Gluten Free
Grain Free
Nut Free
Refined Sugar Free

4.77 from 13 votes

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Viral Crispy Garlic Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

Protein 11g

Carbs 15g

Fats 19g

Sometimes, the best things come in small packages – at least, that's the case when it comes to this recipe! My Viral Crispy Garlic Parmesan Crusted Potatoes uses mini yukon gold potatoes and only 7 other ingredients for a simple side dish that is anything but basic. This recipe went wildly viral when I shared it recently, and for a good reason. After all, what could be better than potatoes smothered in butter and parmesan cheese?!

Recipe by:

Nicole Modic

December 21, 2023

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Sometimes, the best things come in small packages – at least, that’s the case when it comes to this recipe! My Viral Crispy Garlic Parmesan Crusted Potatoes uses mini yukon gold potatoes and only 7 other ingredients for a simple side dish that is anything but basic. This recipe went wildly viral when I shared it recently (50 MILLION VIEWS on Instagram!), and for a good reason. After all, what could be better than potatoes smothered in butter and parmesan cheese?!

A close-up image of a bowl of the viral crispy parmesan potatoes, sitting on a countertop

Friends, would you believe me if I told that within 1 week of sharing this recipe, it got over 1 million likes and 50 million views on Instagram? It’s true! Truth be told, I’ve never had a recipe go so viral so quickly – not even my viral Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies. But it makes sense why this recipe has garnered the traction that it has. After all, who can resist crispy potatoes that are smothered in butter and parmesan cheese?

These potatoes make for the perfect holiday appetizer, the perfect side dish when paired with your favorite protein (like my Ultimate Easy Prime Rib), or even as a snack. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve made this recipe as a healthy and delicious snack for myself on more than one occasion. And while this tray can serve anywhere from 6-8 people when served as an appetizer or side dish, I can definitely eat a whole tray of these potatoes by myself. Proceed with caution: these tiny potatoes are absolutely addicting.

All of the ingredients needed to make these crispy parmesan potatoes, laid out on a cutting board on a countertop — To make these potatoes, you will need mini yukon gold potatoes, olive oil, seasonings, unsalted butter, and parmigiano reggiano.

The washed and chopped yukon gold potatoes, sitting on a cutting board next to a knife — To make these potatoes, you will need mini yukon gold potatoes, olive oil, seasonings, unsalted butter, and parmigiano reggiano.

The 8 Ingredients Needed to Make These Easy, Cheesy Potatoes

Mini Yukon Gold Potatoes: The best type of potato to use in this recipe is a mini yukon gold potato. Why? Because they are small and tender, meaning they cook quickly without needing to boil them first!
Olive Oil: Rich olive oil adds the best flavor to these potatoes and ensures that they turn out perfectly crispy.
Seasonings: To season these potatoes, we’ll be using a combination of dried parsley, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Yum!
Unsalted Butter: Because this recipe calls for so much parmigiano reggiano (which is a rather salty cheese), I like using unsalted butter to ensure that the potatoes don’t turn out too salty.
Parmigiano Reggiano: Parmigiano regginao is like parmesan cheese, but better, and that’s because it comes from a specific region in Italy and is aged at least one year, whereas traditional parmesan cheese is rarely aged past 10 months. The result? A perfectly rich flavor that pairs wonderfully with these potatoes.

A bowl, filled with the garlic and butter mixture sitting next to a bowl of the seasoned crispy parmesan potatoes — Add the potatoes to a large bowl alongside the olive oil and seasonings and toss to fully combine. Then, mix together the melted butter and parmigiano reggiano in a separate small bowl.

How to Make These Perfectly Crispy Potatoes

To make these potatoes, start by preheating your oven to 425 F. Next, wash the potatoes and cut them in half. Then, take your knife and “score” the potatoes by cutting diagonal lines alongside the cut-side of each potato.

Transfer the cut potatoes to a large bowl and add in the olive oil, parsley, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss until the potatoes are fully coated in the oil and seasonings. Next, grate the parmigiano reggiano into a bowl and pour the melted butter on top. Mix them together until a thick paste forms. Transfer the paste to a large baking dish and use a spoon or spatula to spread it out evenly across the bottom of the dish.

A close-up image of a baking dish, filled with the crispy garlic parmesan potatoes — Spread the butter and cheese mixture across the bottom of a large baking dish. Then, press the potatoes into the dish, cut-side down.

A spatula actively scooping out the finished crispy garlic parmesan potatoes from the pan — Spread the butter and cheese mixture across the bottom of a large baking dish. Then, press the potatoes into the dish, cut-side down.

Then, transfer the potatoes to the baking dish and place them cut-side down, pressing them into the cheese mixture. Repeat until all of the potatoes are in the dish. Finally, bake the potatoes for 25-26 minutes.

Once they’re done, remove them from the oven and allow the potatoes to rest for 10 minutes, until the cheese hardens. Then, use a spatula to remove the potatoes from the pan, serve, and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Home | Recipe | Side Dishes

4.77 from 13 votes