Easy Garlic Roasted Potatoes is a budget-friendly recipe for a savory, vegan melt-in-your-mouth side dish. With 4 ingredients and one pan, you get maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Easy garlic roasted potatoes are so quick to prepare and simple to make.
Just rub a little oil, granulated garlic, and salt on chunks of potato, and you have a flavorful side dish that goes with pretty much any main.
In fact, they're so good that you shouldn't be surprised if they're eaten right out of the pan and never even make it to the table!
Plus, they're naturally vegan and budget-friendly.
Want another layer of flavor? Try the rosemary-garlic option!
Just add a tablespoon (or to taste) of fresh or dried rosemary. Mix well before roasting.
A little about potatoes
The potato is a perennial, starchy tuber, a root vegetable, that is native to the Americas.
Potatoes contain health benefits and are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients and provide fuel for the body.
Potatoes are gluten-free and very filling. In addition, they are a good source of antioxidants-some more than others-and they contain resistant starch. However, their nutritional content depends on the type of potato. Much of a potato's nutrition is in the skin of the potato, and peeling them reduces their nutritional value.
Adding fattening toppings, such as sour cream or butter, adds calories and fat.
Different potatoes are considered to work best with different recipes, but overall, they can be used in a variety of delicious meals for recipes from all over the world.
There may be over a couple hundred varieties of potatoes in the United States, but there are only 7 main categories. The most popular of these are the red, white, yellow, and russet.
Fun Facts
- Potatoes were first cultivated in Peru by the Incas.
- Potatoes were introduced to Europe (Ireland) toward the end of the 16th century.
- Potatoes began to be planted in the colonies in the early 1700s.
- Potatoes are the #1 vegetable crop in the United States and 4th most consumed in the world.
- Idaho is the largest grower of potatoes.
- The potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space.
Some useful cooking information
What are the different oils used in cooking?
"High-heat" oils have neutral flavors and have been processed in order to handle high temperatures and are good for sautéing, searing, and frying. These include canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, and grapeseed oil, each with its own "best for" with chefs.
Some oils have their own flavor and are good for sautéing and roasting and add a little extra to the dish. These include extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and peanut oil. Extra virgin olive oil works well with roasting or sautéing, but not for deep frying.
Coconut oil is good in dishes where a slightly coconut flavor enhances the dish, and peanut oil is good for deep frying and will add a subtle nutty taste and smell. Many Asian dishes call for peanut oil in the ingredients.
Then there are oils that are not used with heat but rather for dressing up foods, such as sesame oil, flaxseed oil, and walnut oil, among others.
What does it mean when recipes say "to taste" about an ingredient?
When recipes say "to taste," it means that you can put in as little or as much as you like to your own taste. Some recipes have many ingredients that a cook can adjust to their own taste when cooking (not so much when baking though).
The best way to calculate what your taste is with a recipe that you are not yet familiar with is to first taste the dish and then add the "to taste" ingredient GRADUALLY, a little at a time-a splash of this or a pinch of that-until the dish is just the way you like it.
Make sure to stir the ingredient after each time you add it so that the flavor will distribute evenly and become part of the dish. Then taste again. Repeat until you reach your personal preference.
Note: If you plan on using the recipe again, it is highly recommended to make a note of what and how much you added so that you can refer to it next time.
What does "savory" mean?
"Savory" refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get my garlic roasted potatoes extra crispy?
Don't overcrowd the pan, and ensure the potato pieces are thoroughly dried after washing so they roast instead of steam. The idea is to have a little crispiness on the outside while the potato chunks remain soft on the inside.
Why does this recipe use granulated garlic instead of fresh garlic for roasting potatoes?
Granulated garlic distributes evenly and clings well to the oil-coated potatoes, providing a savory flavor throughout without burning or turning bitter at high oven temperatures.
What is the best potato variety for roasting?
Waxy or medium-starch varieties like Yukon Gold potatoes work best because they yield a creamy interior while developing a deeply golden, crisp exterior.
Can I make garlic roasted potatoes ahead of time?
Yes. You can cut and submerge the potatoes in cold water up to 24 hours in advance. To reheat previously roasted potatoes, place them in a 400°F oven (or air fryer) for 8-10 minutes until warmed through and crisp again.
Should I boil potatoes before roasting them?
Parboiling isn't required for an easy weeknight side, but boiling cut potatoes in salted water for 5 minutes before roasting creates a starchy exterior layer that turns exceptionally crispy in the oven.
What is the best oil to use for garlic roasted potatoes?
I use vegetable or canola oil, but you can use high smoke-point oils like olive oil or avocado oil if you prefer.
What do measurement expressions mean?
Drop - ¹/₆₄ teaspoon (or less-it's however a literal drop comes out)
Smidgen - ¹/₃₂ teaspoon
Pinch - ¹⁄₁₆ teaspoon (what you can grab between your finger and thumb)
Dash - ⅛ teaspoon (what comes out when you shake out of a shaker or bottle)
Tad - ¼ teaspoon
Dollop-a glob on a spoon (like with mayonnaise or ice cream)
Scant-a scant cup is almost a cup, just below the line.
Heaping-above the line of the spoon (teaspoon, tablespoon)*
Keeping pantry essentials in your kitchen
For someone who cooks frequently, whether you just like to cook or have a family or frequent guests, I find it very, very, VERY helpful to make sure that I keep a lot of ingredients in my kitchen to make sure I have them on hand to prepare a variety of dishes at a moment's notice.
I probably wouldn't have nearly the amount of items I keep if I lived alone, but my kids have regularly asked for different meals that would normally require advanced shopping or a quick trip to the grocery store.
I have a variety of utensils (including for baking, such as measuring cups for liquid and dry ingredients, spoons, bowls, pans, etc.), as well as seasonings, spices, dried herbs, baking ingredients (such as flour, baking powder, baking soda, etc.), substitutions for milk, pasta, eggs, and a whole lot of other things.
I'm not particularly great at advanced planning for meals, so I can't even tell you how many sudden trips to the store or times having to borrow from a neighbor (usually, they borrow from me!) this has saved me!
Of course, if you barely cook, you probably just want to keep the bare minimum.
So, what is needed to make easy garlic roasted potatoes?
Even if you don't want to keep a pantry full of just-in-case ingredients, these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe!
potatoes
oil
granulated garlic
salt
Here's another delicious side that pairs with these potatoes!
Love potatoes?
Try:
Easy Classic Potato Salad With Eggs
Easy Creamy Vegetarian Potato Soup
Easy Garlic Roasted Potatoes Recipe
Delicious and vegan, 4-ingredient garlic roasted potatoes.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of potatoes, cut into chunks or slices
- 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, or to taste
- oil or cooking spray
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a roasting pan or a baking sheet.
- Coat with a little oil or cooking spray.
- Sprinkle granulated garlic and salt. Mix well.
- Bake at 400°F for approximately an hour or until a fork slides through, mixing occasionally for even cooking *
Notes
* If you want them browned, cook past the time they are "ready", but be careful to remember to occasionally mix, so they don't burn.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 425Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 2230mgCarbohydrates: 96gFiber: 10gSugar: 5gProtein: 12g
