There’s just something about that perfect crispy edge combined with the rich, cheesy flavor of Parmesan that makes these potatoes irresistible. This Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe has quickly become my go-to when I want a crowd-pleasing side that’s simple yet full of flavor.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I love sharing this dish because it takes everyday baby potatoes and transforms them into golden bites of pure joy. The combo of herbs, butter, and Parmesan creates this mouthwatering crust that’s hard to beat. Plus, it’s super easy to put together even on busy nights.
- Simple Yet Gourmet: You only need a handful of ingredients that you probably already have at home to make this flavorful side.
- Perfectly Crispy Texture: Scoring the potatoes and baking them cut side down ensures a deliciously crispy, golden-brown crust every time.
- Versatile & Crowd-Friendly: Serve these as a side for weeknight dinners or bring them to your next potluck — everyone will be asking for seconds.
- Customizable Herb Seasoning: Easily tweak the spices or swap the herbs to suit your personal taste or what you have on hand.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays an important role in creating the crispy, flavorful coating that makes these potatoes so addictive. Here’s why I choose them and a few tips for picking the best ones.
- Baby potatoes: Smaller potatoes roast more evenly and crisp up nicely; halving them exposes the cut side for maximum crispiness.
- Salted butter: Butter adds richness and helps the Parmesan and seasonings stick while promoting a golden crust; salted butter offers balanced flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: This is the star for that cheesy, nutty crust; freshly grated Parmesan melts and browns perfectly.
- Oregano: Adds an earthy, slightly sweet herb flavor that complements the cheese beautifully.
- Garlic powder: Brings savory warmth without the risk of burning fresh garlic at high oven temps.
- Onion powder: Adds depth and a subtle sweetness to the herb mix.
- Salt & Black pepper: Essential for enhancing all the other flavors and balancing the richness.
- Ranch dip (optional): I love serving these potatoes with ranch because it adds a creamy, tangy contrast that’s just right.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe is just how easy it is to adapt. I encourage you to make it your own depending on your mood or what’s in your pantry.
- Variation: For a spicy twist, I sometimes add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne powder to the herb mix—it gives a nice warmth without overpowering the Parmesan flavor.
- Dairy-Free Option: Swap out butter for olive oil and use a vegan Parmesan alternative if you’re avoiding dairy.
- Seasonal Herbs: Fresh rosemary, thyme, or chives can replace oregano for a fresh herbaceous touch—try what you love!
- Garlic Lover’s Upgrade: Toss in some thinly sliced fresh garlic along with the powder, just keep an eye that it doesn't burn during baking.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Score Your Potatoes for Maximum Crisp
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. While it heats, carefully score the cut side of each halved potato with a sharp knife—don’t slice all the way through, just subtle cuts. This helps the butter and seasoning infuse deeper and crisps up the edges beautifully. I always double-check my knife’s sharpness here to make sure the scoring is clean but safe.
Step 2: Melt Butter and Mix the Parmesan Herb Paste
Pop 6 tablespoons of salted butter into a 9x13-inch baking dish and place it in the oven for about 5 minutes to melt. Once melted, remove the dish and stir in your Parmesan cheese and herb seasonings—oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper—until it forms a thick, spreadable paste. Spread it evenly on the bottom of the dish. This is where those crispy golden bits will develop during roasting.
Step 3: Arrange and Bake Your Potatoes for Crispy Perfection
Place the potatoes cut side down on top of the Parmesan-herb paste, making sure each piece has direct contact with the cheesy bottom for maximum crunch. Brush the tops with the reserved tablespoon of melted butter. Bake at 425°F for about 35 minutes until golden, crispy on the bottom, and tender inside. I like to peek around 30 minutes to ensure they’re not browning too fast and adjust positioning if needed.
Step 4: Serve Hot with Your Favorite Dip
Once out of the oven, separate the potatoes gently with a spatula so they don’t stick together. Serve right away with ranch dip or any sauce you prefer. I find serving these warm is key—if they sit too long, you can reheat them to bring back some crispness.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve found a few tricks that make this Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe absolutely foolproof. These tips helped me perfect the crispiness and flavor balance so you can enjoy it without any guesswork.
- Score For Crispiness: Scoring the cut side of the potatoes allows the butter and cheese to seep in, creating those golden crunchy bits I can’t get enough of.
- Use a Melted Butter Base: Melting the butter in the baking dish first ensures it coats the potatoes evenly, locking in moisture and flavor.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Give each potato some space in the dish. Overcrowding steams them instead of roasting, which reduces crispiness.
- Check Oven Temperature: An accurate oven temp is key — too low and they won’t brown well, too high and the cheese can burn before the potatoes cook through.
How to Serve Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling a little fresh chopped parsley or chives on top right before serving—it brightens the dish and adds a fresh contrast to the rich Parmesan crust. A light dusting of extra Parmesan never hurts either!
Side Dishes
This recipe pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken or fish, roasted veggies, or even a simple green salad. It also works great alongside sandwiches or burgers when you want an upgrade from fries.
Creative Ways to Present
For dinner parties, I like to serve these potatoes on a large rustic wooden board with small bowls of different dips—ranch, garlic aioli, or even a spicy sriracha mayo. It turns a simple side into an interactive appetizer everyone can enjoy.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When I want to enjoy them again, reheating in the oven on a baking sheet helps maintain that crisp-on-the-bottom texture better than the microwave.
Freezing
While I prefer fresh, these potatoes do freeze well if you want to prep ahead. Freeze in a single layer on a tray first, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat from frozen in a hot oven until heated through and crispy again.
Reheating
To reheat, I spread the potatoes on a baking sheet and roast at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. This refreshes their crispiness nicely. The microwave works too but risks softening the crispy edges.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can, but baby potatoes work best because they cook evenly and crisp up nicely when halved. Larger potatoes may require longer roasting and different cutting techniques to achieve the same texture.
Scoring the cut side of the potatoes, baking them cut side down in a well-coated butter and Parmesan base, and making sure there’s space between each potato piece are key for achieving extra crispiness. Also, an oven temp of 425°F helps.
Absolutely! Replace the butter with olive oil and use a dairy-free Parmesan alternative or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in an oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes to bring back the crispiness, or microwave in short bursts if you’re in a hurry, but the texture might soften.
Final Thoughts
This Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe has truly become one of my comfort food staples. It’s just so satisfying to pull them out of the oven, all golden and crispy, and know you nailed that perfect balance of flavors and textures. I hope you find as much joy in making and sharing this dish as I do—it’s one of those recipes that turns a humble side into something memorable.
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Crispy Parmesan Baby Potatoes with Herb Seasoning Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Crispy and flavorful Parmesan Potatoes made with baby potatoes baked in a savory butter and Parmesan cheese paste, seasoned with oregano, garlic, and onion powder. Perfectly golden and served with a tangy ranch dip for a delicious side dish.
Ingredients
Potatoes and Seasoning
- 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes halved
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Butter and Serving
- 6 tablespoons salted butter melted, save 1 tablespoon for brushing on top
- Ranch Dip for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425˚F to prepare for baking the potatoes.
- Score Potatoes: Using a small sharp knife, score the potatoes gently to help them cook evenly and absorb flavors.
- Melt Butter: Place the melted butter in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it in the oven for 5 minutes until the butter is hot and melted.
- Create Flavor Paste: Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the grated Parmesan cheese and spices (oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper) to the melted butter. Stir well to form a flavorful paste and spread it evenly to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Arrange Potatoes: Place the halved potatoes cut side down in the baking dish on top of the butter and cheese paste to ensure maximum crispiness.
- Brush Potatoes: Brush the tops of the potatoes with the reserved tablespoon of melted butter for added flavor and browning.
- Bake: Bake the potatoes in the oven for about 35 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the edges.
- Serve: Separate the potatoes and serve them warm with ranch dip for a delicious accompaniment.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a preheated 350°F oven on a baking sheet for 8-10 minutes until warm and crispy, or microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
- Butter: Use salted butter for best flavor; unsalted butter can be used but add a pinch more salt to the seasoning.
- Potato Size: Choose baby potatoes of similar size for even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
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