Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Enjoy the savory flavors of Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes made with 7 simple ingredients like parmesan, butter, and garlic!

The most delicious garlic parmesan side dish

If there are two ingredients that go together like peanut butter and jelly, it’s garlic and potatoes. The two complement one another so perfectly, and no potato-based dish is complete without its other half! The same goes for these garlic parmesan smashed potatoes.

Made with a good amount of garlic and flavored to perfection with butter, parsley, and parmesan, these crispy garlic parmesan potatoes are a hit every single time.

They’re made by boiling and then baking gold or red potatoes. The magic happens when we “smash” each one and brush on a thick layer of garlic butter. The butter mix allows the potatoes to reach crispy golden brown perfection once baked!

Ingredients in garlic parmesan smashed potatoes

This recipe only requires seven ingredients, four of which are spices. Together, they result in a delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with nearly any main course! They make a great substitute for french fries or mashed potatoes.

• Potatoes: This recipe begins with 1 lb of baby gold or red potatoes.
• Butter: 3 tbsp of softened butter will be brushed onto the potatoes before baking.
• Garlic: Add flavor with 4 cloves of minced garlic. If using garlic powder, you will need 1 tsp.
• Parsley: Add some herby flavor with 2 tbsp of parsely, finely chopped.
• Salt & Pepper: Finish off the seasonings with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper.
• Parmesan: Lastly, the dish comes together with 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese.

Tools needed to make this recipe

Garlic parm potatoes will require a few different kitchen items. I recommend gathering everything before you begin to make for a seamless cooking experience! You will need the following:

• Cutting board
• Chopping knife
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Large pot
• Mixing bowl
• Stirring utensil
• Glass or something to “smash” potatoes
• Butter brush

For measruing out ingredients, grab the following sized cups: 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, and 1/3 cup.

How to make crispy garlic parmesan potatoes

Parmesan potatoes look much more complicated than they are. They’re made by simply boiling the potatoes and then smashing them before adding to the oven!

To begin, fill a large pot halfway with water. Add a few pinches of salt and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, add the potatoes and cook for 25-30 minutes or until fork-tender.

Drain and let the potatoes cool slightly.

While cooling, mix together the softened butter, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Turn the oven on to broil (550°F).

Add the potatoes to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using the back of a glass, press down to “smash” each potato.

Then, brush each potato with the butter mixture. Broil in the oven for 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them as you may have to move the tray around for even cooking.

Remove the potatoes from the oven and add parmesan cheese on top. Broil for another 4-5 minutes.

Give garlic potatoes a twist

If there’s one more ingredient I could recommend adding, it would be CHEESE!

If you want to add another decadent layer to your garlic potatoes, sprinkle them with white cheddar cheese before baking. This will result in a mouth-watering top layer that will further complement the garlic and parmesan.

Psst! The addition of white cheddar is inspired by my own Lightened Scalloped Potatoes, which are absolutely a must-try!

You can use these same ingredients to make great mashed potatoes. After step 4, mix all of the ingredients. Add extra butter to get a creamy texture, and mash! Sprinkle parmesan on top before serving.

Storing leftovers

Like many potato dishes, these don’t store perfectly. Thick potato recipes like this tend to get a different texture when reheated a second time. However, that doesn’t mean you should discard leftovers! Keep them refrigerated and reheat in an air fryer if possible. Otherwise, simply baking them until warm will do the trick.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Garlic recipes are the best. So much so, they deserve their own category! If you’re looking for some more garlic-y dishes, I recommend one of these.

• Garlic Sesame Green Beans
• Lemon Garlic Hummus
• Maple Garlic Tahini Dressing

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photography by Moriah Sawtelle