with any meal. Each bite is satisfying and comforting without being heavy. Put it on the table and watch how this potato side becomes the one people keep going back to, almost forgetting what else is being served alongside it.

Get the Recipe: Aloo Gobi Masala

Smoky and Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Smoky and Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Air fryer potato wedges roast until golden and crisp while staying soft inside. A few simple seasonings add bold, smoky flavor that works with any meal. This side is quick to prepare but full of taste. Add it to dinner and see how it becomes the dish everyone keeps reaching for first, turning a simple meal into one where the potatoes get the most attention.

Get the Recipe: Smoky and Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Enjoy this article? Please share it and save it for later!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.