Smashed Potatoes are crispy roasted potatoes served as a side or party appetizer. Baby potatoes are cooked, smashed, baked and served plain or with toppings. Great for game day!
Smashed potatoes are boiled baked potatoes. More specifically, they're baby potatoes that are cooked, smashed, coated in olive oil, and baked until the surface is crispy. They're an easy finger food that everyone loves, super easy, and so versatile. Enjoy them as a side dish or as an appetizer. Use them in place of the tater tots in my Totchos recipe for game day and watch them disappear!
Key ingredients
- baby potatoes - or fingerling potatoes
- extra virgin olive oil - you can use avocado oil, coconut oil, any oil of choice
- salt and pepper - add to taste
- additional topping ideas - sour cream, bacon, chives, nacho cheese, the list goes on
How to make smashed potatoes
- Cook potatoes via stove, pressure cooker, or microwave.
- Carefully smash each potato with a potato masher. Some will fall apart and that's ok because this leaves you with crispy pieces. YUM!
- Drizzle potatoes with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven until crispy on the surface and flip halfway through.
- Enjoy them plain or add your favorite toppings.
How to cook baby potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Place trivet in inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Stack the POTATOES on the trivet; add 1 cup WATER to the Instant Pot.
- Close and lock the Instant Pot lid, turn pressure valve knob to the “sealed” position.
- Select MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes on HIGH pressure.
- Allow a natural pressure release (NPR) for 5 minutes, then release remaining steam.
How long to BOIL potatoes for smashed potatoes
This can be tricky because if you don't boil them enough, they won't cook or smash properly. If you boil them too long, they can fall apart in the smashing process. So, I recommend testing as they're boiling. As soon as they are easily penetrated with a knife, they're ready to smash and bake.
How to cook baby potatoes in the microwave
- Pierce potatoes with a knife and place on a microwave-safe plate.
- Heat on high setting in microwave in 2-minute intervals until potatoes have softened soft enough to be smashed.
How to make smashed potatoes crispy
This recipe will naturally make crispy potatoes, but you may want them even crispier. If so, just bake them a little longer than the recipe indicates and maybe even add a little more olive oil to the surface. But, keep a close eye if you bake them longer so you don't over bake them. I've done it.
More potato recipes
Baked Smashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 small Potatoes
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ⅛ teaspoon Sea Salt
- Black Pepper, to taste
RECIPE VIDEO
Equipment
- soup pot or 6 quart Instant Pot
- vegetable masher
- oven or air fryer
- oven mitt
- spatula
Instructions
- Cook potatoes via Instant Pot, stove top, or microwave and allow to cool slightly. *see recipe notes for these methods (I use the Instant Pot method)
- Preheat oven or air fryer to 400°F.
- Place cooked potatoes on a baking sheet and gently smash each potato to ½" thickness using a potato masher or bottom of a cup.
- Drizzle each smashed potato with OLIVE OIL and a sprinkle of SALT and PEPPER.
- Bake potatoes 6-10 minutes on both sides until crispy, flipping halfway through.
- Serve crispy roasted potatoes warm with your favorite toppings.
Traci's Recipe Tips
How to cook small potatoes in the Instant Pot
-
Place steamer trivet in inner pot of the Instant Pot.
-
Stack the POTATOES on the trivet; add 1 cup WATER to the Instant Pot.
-
Close and lock the Instant Pot lid, turn pressure valve knob to the “sealed” position.
-
Select MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK for 10 minutes on HIGH pressure.
-
Allow a natural pressure release (NPR) for a minimum of 5 minutes.
-
Carefully open the pressure valve to release any pressure, remove the lid, transfer potatoes to a plate, and allow the surface to dry for a few minutes.
How to cook small potatoes on the stove
- Place potatoes in a pot and fill with enough cold water to cover the surface.
- Turn heat on HIGH and bring potatoes to a boil.
- Allow to cook about 10 minutes, or until fork tender (don't overcook).
- Drain potatoes in a colander and allow the skin to dry (about 5 minutes).
How to cook small potatoes in the microwave
- Pierce potatoes with a knife and place on a microwave-safe plate.
- Heat on high setting in microwave in 2-minute intervals until potatoes have softened soft enough to be smashed.
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Lisa says
You are preaching to the choir here, Traci! I'm a HUGE proponent of smashed potatoes -- with those crispy craggy edges and soft interior. And you're so right -- they're easy to make. I don't have a potato masher like you -- so I've actually used the bottom side of a measuring cup to flatten out my spuds -- it works too! I know what I'm making this weekend!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Lisa! Aren't they so fun? I could eat them for dinner...and nothing else 😉 Love the measuring cup approach!
Gloria says
The potato lover in me LOVES this simple and delicious recipe!! Perfect as a side dish to dinner or brunch. I could make a meal of this alone...just dunk in some homemade ketchup!!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Gloria! I'm a potato lover too and would have lived on these as a kid had they been around LOL.
Mary Bostow says
I definitely want to try the recipe for this potato! Wow and wow, this is so delicious and it makes my mouth watering
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Mary! Hope you love them like we do! 🙂
Rebecca says
these look delicious! I love smashed potatoes, these look so simple & creamy
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Rebecca! Love hearing that 🙂
Cindy Gordon says
I am a potato girl, through and through! This recipe speaks to me, literally calls my name! Ha! I LOVE these baked smashed potatoes!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha I love it Cindy! They speak to me too 😉
Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites says
It's been too long since I have made these! I love this simple recipe - soooooo good!
Traci Antonovich says
Yay Lauren! I need to make them too ASAP! 😉
Dana | Mama Needs Cake says
I have actually never made these but I will definitely be making them soon! They look so delicious!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Dana! Love hearing that...I bet you'll love them 😉
Lissa says
Mine did not stay together during the smash. Not one of them. They all fell apart when I flip them. I did add some rosemary and melted butter in addition to the salt, pepper and oil. They were very tasty just not presentable
Traci Antonovich says
Hmmm sorry to hear that Lissa. Yeah, cooked potatoes can be delicate to smash, but I usually only lose a few in the process. Do you think that boiling them longer (or shorter) might have played a role in that? And what kind of potato did you use? I'm curious 😉
Danielle says
I love making smashed potatoes! These sound so delicious and incredibly easy to make. Plus, garlic....YUM.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much Danielle! They're SO easy...would be super fun for kids too! 🙂
Jere Cassidy says
We are a potato eating family and love Yukon Golds, what a unique way to serve potatoes.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay! Glad you think so! Hope you get to try it sometime...get ready to be hooked 🙂
Ellen says
We love potatoes and this is such an easy recipe. Perfect as a side to just about anything.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Ellen! You're so right that they go with anything 🙂
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
Wow..you got me all hungry over here. These sound so easy and delicious. Can't wait to try these!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha, I know right?! These make me hungry too...and I could easily make a meal of them LOL 😉
Chichi says
This is such an easy recipe. I love potatoes and this smashed idea I have already fallen in love. Wouldn’t have thought of this.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Chichi, I lovvvve hearing that I could inspire you so! Yay, it's all I could ever hope for as a recipe publisher 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Smashed tatos are one of my favourite things!! I love when all those messy bits get all crispy and brown. Those are the best parts, if you ask me 😉 I could seriously make a meal out of just these. Have a great weekend, Tracy 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Haha, the messy bits are the ones that NEVER make it to the serving platter...along with half the batch of whole taters. We must be related 😉 Happy Easter weekend to you too, Dawn
Natalie says
I love smashed potatoes! I tried it a few years ago and it was a hit when we hosted a BBQ. Never made it ever since, but you really made me wanna give it another go soon! Looks so delicious!
Traci Antonovich says
Yay thanks! So glad to inspire you! I love taking something that's been around forever and bringing it to the surface again 🙂
Courtney says
Potatoes are my daughters favorite food - she could eat them at every meal!
I know she is going to LOVE eating these. I can’t wait to make them for her.
Traci Antonovich says
Yay Courtney...so glad to hear that! I can't wait for you to make them for her too! 🙂
Chris says
These look dangerously addictive! I can see me make about 100 and eating them all!! (to myself might I add). Thanks for sharing 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Haha Chris...we think much alike! Thanks for the kind words 🙂
Dana says
I totally have some small potatoes in my pantry right now and I was staring at them today thinking, "What should I do with you?" WELL. Now I know 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
I love when that happens!!! Make 'em with eggs! YUMMMM 🙂
Hayley | The Simple Supper says
Why have I not been doing this my whole life! So easy!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha...exaaaactly what I said! 🙂
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
What a simple technique, but I bet so good! Glad you gave it a try, now I am inspired to try it too.
Traci Antonovich says
Haha thanks, Katie! I'm glad I finally gave it a try too! Forever hooked! 🙂