19 Potato Side Dishes That Are Easy to Cook and Easier to Love

Potatoes have a way of making any meal feel complete. These 19 side dishes come together without much effort but always bring plenty of flavor. They’re the kind of recipes you can count on, whether you’re cooking for a crowd or keeping things simple. Easy to cook and even easier to love, these potato sides belong on repeat.

Image shows easy to make cheesy scalloped potatoes.

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

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.

Dig into a bowl of mashed potatoes that are smooth, fluffy, and full of comfort in every bite. A little butter and salt bring out their simple flavor, making them a match for almost anything on the table. This is a potato side dish that is easy to love and easy to cook, no matter the occasion.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes

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.

Roast crispy potatoes with garlic, spinach, and a touch of feta for a side that’s packed with flavor and texture. The golden edges and tender insides make each bite satisfying without much effort. This is the kind of potato side dish that is easy to cook and feels like something special.

Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic

Sweet Potato Fries

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

Bake up these fries until they’re golden and crisp outside with soft centers that bring the right balance to the plate. Their natural sweetness pairs well with salty or spicy dips and anything else you’re serving. These are delicious and easy-to-make potato side dishes that never last long at dinner.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries

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.

Layer thin slices of potato with smoky brie to make a creamy dish that’s rich but not fussy. The top turns golden while the inside melts into something smooth and full of bold flavor. This is one of those potato side dishes that’s easy to cook and always feels like a standout.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Brie Potato Gratin

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

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

Bake sliced potatoes in a cheesy sauce until every layer is soft and soaked with flavor. The top comes out bubbly and golden while the inside stays warm and creamy. This is a potato side that looks impressive, taste rich, and are surprisingly easy to make.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Potato Gnocchi

Image shows a bowl of Potato Gnocchi with grated cheese atop it.
Potato Gnocchi. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Boil soft potato gnocchi that hold butter, sauce, or cheese without falling apart. They’re pillowy, comforting, and ready in just a few minutes on the stove. This is an easy-to-cook potato side that brings something different to the table while still feeling simple.

Get the Recipe: Potato Gnocchi

Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

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

Roast slices of sweet potato and top them with guacamole and crispy bacon for a bite that hits sweet, salty, and creamy all at once. Each layer brings a different texture, and they’re easy to put together with just a few ingredients. These are flavorful potato sides that are easy to love and made to impress.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

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

Slice your potatoes and bake them in a rich, cheesy sauce that gets better with every bite. The texture is soft and smooth inside with a golden top that adds just enough crisp. This is a potato side dish that is easy to cook and brings comfort to any plate.

Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Oven Baked Potato Wedges

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

Slice thick wedges and roast them until they’re crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. A little seasoning brings out their natural flavor, and they go with just about everything. These are potato sides that are simple, satisfying, and always easy to love.

Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Potato Wedges

Air Fryer Baked Potato

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

Cook whole potatoes in the air fryer until the skin is crisp and the inside turns fluffy and soft. They’re faster than oven-baked and easy to top with butter, cheese, or whatever you like. This is a reliable potato side dish that is easy to cook and great for any meal.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baked Potato

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.

Mash sweet potatoes with maple and garlic for a creamy dish that’s sweet, savory, and full of rich flavor. Every bite is smooth with a deep taste that holds its own next to any main. This is a comforting and easy-to-make potato side dish that deserves a spot on your table.

Get the Recipe: Maple Garlic Sweet Potato Casserole

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.

Toss baby potatoes in the air fryer until their skins turn golden and their insides stay buttery and soft. They’re quick to cook and packed with flavor even without much seasoning. These are potato side dishes that are easy to love, easy to cook, and hard to stop eating.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baby 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.

Let sweet potatoes cook down in the slow cooker until they’re soft and creamy, then top them with toasted marshmallows and pecans. The mix of textures and flavors makes this dish both sweet and rich. This is a potato side dish that feels special but couldn’t be easier to make.

Get the Recipe: Crock Pot 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.

Smash small potatoes and cook them until the edges are golden and crisp while the centers stay soft. They hold seasoning well and offer just the right mix of crunch and comfort in every bite. This is a potato side dish that is fun to make, easy to cook, and even better to eat.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Smashed 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.

Bake diced potatoes until crispy, then cover them with nacho cheese and a bit of heat for a bold and creamy side. The texture mix of soft center and crispy edge keeps things interesting with every bite. These are fun, flavorful potato sides that come together quickly and always get compliments.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

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

Scoop out baked potatoes and mix the insides with cheese, sour cream, and seasonings, then load it all back into the shells. The skins stay crisp while the filling turns rich, smooth, and full of flavor. This is a hearty potato side that feels like a full meal but is easy to prepare.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Mashed Potato Cakes

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

Use leftover mashed potatoes to make crisp, cheesy cakes with golden outsides and soft, warm centers. They’re pan-fried with ease and come packed with comforting flavor in every bite. This is a potato side dish that is easy to cook and perfect for any dinner.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Cakes

Air Fryer Red Potatoes

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

Cut red potatoes and toss them in the air fryer until they’re crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They don’t need much oil or seasoning to bring big flavor to the plate. This is a quick potato side that is easy to make and fits with any main dish.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

A plate full of sweet potato tater tots with dip.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Shape sweet potato into small tots and cook them in the air fryer until crisp and golden outside, soft and sweet inside. They’re easy to pick up, quick to cook, and full of flavor from start to finish. This potato side dish brings fun to the table without much work.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tater Tots

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